Page 58 of Destined to Fight

The door creaked as Kade pushed it open. The room was dark, but he navigated the space just fine with his enhanced vision.

“I’m going to set ye down so I can pull the sheets back and help ye undress.”

“Mmhmm” was all she managed.

Kade set her down gently, making sure her feet hit the floor before he straightened and loosened his hold on her. He kept his arm behind her back to steady her.

After he pulled the covers back, he helped her sit at the edge of the bed. She shrugged her shirt off and all but fell over onto the pillow. Blindly, she reached for the covers, but Kade’s hand caught hers.

“Ye hardly wear jeans, much less sleep in them. Unbutton them and I’ll take them off.”

“It’s fine, Kade. Just let me sleep.”

“Nae, it’ll take ye a few seconds and ye will sleep better.”

Out of arguments and the energy to carry them out, she did as he asked. Kade somehow managed to get the tight jeans off her without his fingers so much as brushing across her skin. Ginna’s words hadn’t fazed him, she knew. He was just one of those rare men who knew the time and place for things.

He pulled the covers up over her and placed a light kiss at her temple. “Sleep well, lass.”

Amber eyes shone down on her through the darkness for just a moment, and then sleep took her from consciousness.

Kade

Fabian was standing guard as he exited Kelly’s room.

“Ye dinnae have to stand over her like a lost puppy. She is safe in this house.”

Fabian fell into step behind him as he made his way down the stairs. “I would not call what happened tonight safe, despite the fact that she caused her own demise.”

There wasn’t much arguing with him there.

“Connor! My office, now,” he said, just loud enough to be heard. The edge in his voice was enough to let Connor know it was urgent.

When they made it to the office, Connor was waiting for them in one of the chairs across from the desk. Kade took his seat, and Fabian sat next to Connor.

“I need ye to find out all ye can about the history of vampires and timekeepers. If that doesnae turn up anything, look into vampires and mages—unusual relationships or power exchanges. It appears Kelly and I have some sort of reaction to each other’s power, and it isnae the typical negative one.”

“You are leaving out an important detail,” Fabian chimed in.

It was pointless to try and hide the sigh that escaped him. “Look for anything about a vampire having amber eyes.”

Connor didn’t question at all, but simply nodded. The man was a priceless ally. “Anything else, sir?”

Fabian answered for him. “The information you are looking for will not be public. This is something that would have been hidden at all costs.”

“No problem. I’m on it.”

“Thanks, Connor. Be discreet, will ye?”

“Always.” He cocked a smile and stood, heading out to get started on his task.

Fabian wasted no time in taking on his Guardian role as Connor exited the office. “Do you really think you should be around her right now? You are nearing 300 years old, and you are bloodlusting over her. That should not be possible, but since it is happening, you need to know that your age will only make the urge to feed on her that much stronger.”

“I’ll remind ye, I also saved her less than an hour ago. So what will it be, Guardian? Would ye have me keep my distance or stay close in case she stops her own fucking heart again?”

He turned and grabbed a blood bag out of the mini-fridge. After he’d torn it open and taken a few gulps, he felt calm enough to speak again. “What gives ye the idea that I dinnae understand the dangers of bloodlust in an older vampire? I’ve been around long enough, and I ken my peoples’ history just as well as my own. I willnae hurt her.”

“Very well, then.”

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