Page 58 of Beneath the Watching

He turned back to me. “I’ve let down my guard around you, rearranged my whole life trying to protect you. I’ve let you in and I’ve never done that with anyone before. I’m not telling you that because I expect something in return. I’m telling you because while I love your little quirks, I don’t want you hiding behind the things you say to try and push people away.” I raised my eyes to his and quickly looked away.

“I know you embarrass yourself when you do it. I can see it; I’ve watched you long enough that I see the tiny cringe you make when you come out with some insane statement. So just stop.”

He was referring to my reactions to my own behavior, and he was right. But my methods had served me well and fulfilled their purpose. I was humiliated again, right now, knowing he’d watched my ridiculous self-protective posturing.

What surprised me the most was he hadn’t run away. I had to clear my throat before answering and I swallowed down the compulsion to run from the room. “Okay.”

“One more thing—don’t tell anyone I’m a crossbreed or half breed. In my current stations it’d be viewed as treason.” He glanced at me, an eyebrow raised, before continuing to move around the space.

Stefan walked over to a cabinet and retrieved a pair of handguns and checked them. Knowing nothing about guns, Iassumed he was making sure they were loaded. “You think you’ll need those for the ball?” I asked.

He placed them next to a shoulder holster laying on a table. “I’d rather be prepared than not, and it is my duty. I’ll shoot anyone who messes with you or threatens you in any way.”

“Okay.” Picturing this man shooting people in the middle of a ball didn’t seem that farfetched. Honestly, it seemed likely. “What color dress am I wearing?”

Hopefully he’d say red.

Concern flickered in his eyes. “Is the blue one fine to wear again? I think you women like a new dress each time, right? I’m so sorry I was too busy to get you another.”

I lifted my hands and dropped them in my lap and said, “It's fine. I’ll have to get a new one next time though, I think blood will be pretty noticeable on a blue dress.”

He arched his brow and shrugged. It seemed his instantaneous dress-retrieval powers were gone or I’m sure I would’ve had a new one already and I knew he wanted to keep his men close by or he would’ve sent them shopping.

“I’mgoing shopping next time,” I declared. If he expected me to stay, he’d have to expect me to go places.

Stefan turned his head slowly and crossed the room. “With Benjamin and Jack escorting you.”

Relief filled me at his compromise. Next thing I knew, he’d pushed me flat on the bed and snipped my lip. “You’re perfect,” he whispered in my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. He bent down and lightly bit my nipple through my shirt before letting out a sigh. “So perfect. I love watching you bloom.”

If he wasn’t careful, my lips would be permanently scabbed. I couldn’t bring myself to object and I doubted he would listen even if I voiced a complaint. Not that I had any.

He pulled me back to a sitting position. “There’s not a lot of time but I need you to tell me about the voice.”

I nodded and began relaying my experiences including the man all in black I’d seen in the water’s reflection. “That was Josiah,” he said, pressing his fingers to his lips. “I have to bring you to him. I don’t want to, but I have to.”

His tone became stern. “These are things you cannot speak of. To anyone. I don’t care what they tell you or if they claim I told you to answer.” He repeated what he told me earlier about secrecy.

The intensity of his voice matched the glowing inferno whirling in his irises. “Only speak to me of these things. You will have to answer Josiah’s questions, that can’t be helped, but I am telling you to. Just be aware he does know the truth of my bloodline.”

I nodded and began picking at a thread along the edge of the comforter. After a moment, I asked, “But why do I have this? Why would anyone want it? Want me for it, I mean.”

“The only thing I can think of is you’re connected to Kiara in some way. She lost her parents when she was young, just as you likely did.”

I interrupted, “Colette said they did. Did they have magic? They must’ve.”

“We don’t know that. But Kiara also has abilities, like you. Hers are much, much stronger, but I suspect there’s a connection. I’ve quietly been doing some research, ever since Ilya told me he found her, and there’s something at play here.” He took a long look at me. “I think that wine bottle you guys found is involved.”

I sucked in a breath. “Does anyone else know about possible connections?”

Stefan stood up. “No. Well, maybe parts. This isn’t something I advertise.”

The weight of his confession sat on my chest. The fact that he’d trust me with such dangerous information told me how hefelt about me. He truly valued me. Blinking away the water that annoyingly decided to gather in my eyes, my fingers tangled in the string I was playing with. I pulled it until it snapped. My chest felt hollow, and my blood ran cold.

“What’s wrong?” Stefan leaned over and lifted my chin. I refused to meet his gaze until he forced me to. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

I couldn’t shake my head or turn away, though I was desperate to. I settled on keeping my eyes lowered. “Nothing.”

“You’re lying,” he said. A sound between a whimper and a moan escaped me, and still, he didn’t let go.

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