Page 49 of Midwinter Night's Prince

Who was he to speak for her?

“You’re already here, you’re exhausted, and wherever you’re going, I’ll guard you to ensure you remain safe.” He shrugged. “You might as well stay.”

“I missed the part where you invited me, and I accepted.” She turned to Cat. “Why, I’d love to stay with you, Catherine, thank you.” The blonde was trying to keep a straight face, and mostly failing.

Seth sighed. “Stay here,please,” he spelled out. “I’d like to rest, too, and I’d be more comfortable in my house.”

She relented, despite his annoying smugness. Blair had crashed at her friends often enough to know it was never conducive to a restful night. They were young, vampiric, and stupidly in love. Also, Cat was a screamer.

“Okay, we’ll let you rest then.” Chloe came to stand in front of Seth, and to Blair’s amusement, wrapped her arms around him. He stiffened, visibly uncomfortable until she let go. “Thank you for bringing Blair back. And for fighting with us. I know you’re not exactly our biggest fan, but you’re with us. I’ll never forget it.”

“Count on it, Eirikrson. I’ll remind you you owe me for the next thousand years.”

“He jokes!” Chloe beamed. “Why did no one tell me he jokes?”

“I wasn’t aware,” Cat replied dryly before hugging Blair, then her brother.

Everyone squeezed her in their arms before leaving, taking all of her energy with them.

Her next yawn stretched for long seconds. “All right, Sleeping Beauty. You know the way.”

She knew the way to his bedroom. Blair wrinkled her nose. “Don’t you have a guest bedroom I could use?”

He shrugged. “You already slept all over my sheets. Might as well stick with it.”

“Where will you sleep?”

“I wouldn’t be much of a guard if I did that, now, would I?”

There was something surreal about being guarded by the man who’d hunted her. Blair dragged her feet back to the end of the hall, until she’d reached the bedroom.

In addition to being gigantic, the bed was also high. She climbed on top, crawled under the covers, and crashed before her head hit the pillows.

* * *

Seth had only had time to pour himself a mug of warm blood when Alexius’s scent hit his nostrils. “It’s open.” The ancient joined him at his bar.

Cat hadn’t been joking when she’d said it was well stocked. What surprised him was the fresh blood. She couldn’t have known he was coming right now, which meant that she ordered and replaced it regularly. “What can I get you?”

“Risotto.” The ancient glared. “My wife won’t shut up about it. Apparently, it’s better than my Sunday roast.”

“Cat food is better than Sunday roast.” Velvet, strutting on top of the bar, meowed in what Seth chose to interpret as agreement.

Alexius muttered, “Italians.” Louder, he added, “Survive until Sunday, and I’ll make you eat your words.”

“My words? No problem. I’ll pass on the dry, overcooked beef with burned sides, though.”

No wonder he didn’t have any friends, really. Seth always spoke his mind. Alexius didn’t seem to care.

“I’m here for the cat. I’m done with Blair’s blood for now. I’ll need more later, to conduct further testing.”

“Anything of note?” Seth asked.

The ancient nodded. “You could say that. We’ll speak about it when she’s awake—it’s her business.”

Seth understood Alexius’s silence—it was doctor-patient privilege, so to speak. Still, he pushed. “Is she in danger?” He had to know that at least.

The alchemist held his gaze, then lifted a brow. “Well, I’ll be damned. You care.”

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