Page 112 of Bound By Blood

Zack sensed Kaitlyn’s presence even before she entered the lobby of the hotel. Though it had only been a few days, it seemed much longer. His gaze moved over her, marveling again at how lovely she was. Clad in a fuzzy pink sweater and a pair of white jeans, she looked good enough to eat. Literally. Heedless of the people milling around, he hurried forward.

Kaitlyn dropped the suitcase she was carrying when she saw Zack. She ran toward him, laughed out loud when he swept her into his arms and twirled her around. “Katy!” He kissed her, long and hard. And then he kissed her again, short and sweet. “I missed you.”

She grinned up at him when he set her on her feet. “As much as I hated every second that we were apart, I think that welcome was worth it.”

“Drake, Elena, it’s good to see you.” Zack picked up Kaitlyn’s suitcase. “Come on,” he said, taking her by the hand, “I’ll show you all to your room.”

“We don’t need a room,” Kaitlyn said. “We can stay at my place.”

“Nadiya knows where you live,” Zack said. “I’m thinking it’s better if you all stay here.”

“But …”

“I think Zack is right,” her father said. “Nadiya may have someone watching your house. You’d be safe inside, but not coming and going. The anonymity of the hotel is probably a good thing.”

“Safety in numbers and all that,” Zack remarked with a wry grin.

“Exactly,” Elena said. “It’ll be cozy.”

Zack and Drake exchanged pained looks.

“Cozy,” Zack muttered.

Kaitlyn’s shoulders slumped in defeat. She had been looking forward to going home, sleeping in her own bed. Being alone with Zack.

“I asked a couple of my sisters to stay at Wolfram so that anyone sniffing around will think we’re still there,” Drake remarked.

In the elevator, Zack held Kaitlyn close to his side, basking in her warmth and light. Being close to her again, inhaling her scent, was like being reborn. Until they were miles apart, he hadn’t realized just how much he needed her, or appreciated how the goodness she radiated chased the darkness from his soul.

He unlocked the door to the suite and ushered them inside. Drake left his suitcase by the door; Kaitlyn dropped hers on the sofa. Elena immediately went into the bedroom to hang up Kaitlyn’s wedding gown.

“I’m sorry to say, there’s only one bed,” Zack remarked when Elena returned. “Rollaways aren’t allowed in suites.” He glanced at Katy. “I guess you’ll have to sleep on the couch.”

“What about you?” Elena asked. “If we take your room, where are you going to stay?”

“Don’t worry about me. I haven’t been sleeping here.”

Kaitlyn frowned at him. “Why not?”

“I am guessing he felt too vulnerable to rest comfortably,” Drake said.

Zack nodded. “Right.”

“Have you seen any sign of Nadiya?” Drake asked.

“No.”

“So, wherehaveyou been sleeping?” Kaitlyn asked.

“In the ground.”

She couldn’t help it, she grimaced. She knew her people sometimes did that, but she hadn’t known the Others did it, also. She wondered if her father had ever gone to ground, as they called it. She knew it was natural for their kind, but she couldn’t imagine doing it herself. It was just too … too morbid.

“Well, I don’t know about the rest of you,” Elena said. “But I’m going to unpack.”

“Me, too,” Kaitlyn said.

Grunting softly, Drake dropped onto the sofa and stretched his legs out in front of him.

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