Page 49 of Betrayed in Blood
Her hair was a mess. The shower hadn’t been enough to remove her mascara, and now it left sultry black smudges. She was beautiful.
He cleared his throat. “It’s time to release you from your debt. I should have done it long before now.”
“What?” She rubbed her eyes again, and his heart did a little flip.
“I’ve opened a bank account in your name with the agreed-upon figures from our updated contract. The money has been deposited, and I’ll provide you with all the required details and paperwork.”
Instead of relief for an unwanted burden, her eyes narrowed. “Is this payment for last night?”
“What?” Devon stood up. “What are you talking about?”
She shrugged. “It’s not that I’m not grateful to be out of your debt, but why the sudden decision?” She glanced away before softly asking, “Is it because of what I said last night?”
He thought back to their evening. At some point after their lovemaking, she’d said she loved him. Hadn’t she told him that before? Those damn dreams confused him. Their nights together blended between real events and dream constructs to the point he couldn’t remember past realities from future events.
“No, of course not.” He didn’t know what else to say and turned her back to the topic at hand. “The days before us will be more dangerous than I’d originally considered, and I don’t know how long this war will last. I can’t ask you to be part of it when you’re tied to this House not by your own choosing.” He sat back down but didn’t touch her. “I understand you have skin in the game, but you need to decide whether you want any part of this war, and if you do, will it be next to Colantha or me? I realize we’re fighting the same battle, but that choice does make a difference.”
Did he have to tell her that her desire to stand with him was more important than the war itself? Should he tell her? He didn’t know. He didn’t want to sway her decision.
“You also have Ginger to think about. I know she has a strong relationship with Lucas, but you both have to consider why you’re here. You and Ginger will always have a home here, but it has to be on your terms, and you need the freedom to make that choice.”
When she didn’t respond nor reach for him, he ignored the twist in his chest. She appeared dazed, and he’d been foolish to dump this on her upon waking. Maybe it was his cowardice—his fear of what her decision would be.
He stood. “We can talk more after my meeting when you’ve had time to consider what I’ve said. And if you need time away to consider what you want for your future, I can send you and Ginger to Oasis. There are bungalows on the far side of the manor where you can almost forget you’re at a vampire estate.” He quirked his lips. “It’s the best I can do with the lockdown.”
He bent down to kiss her, hesitated at her bewildered expression, then tugged her to him, telling her with action, if not with his stumbling words, how much she meant to him. The kiss was deep, persuasive, and promising. He stroked her cheek before standing.
Then he left, feeling like an asshole. Maybe he should have told her during their dinner the night before. Yes. Where his heart was concerned—he was a coward.
ChapterFourteen
I watchedDevon walk out the door, unsure what to do. I rubbed my eyes, still waking and not sure if that was a remnant of a dream or the real crazy deal. Did he say he wanted to send me away to Oasis? I dropped back on the bed. My brain was fuzzy at best from too much champagne the night before.
He released me from my debt.
Shit.
I’d forgotten all about it. Sorrento was long dead.
He’d set up a bank account for me?
I threw off the covers, scrounged for my clothes, dressed, and stormed down the hall to my room. I slammed the door, surprised by my building anger.
Should I be angry? God, I needed coffee.
I went to the bathroom and grabbed my toothbrush, then dropped it and leaned over the counter. A tear fell in the basin. I wiped my eyes. Why was I crying?
The outer bedroom door opened. Devon?
“Cressa? Are you there?”
Ginger.
“Here.” My voice cracked. The stomping of feet across the floor was the only indication she might have heard me. She stuck her head in the door.
“Oh, my god, what’s wrong? Has someone died?”
I glanced up, caught her grimace, then dared a peek in the mirror. Black smudges from my mascara made me look like the Joker, and the fresh tears had created streaks through it. I turned on the water and waited for it to get hot.
