In the silence that fell over the room, Rune lifted Carys’s chin and met her gaze. “If I’d known any of this before, I would have delivered you home to the Order’s protection myself. Hell, I would’ve helped your father lock the door behind you.” His deep voice lowered to a private growl. “The dead last thing I ever want is for anything bad to touch you. Tell me you know that, Carys.”
She reached up to touch his stern, handsome face. “I know that—”
“Good.” He seized her hand in his warm grasp. “Then if you won’t do it for your parents or your friends, do it for me.”
She frowned and started to protest, but he wasn’t having any of it.
“Go home to your family. At least for now.” He brought her palm to his mouth and placed a kiss in its center. “Stay where I can know you’re safe.”
She smiled at him, her heart squeezing with emotion. “You’re a good man, Rune.”
He blew out a sharp breath. “No, love. I’m not. But I’m right. Your family needs to have you close to them now.”
She nodded, then glanced over at Jordana and Nathan. “I guess I’d better pack a few things before we go.”
CHAPTER 6
Carys had only been gone for a week, but it felt like a year had passed since she had last walked into the Chase Darkhaven. Jordana and Nathan left her in the back vestibule of the large mansion while they headed down to the Order’s command center and Nathan’s quarters, which the couple now shared.
Carys missed them instantly, but it was at her request that they’d left her to face her parents alone. She adjusted the packed tote slung over her shoulder, then took a deep breath and headed through the back of the house to the main living areas. Her path took her toward the kitchen, where she heard her mother talking with two other females. Carys recognized her aunt’s voice. Brynne’s smooth London accent called to mind posh society galas and invitations to high tea.
The other feminine voice was also British, but more reserved, even though it carried an intriguing punk rock edge to it. Curious now, Carys stepped into the kitchen.
Her mother stood at the large island in the center of the space, sharing a tray of canapés and finger sandwiches with her guests. Occupying two of the counter’s dozen tall stools were Brynne and the other female—a petite, pretty young woman with asymmetrically cut blue-and-black hair, countless colorful tattoos and multiple piercings.
Carys awkwardly cleared her throat. “Hello, everyone.”
Her mother spun toward her with a little gasp, her beautiful face lighting up instantly. “Carys! Come in and join us.”
No censure. No judgment. Just pure, maternal warmth and affection. Carys all but launched herself into her mother’s open arms. They embraced for a quiet moment before Tavia brought her around to greet the other women.
Brynne got up to hug Carys. “How nice to see you.”
“You too,” Carys replied. “How long have you been in Boston?”
“Just a couple of days. A much-needed holiday from the office.”
Carys nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t stop by sooner.”
Brynne waved her hand. “You’re here now.”
Tavia gestured to their other guest. “And this is Nova, Carys. She’s Mathias’s mate.”
Carys’s brows rose at the idea. She’d known Mathias Rowan for as long as she could remember. Although she’d heard he had mated recently, she had always pictured the Order’s London commander settling down with a female more like Brynne than Nova, but she had to admit she liked the unusual pairing.
Carys held out her hand in greeting. “Very nice to meet you, Nova.”
“You too,” Nova replied, her tattooed fingers delicate and warm. As was her shy smile.
When Carys glanced back at her mother, Tavia gestured to the large tote hanging from her shoulder. “Does this mean what I think it does?”
Carys nodded. “It’s only temporary. The huge penthouse has been kind of lonely without Jordana there with me, anyway.”
Her mother cupped her cheek. “Well, no matter what brought you home, I’m happy you’re here. Your father will be thrilled . . . and relieved.”
Carys set her bag down, then reached over for the tray of appetizers. “May I? I’m starving.”
At her mother’s nod, she grabbed a little cucumber sandwich off the tray. Then another. Now that she was home, she realized how long it had been since she’d last eaten. Longer still, since she’d sought out a human blood Host.
As a member of the Breed, she needed to drink fresh red cells from an open vein at least weekly. She’d never given the necessity a lot of thought until she’d met Rune. Now the idea of feeding from anyone else, even simply for nourishment, only served to remind her of the one thing that was missing in an otherwise amazing relationship.
At some point, she knew she would have to accept that Rune might never be willing to take that step with her.
Carys pushed the sting of that thought aside as she reached for a third helping from the tray. As she ate, she glanced at Nova’s intricate body art.
“Whoever did your ink has an impressive talent. It’s really beautiful work.”
“Thank you.” Nova smoothed one hand over the other, idly tracing some of the art. “Most of it was done by my friend, Ozzy. He owned the shop where I worked. He was killed a couple of weeks ago.”
Carys instantly regretted bringing up a sad subject for the other woman. She wasn’t aware of the details, but she could see that Nova still grieved for her friend. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Me too. He was the only family I had, aside from Eddie, the boy Ozzy took in a few years after he saved me from the streets.” Her pained expression shifted a bit. “Now, I have Mathias.
