He brushed back a strand of tangled hair. "Yes," he assured her.
His face was still remote, but the familiar warmth was back in his brilliant eyes. "Sera, when you opened the door last night you invited Beth in like you knew her, did you?" Mike asked.
Her eyes flicked to him. "I had met her before."
Liam stiffened. "Where?"
"She came by when you guys were on your walk, and Kathleen and Danielle had come back inside. She said she lived in the cabin down the road and was walking to her friend's house. We talked for a few minutes, and she left. Kathleen said the people who used to own that cabin are dead."
"That's probably where she's staying," Jack said.
Sera drew her cold hands into the blanket. "I don't know."
Liam stared at her for a minute, and then looked over at Jack and Mike. "You want to come with me, Jack?"
Jack slid off the stool. "Absolutely."
"How far away is it?" Liam asked her.
"Kathleen said it was about a mile down the hill."
He reached under the blanket and clasped hold of her cold hands. She smiled as warmth swiftly spread through her body. "I have to go." She opened her mouth to protest but closed it when she saw the haunted look in his eyes. "I have to find her."
The snow was still falling, although it seemed to have eased, and the wind had died down. But how much was out there? Her gaze returned to Liam as she bit nervously into her lip. "Mike and Doug are going to stay here to make sure you're safe. I want you to stay inside. Okay?"
"Yes."
He squeezed her hands and released her. She grabbed his shirt before he could turn away and stood on tiptoe to kiss him. For a second he was unresponsive, then his mouth seared into hers before he pulled away. Sera's breath caught in her throat at the savage gleam in his eyes.
"Be careful," she whispered.
"I will. Come on, Jack."
Sera watched as they bundled up and walked out the door. A wave of loneliness and loss swallowed her. She closed her eyes as she fought against it.
The grandfather clock chimed out five o'clock as Sera sat, sipping hot chocolate, and watching the flames. Kathleen sat in the recliner, her eyes frozen on the flames as her hands twirled the mug in her hands. Danielle sat before the fire, her knees drawn up, and her arms wrapped around them. Mike and Doug had wandered off, bored, and tired of the silent treatment Kathleen had been giving them all.
"You know, don't you, Sera," Kathleen finally said.
Sera felt her heart clench. She had been wondering when Kathleen would confront her. "Know what?" she asked as she tried to bide her time.
"What's going on, you know."
"Kathleen—"
"Sera, you're my best friend, but if you lie to me one more time I'll never talk to you again."
Sera winced. "I can't say anything," she finally said.
Kathleen looked back at the fire. "Yes, you can. I don't care what they say, or what you may say, but there was something wrong with that girl. Something's not right. She's dangerous. I could sense that, and she puts us in danger somehow. And so does Liam. There's something wrong with both of them." Her gaze darted nervously toward the door. When she spoke again, her voice was so low Sera had to strain to hear her. "Maybe there's something wrong with all of them. I think we deserve to know what."
Sera stared down at her mug as steam rose in waves. She desperately wished Liam were here to help, that any of them would show back up and help. Her glance fell on the clock. Where was he? He’d been gone for so long. Way too long.
Uneasiness had officially turned into full-fledged panic three hours ago. There was so much snow out there, it was cold, and Beth said she was stronger than he was. Was he laying out there somewhere injured, maybe dying? He wasn't completely immortal. Vampires could still be killed somehow, couldn't they?
"Sera," Kathleen said. "Answer me."
She took a deep breath as she tried to ease the growing knot of anxiety in her chest. "I can't say anything, Kathleen," she said again.
"If your life were in danger, I would tell you why."
"It isn't my secret to reveal, Kathleen." She wasn't going to tell her that her life wasn't in danger, it was, and Kathleen knew it. To lie to her now would only cost Sera her best friend.
"It is your secret if you know what it is, Sera."
She looked over at Kathleen, who stared at her with tear-filled eyes. "I promise you will have answers soon enough."
"We'd better. I'm serious, Sera, no more lies."
"No more lies, Kathleen," she promised. The fact she may have just lied to her was something she didn't want to contemplate.
"Good."
"But some things are better off not knowing."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Sera took a sip of her hot chocolate and pulled her blanket more firmly around her. "Just what I said. Sometimes it's better not to know. The truth isn't always the answer, but just the beginning."
Kathleen didn't speak as she turned to stare at the flames again. A loud knock on the door startled them all. Sera's hot chocolate spilled onto her blanket as she jumped up. Liam and Jack wouldn't knock, but maybe, just maybe, it was them.
"I got it!" Mike yelled as he ran into the foyer. He pointed sharply at Sera. "You three stay in there."
Doug came into the hall as Mike flung open the door. Cold air and snow blasted into the house. "Jesus! You made it! Come in," Mike said.
Sera watched as a tall figure set a pair of skis down on the porch outside before stepping into the flickering candlelight. "How you doing, man?" Mike asked as he embraced the man.
"Been better. Sure as hell been warmer. Help me
