“Now that’s more like it. Just like Ambrose, you’re a natural.”
7
I hadn’t intended to laugh at Selena.
But I couldn’t stop.
My mirth wasn’t directed at her, but at her sheer stubbornness to keep me out of her head. Well, maybe at her getting stuck in her coat. I’d obviously angered her, but as she stood before me, her hair tumbling over her shoulders, flames practically coming out of her nose, she took my breath away.
Fuck, she reminded me of Ambrose, her far-off ancestor—pissed because I didn’t understand his single-minded dream for his precious whisky. We’d spent more than a few nights at odds with each other, but I’d respected his tenacity. He’d had a short temper, just like her.
As well as an uncanny ability to know what someone was thinking.
He didn’t have Selena’s gift—was nowhere near as perceptive—but Ambrose had enough intuition that he always seemed to know what was on someone’s mind. He was right enough times that I came to rely on his opinion. Of course, Ambrose and I were human back then. Just two Scotsmen bonding over something as simple as whisky. While our lives took different paths, our abiding friendship had survived.
Even after I was changed.
Even after my interest in the human world waned, and my involvement with my new race prevailed. When I made costly errors that brought me to America, Ambrose had followed. Once again, it was the two of us in a strange world, and when Ambrose asked me for a favor—the only thing he’d ever requested—I gave it to him.
But the past wasn’t my concern—it was the enraged hellcat in front of me, hair spilling down over her shoulders and fire sparking in her eyes. I gave her a minute to ready herself, waiting until a cocky smile curved her lips.
“Try getting through this, Forge.”
God, she was something else, challenging me to rip through her mind, positive that she could withstand me. Just the fact that she called me only by my last name—a sign of disrespect, even contempt, in my world—made me laugh again. No one else would dare. No one but her.
Her eyes narrowed to mere slits, she was so pissed off.
“Are you ready?” I asked, muting my humor. I doubted she’d stay if I laughed one more time.
In answer, she jutted out her jaw and set her hands on her hips.
I was gentle—not that any of my brethren would be—and touched her shield, running an invisible finger down along it. Goosebumps exploded on her arms, so I did it again, enjoying the way her skin pebbled.
Even though we stood ten feet apart.
“Forge…” Her voice wavered slightly, and I got a hold of myself. Fuck, what was I doing? She would perform this favor, and then we’d part ways. Humans were liabilities, and then they were dead, so there was no use getting close to them. They didn’t last long enough.
Something I’d convinced myself of two lifetimes ago, and was doubly sure of now.
“Forge?”
“I’m going to tear through your shield, Selena. I won’t hurt you, but note where I indicate weak points, then shore them up. Strengthen any thin areas and patch up any holes. They will look for those, and if they find them, they will be merciless.”
She could have argued, but she nodded instead. Reaching around, she pulled her hair back, revealing her huge eyes and perfect skin. Not that Selena knew she was beautiful. No, her whole focus was to keep me out of her head, so she could save her company. Keep her word and honor our agreement.
Except the longer I was around her, the less I wanted that debt settled.
It had been a long time since I’d noticed beauty of any kind. But knowing she’d be returning tonight, I’d made some efforts to spruce up the house, a fact that pissed me off. I wasn’t used to changing anything in my life for a stranger. Especially not a human stranger. Yet…I’d done just that.
Nor could I help myself from running my fingers over her shield, enjoying the small, almost unnoticeable shiver that went through her. God, she was intriguing.
“This is very good work, Selena.” True, her shield wasn’t perfect, but it would keep most vampires out of her head. Quite a feat after only a day. “You’ve been practicing.”
“I did. You said two weeks, but I have business dealings to take care of, and deliveries to check, so I wanted to get this out of the way.”
I shook my head. “This is more important than work. If you go with me to Scotland, you have to be able to protect yourself.”
“Nothing is more important than the company. Speaking of which, how long will we be gone? I can’t be away for more than a day or two.”
I respected her commitment to the company, but I hadn’t been lying—she had to protect herself; otherwise, the others would know exactly why I’d brought her to the meeting. If they did, they’d discover why she was there, and it would only be me standing between twenty vampires and her.
“Assembly is Saturday evening. Factoring in travel time, we will be gone three days.”
In truth, I only planned to be in Scotland long enough to attend the meeting. From takeoff to landing back in Philly—I figured no more than fourteen hours, total. Long enough to figure out who wanted me dead and shove their antiquated laws back down their throats. But now, thinking of spending three days alone with Selena…
“I can’t do three entire days,” she protested, her cheeks flushing as she fumed. Her shield was falling apart.
“Really? Five million dollars, and you can’t spare three days?”
I figured a little guilt was better than a full-blown argument. I had learned something about women in all my time on this planet.
Selena’s face betrayed her every thought as she went to war with herself. I didn’t even have to
