Into the Darkness (Darkness #1)(41)

Stefan clenched his jaw and breathed through his nose. She was his. Something deep and primal knew that. Had faith in it. He wasn’t sure what he would do if she chose another.

Yes he did—he would challenge that male and rip his throat out.

Stefan took another deep breath. His life had been hard enough without her barging in and confusing it all to hell. And now she had some pretty potent magic. Worse, Andris suspected it. What a pain.

Showered and dressed, Stefan waltzed out of his room. He crossed the campus of their estate, ducked into a hidden door, and walked into Sasha’s room a moment later, ignoring Charles as he bounded up.

Sasha sat in a large velvet chair across the room, her eyes bloodshot and puffy, a book open on her lap. A cotton pajama set covered her body from head to toe, only her hands, feet and face peeking out. Her hair hid within a towel.

She looked up, sadness radiating through their new blood line, intensified by their normal link.

“Sasha.” His voice carried across the room. Testing the waters.

A spark ignited in her gaze, then dulled immediately. “Hey. Sorry I nearly got you killed.”

“I trust you…slept well?” Stefan asked evenly. Do you know that we slept together?

She shrugged, her eyes sinking to her book. “Thanks for saving my life. Again.”

He crossed the room, taking a chair next to hers. “You’re sad. Why?”

She shrugged again. “I ended it with Jared. Well, not true. He ended it with me. So, I guess it was mutual, all said and done.”

Sorrow radiated, this time accompanied by her bottom lip quivering. Stefan had an impulse to wrap her in his arms until she cried herself healthy.

Deep breath.

“Why did you end it?”

He listened as Sasha recanted the story. Nowhere in there that she’d cheated. Not even a hint. Finally, he tiptoed closer to the mark. “How is your body today? Are you sore?”

Her eyes showed the first glimmer of suspicion. “Why?”

“Last time this happened you could barely move. I’m wondering if you’re adjusting.”

Suspicion winked out. “Oh. I’m okay. Much the same.”

She didn’t know. Guilt crashed into him. Unspeakable, disgusting guilt. Then accusation. He’d taken something she wasn’t even offering. He couldn’t be any more disgusting if he’d tried.

Thank the gods the marking hadn’t completed, or she’d be chained to someone that preyed on the weak.

*****

I watched in confusion as Stefan’s face and body language shut down. He looked pissed. At me?

“You okay?” I ventured.

“Great.” His jaw tightened as his shoulders hunched. “Look, I’ll cut to the chase. You’re in danger. The enemy, E.T., now have an interest in you. You demonstrated magic in front of them. They’ll return for you—“

“Wait.” I held up my hand in disbelief. “Did you just say ET?”

Stefan’s eyebrows made a flat line over his eyes. “Yes…”

“As in ET phone home…?” I felt like crap, my heart hurt, Stefan had a stronger tug than normal, nearly rising me out of my chair to connect my body with his, but suddenly none of that mattered in the spotlight of this absurdity.

Or maybe I needed something to focus on that didn’t matter.

Stefan shook his head, his gaze flicking to Charles. Knitting needles stilled as Charles tilted his head.

“Don’t you guys ever watch movies?” I asked.

Their eyebrows looked like sheets billowing in the wind. They had no idea what I was talking about.

“Right. Anyway. Continue.” I waved Stefan on diplomatically. Charles rolled his eyes.

“Anyway, the Eastern Territory has an interest. They won’t stop trying to acquire you until that interest is extinguished, whether by them kidnapping you, killing you, or killing us all.”

“Lovely. You should know, they’ve been trying to take me with them since that first monster-thing talked to me.”

Charles dropped his knitting in surprise, but Stefan just nodded, as if now he knew why. “What did it say?”

“Well, basically that I should join it—them—for vast rewards and what not.”

Stefan nodded uncomfortably as Charles gawked.

“So…I’m a freak, then?” I looked back and forth between the two, my heart sinking. “I’m still a freak, even with you guys?”

It was Stefan that recovered first. “No. Extremely valuable, though I don’t have the expertise to know what exactly that means.” His leadership mask clicked on. “No matter. You will need protection. You will live here, in this room, using this area for your—“

“No.” I crossed my arms.

Stefan’s stare hardened. “I don’t hear the term ‘no’ often…”

“It isn’t a term, it’s a word. And…no.”

Charles started to fidget.

Stefan flexed from head to toe. Each powerful muscle on his giant frame snapped to attention. I gasped, my sexy systems swelling, the ache in those sexy systems more pronounced. I suddenly needed him inside me with a ferocity that both terrified and excited me. My cheeks flushed and my head beaded in sweat. My body and soul both seemed to be screaming destiny! The pain from losing Jared was still so acute, but when presented with Stefan…I couldn’t explain it. My being didn’t want anyone else. I only wanted him.