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  “I can’t do this to you.”

  Sophie grasped Katie’s chin. “Look at me. You’re my best friend and I know you would do the same for me. Do a spell or whatever it is you do to keep my memories locked away so I can’t speak them and so that my parents need this meeting—or believe they do.”

  “What happens if I get it wrong?”

  “You won’t get it wrong. Look at me, Katie…look at me. I trust you.”

  Robert came out of Sophie’s memories with all the answers he needed. That was why Katie’s face kept appearing in front of his eyes with no explanation. Katie was a full-blown witch, but with no guidance she wasn’t able to understand the magic she possessed. She was out of control.

  During the process he drained Sophie of all of her energy, catching her in his arms. Gently, he laid her naked on the bed. He stroked her hair away from her face.

  She was in so much danger and she wouldn’t even be able to comprehend what he had to do. His stomach tightened at the thought of what was to come, but first he needed to take care of business.

  If only the vampire rumours about witches hadn’t been spread. Rumours were the most powerful source of propaganda. Word reached out and, before anyone knew what was happening, people were believing the ghost stories. After the last witch hunt, the Vampire Council had formed and decided that, for their own protection and that of the remaining witches, it would be best to allow the world to believe vampires were behind the death of witches.

  At the time, it seemed sensible to say that the vampires were taking out Earth’s natural creatures, rather than to place the blame with the humans or the wolves. Witches were powerful, but vampires deadly—it would drive the few surviving witches underground, which would protect them from the real threat—the wolves. Except, like all rumours and ghost stories, it had backfired and not a single witch had been seen in centuries. They were rare and powerful beings. Katie was certainly powerful—even within Sophie’s memories, Robert had been able to feel it.

  He glanced down at his mate. He could feel the pull in his heart. Robert would do anything he could for this woman. He just hoped she would trust him enough to let him into her heart.

  Chapter Three

  Katie yelped at the sound of the door banging. The loud music did nothing to drown out the noise. It had been years since she’d last opened the door to a stranger. The knocking was hard and insistent. She hesitated at the top of the stairs. So long since she’d had any visitors. Sophie was the only person who visited her now, and she had a key.

  She glanced anxiously at the clock. It was nine-thirty. Maybe if she ignored it, whoever it was would go away. She moved up another step, stopping as the knocking came again and the pounding of her heart hindered her movement. She pressed a palm against her heart, praying for the calm and peace she needed. Once the knocking stopped, her heart rate slowed and she took a couple of steps.

  The knocking came again, but this time it didn’t stop—it was just a constant noise. She covered her ears to try to keep out the dark. Katie was scared, and when she was scared she couldn’t control her powers. She could feel the stirring of fire in the pit of her stomach. The sick, acrid taste in her mouth. Her body broke out in a sweat and she was shaking all over.

  She took deep breaths with her hands covering her ears, but it was like the pounding was happening inside her head. She couldn’t stop the noise. Once it had started, she must wait until it ended. Driving her crazy, constantly crazy.

  “Please, stop it,” she whispered.

  Nothing. The pounding continued. She collapsed on the stairs, her eyes squeezed tightly shut, her hands shaking from the effort. Her head felt like it was being smashed against a brick wall.

  Katie felt the burning, the fear—she wasn’t in control of herself.

  “Stop!” she screamed the word.

  Silence landed.

  “Open the door, Katie.” The voice sounded from the other side of the door.

  She couldn’t be sure at first whether she had really heard it.

  “Open the door, Katie,” it came again.

  “Who is it?” Her voice was hoarse from screaming.

  Katie could hear movement on the other side of the door.

  “Sophie Ford sent me.”

  Katie flew down the stairs, a smile of relief on her face. She pulled open the door…and screamed.

  This was no human. He stood tall and scary on her doorstep. A sense of anger radiated off him. She went to slam the door, but he stopped her, the brute force shocking her. She tried with all her might to push the door closed, but he just opened it all the way, then calmly shut it, observing her.

  “You shouldn’t be able to come in here without an invitation,” she accused.

  “Guess what, sweet cheeks—you’re not human. The rules don’t apply.” He shoved her out of the way, heading for the window where she’d spent the entire week twitching the curtains. “I guess that answers one question I’ve got. You’re not normal.”

  “Who the hell are you?” she demanded. How dare this strange man bombard his way into her home and treat it like his own, telling her she wasn’t normal?

  “Stop the screeching. Yep, there they are—a full pack.” He turned to glance at her. “You must be something special.”

  “What? N—no. You’ve got the wrong girl,” she stuttered. “And I am human.”

  Katie was shaking inside.

  “Guess again, sweet cheeks. You’re not. You’re not a vampire, and you’re certainly not a wolf, but there is no way in hell you can be what I think you are, sweet cheeks.”

  “Don’t call me that,” she told him.

  “Okay, what about doll face?”

  “Be serious. Who the hell are you?”

  He circled around her. “We can deal with the introductions later, darling. First, we’ve got to get you out of here. They’re circling like a hungry pack and I’ve got a feeling you’re on the menu. Let’s get out of here in case the menu is raw, non-human female, shall we?”

  Her thoughts were running in all different directions. He wasn’t making an ounce of sense and she was confused.

  “What?”

  Then she heard the growl, moments before her front door disintegrated as a giant wolf crash-landed in her porch.

  She screamed, lifting her hands to defend herself. The wolf blew up. Like all the times before, when she was afraid or angry, things went poof.

  “Ah, so you can defend yourself when you’re scared. Good to know,” the stranger commented.

  He seemed impressed.

  “Incoming!” he shouted.

  Another wolf came in to the house.

  Before she could attempt to use her magic, he shot it.

  “Silver bullets are handy, but not deadly. Has this place got a back exit?” he asked.

  She nodded, leading the way. As they went she heard several more shots. Her hands were shaking so badly that when she got to the door, she couldn’t turn the key. She threw her hands up and the door blew open. The first time she’d ever aimed at anything and blown up the right thing.

  Her powers were so unpredictable. One of the reasons she didn’t want Sophie living with her full time.

  They ran out into the night. He grabbed her elbow, circling along the dirt path. She noticed that he took them along the edge, back to the front of the house. He beeped open the car she recognised as the one that had been stalking her.

  She stopped.

  “Get in,” he ordered.

  “I’m not getting into a car with you.” Okay, so he’d just saved her life, but the idea was ridiculous. She would not get into a car with a vampire.

  “Look, get in the car with me or go with the furry wolf. Your choice. I imagine they’ll want to carry you away with their teeth, rather than in the nice little car I’ve got.” He got into the car and waited.

  She looked over at her house, seeing one of the wolves clock her. Crying in frustration, she jumped into the car with him and they roared off into the
night.

  She glanced behind her. The road appeared clear. Katie sank down into the seat. Strangely, she felt comfortable, the smell of leather overriding any fear she might have felt.

  “Thank you.”

  “Don’t mention it.” The stranger glanced in the rear-view mirror and took a sudden right. He seemed calm and collected.

  “What’s your name?” she asked. A sense of safety and peace came over her.

  “William Valentine.”

  Katie gasped.

  “That’s right. You and my brother’s mate are in a heap of trouble. Actually, from what I’ve just seen, you’re in a heap of shit. That is the only nice way I can say it. ”

  Katie remained silent.

  “Keeping the fact that you’re a witch quiet was a really stupid idea, just so you know,” he mocked her.

  “I’m not a witch and, anyway, I thought witches didn’t exist. All you vampires wiped them out.”

  They turned left this time. She grabbed onto the handle to keep herself from being flung across the car.

  “Fact one—up until twenty-four hours ago, all known witches were presumed dead, their lines killed off generations ago. I guess that what with you being able to throw fire and blow things up with your bare hands, I’ve decided to rethink that assumption. You’re the first witch I’ve met in a long time. Fact two—vampires never killed witches. We always worked in sync together. It was the wolves and the humans who killed off the witches.” He pulled up and parked the car.

  Katie paled.

  “Where is the rest of your family? And don’t lie—you and your friend are already in the vampire bad books.” He turned to face her.

  She noticed his penetrating green eyes first.

  How odd. She was in danger—in running-for-her-life danger—and she was noticing how good her saviour looked. Very strange.

  Considering that his whole body spoke volumes of anger and irritation, his eyes seemed friendly by contrast.

  He wasn’t handsome but he had a presence about him. Katie guessed that came with being over six feet tall.

  “My family is dead.”

  “Poor you. So that explains the attempted capture tonight. They’d been checking you out. One witch is easier to capture than a whole family.” He seemed to be talking to himself, so Katie stayed silent.

  She didn’t want any more anger aimed at her tonight.

  “This is a disaster.” He sighed, turning back to look out of the windscreen. He started the car back up.

  “Why don’t you want to kill me?”

  “Like I said, you’re the first witch I’ve seen in a long time. Our kind doesn’t kill your kind.”

  “But the rumours and the tales—”

  ”All made up. Ever since vampires and witches have known of each other, we’ve worked together. We have a bond. We always thought it rather poetic—the undead and the magical spirit combining together.” He drove slowly along a country lane.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “To my place. It’ll be safe there until I can talk to my brother,” he told her.

  Katie relaxed back in her seat. She’d rather be in the bad books of the Council than have to deal with a hungry pack of wolves.

  “What about Sophie?”

  “My brother is going to finish the bond tonight, then we’ll deal with the Council.”

  Katie nodded, not caring whether he could see her. If the Council decided to kill her, at least Sophie would be safe through the blood bond.

  She watched him manoeuvre the car down the roads and she smiled. No man had ever taken her for a drive before.

  “Don’t start getting moon eyes at me—I’m not my brother,” he warned.

  Katie chuckled. “I don’t want anything from you. I was just thinking about my friend and the bond.”

  “I take it you’re the one responsible for all that.”

  “No. Sophie suggested it and started to put a plan in motion. I just did what she told me. As I’m sure you know, Sophie can be very persuasive when she wants something. She likes him, you know?” Katie felt safe and happy for the first time in years. William made her feel this way. She just wanted to chat, like any girl her age.

  He turned his head for a fraction of a second.

  “Who?”

  “Sophie. She likes your brother Robert.”

  He laughed. “I think he likes her, too.”

  They shared a smile.

  Chapter Four

  Sophie was dreaming. She lay beside the river, running her hand through the clear water. She could see the beautiful tropical fish and the wonders of the underwater plant life.

  She wanted to stay there forever. Her mind and her body were at peace.

  “You like it here.”

  Sophie turned to the sound of the male voice interrupting her thoughts. Robert stood there all in white, a contrast to his dark features.

  She smiled, happy to see him. “It’s beautiful.”

  He joined her, sitting behind her so that she rested between his legs. Safe and warm.

  The sun shone down. This entire place seemed happy and serene.

  “I could stay here forever,” she sighed. She swirled the water with her hand and watched the rippling effect of her actions.

  “I could stay here with you.” His hand joined hers.

  Together they swirled the water, creating larger ripples. His dark hand seemed huge surrounding hers, keeping her safe from the nipping of the curious fish.

  A dark cloud wavered on the edge of their world.

  Here she could feel his heart beat—never before had she felt so safe.

  “Where is this place?” she asked. She tried to blank out the dark, looming cloud.

  “I come here to think,” he told her.

  “We can’t stay here, though.” She knew where she was.

  “No, this place isn’t a physical world. It’s where I come when I’m resting,” he explained.

  “In a way I’m in your dream world.”

  He smiled down at her. “Yes.”

  She looked around, taking in the truly magnificent beauty. The sunshine created a nice warmth but was not hot enough to be invasive or uncomfortable. The light breeze was refreshing and relaxing. This place was tranquil—the complete opposite of the man whose world it was.

  “Will we come here again?” She hoped they would. She had no other responsibilities here—she was just Sophie Ford, and she was happy. She hadn’t been happy in a long time. “What’s with the black cloud?”

  It seemed to be growing, getting fiercer as it approached.

  “A reminder of the problems we have to face when we get back.”

  “Who else gets to come here?” she asked.

  He smiled. “You’re the first and only person allowed here.”

  Sophie liked that. This place was theirs and theirs alone.

  The silence that descended made her tense. “I’ve done something bad, haven’t I?” Sophie couldn’t shake the sudden feeling of despair. Something had changed while she’d been here, and she didn’t know what.

  “Nothing we can’t fix,” he assured her.

  The clouds rumbled.

  “We have to go.” Robert got up and held out his hand. She hesitated. “Trust me, Sophie. I promise I’ll protect you.”

  Sophie nodded, placing her hand in his as he lifted her.

  Sophie gasped as she was jerked out of her dream. Robert was sitting by her bedside, holding her hand. She placed a palm over her rapidly beating heart to try to steady herself.

  She took her time to glance around the apartment. The problems were back, the worries, and the dull thump of a headache was starting in the back of her skull.

  She groaned. “Do you have any painkillers?”

  “Where does it hurt?” he asked, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

  She pressed her hand to her head, showing him.

  “Take a drink.” He presented her with his wrist, where blood gathered in a smal
l cut above his vein.

  She shook her head, the sight of the blood turning her stomach. No more

  blood and no more vampires—she didn’t want to deal with this crap anymore.

  “My blood will heal your pain, Sophie. Stop being stubborn and drink.” He pressed his wrist to her mouth. Blood soaked her lips.

  She could scent his blood. The first hint of metal invaded her nostrils…then it changed. It started to smell like him. Her stomach turned, not in distaste but in desire. Sophie liked the flavour of him.

  She licked along the cut, drinking his blood.

  The taste was pure heaven. Her hands came up to clasp his wrist to her mouth. She swallowed him down her throat, relishing the taste and feel of him inside her body.

  Sophie felt the glow spread through her, the warmth causing her cheeks to flush. Blood seeped into her nipples, making them pulse, hard and erect. Between her thighs, through her slit, she felt the throb of her clit as it came alive, telling her of her desire.

  The reaction of her body startled her. She thrust his hand away, covering her nakedness with the sheet, creating a little more distance from him.

  “You desire me. Your body is merely responding to it.” He cleaned the remainder of the blood from his wrist. The cut had already sealed itself.

  She had to keep reminding herself that he was a vampire. Being around him made her forget about what he was. He acted like a human.

  “That is because I was human once.”

  Startled, she looked at him.

  She was sure she hadn’t spoken aloud.

  She must have. He’d never before been able to read her mind, she was sure of that. And she couldn’t read his.

  “I won’t hurt you, Sophie.”

  “You’re a vampire. Don’t you hurt everyone?” She wanted to hurt him. Her emotions were all over the place. She felt betrayed, but didn’t have the first clue why.

  Sophie felt raw and naked. Okay, so she was naked, in her pathetic attempt to seduce him, but that wasn’t the type of naked she was referring to.

  Exposed would possibly be a better way of describing it. She scratched her head, trying to figure out what was wrong with her.