Longing for You, стр. 36
“I have my reasons. Go and see your parents, then come back to me.Now, let’s have some more tea.”
* * *
“I know you won’t like this, Alexis, but these are my orders. Bhaland my guards will go with us to Amelia’s parents’ home tomorrow. I want you tostay here and guard Katie.”
After leaving Sybil’s cottage, Byron and Amelia went to Katie andAlexis’s cabin and had dinner with them. Now Byron and Alexis were enjoying aglass of whisky and a cigar on the porch of the cabin.
“I think you’re right, Principe.”
“You do?” Byron was totally surprised—she’d expected a fight overthis.
“Yes. Katie needs me. She wouldn’t be ready for travelling thereand travelling back, and I can’t leave her here to fend for herself. Especiallynow. Did Bhal report the intelligence she was hearing?”
“Yes, many of the smaller European covens are joining the Dreds.Why on earth would they do that, after Victorija killed Lillian, the Frenchcoven high priestess? It makes no sense.”
“For whatever reason the paranormal map of Europe is changingafter a long period of calm. The change has already reached our shores,” Alexissaid. “We haven’t encountered forced transitions for many years, but there aremore and more at the moment. Like Josie.”
Byron sighed. “Yes, that’s true. Forced transitions cause havocand pain to the human community and compromise our relationships with the widerhuman population.”
“I can’t risk Katie being alone,” Alexis said.
Byron smiled. “Sounds as if your priorities are changing.”
“You are still my Principe,” Alexis said.
“I know that, but it’s all right that your priorities arechanging, Alexis. It’s natural when you’re in love. You are in love, aren’tyou?”
Alexis nodded and looked down at her boots.
Byron put her hand on the back of Alexis’s neck and squeezed ithard. Byron looked her in the eye and said with slight menace, “You know whatKatie’s family means to me?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then you be honest and don’t hurt her, or I’ll have your head.”
“Yes, Principe. Of course I’ll treat her with respect, but justbecause I have these feelings doesn’t mean I’ll act on them, even if Katiewould want me to. She won’t want to know me after I tell her what I did,Byron.”
Byron scoffed. “Tell her. I think Katie will surprise you.”
* * *
“You’re feeling stronger?” Amelia asked Katie.
Katie was sitting on the couch with Amelia, talking after dinner.“Stronger with every day. Just being here, so close to nature, is helping,”Katie said.
“And Alexis? Is she helping?” Amelia asked.
“She’s falling over herself to help me. I don’t know why.”
“She cares, Katie.”
Katie touched her bandaged neck and remembered the care Alexis hadshown her. “Yes, I think she does, but I don’t know if she’s capable ofadmitting it.”
Katie didn’t mention that Alexis sat on her bedroom floor, holdingher hand all night. Neither of them had mentioned it since.
“She will, I’m certain. You’ve known her longer than me. Is thistaking care of you normal to her?”
“No, but she seems to blame herself for Josie attacking me. Godknows why.”
The door to the cabin opened and Byron and Alexis walked in.
Amelia whispered, “Just give her a chance, no matter what shetells you.”
That was a strange thing for Amelia to say. What did she mean?
Chapter Twelve
Katie gazed at Alexis as she filled up the dishwasher in thekitchen. It was such a novelty to see this stoic vampire suddenly doingdomestic tasks.
She chuckled, and Alexis turned around. “Why are you laughing?”
“Finish up what you’re doing, and come and sit with me,” Katiesaid.
Alexis started the dishwasher, washed her hands, and came into theroom holding two ice-cold bottles of water for them. She put both of thebottles down on the coffee table and went to stoke up the fire.
“It’s nice having a real fireplace. So calming,” Katie said.
“Real fires were all we had for most of my life, but they do givea nice atmosphere.” Alexis joined her on the couch. “So, why were youlaughing?”
“I hadn’t ever seen you being domestic before. It was sweet,”Katie said.
“No one has ever accused me of being sweet.”
Katie laughed again. “It’s not a bad thing. Besides, don’t worry,I won’t tell anyone. What did Byron want?”
“Amelia and Byron are going to visit Amelia’s family. It’s only afew villages away,” Alexis said.
Katie felt sadness envelop her. She didn’t want Alexis to go. “Isee. When do you leave?”
Alexis raised a questioning eyebrow. “I’m not leaving. I need tobe here to make sure you’re safe and to look after you.”
Katie was so surprised, but happy. She knew how important Byron’slife and security were to Alexis and was amazed that she was staying.
“Thank you,” was all she could think of to say.
The room was filled with silence for a minute or so, but Alexisdidn’t seem uncomfortable. The quiet of the room was nice, especially with thecrackle of the flames in the background.
“How are you feeling, Katie?” Alexis asked.
“Much better. You know that feeling I told you about? That Iwasn’t quite here, like I was a step out of time and place?”
“Yes,” Alexis replied.
Katie had to be brave and honest. How could she expect it ofAlexis when she wasn’t herself?
“Since I’ve been here with you…”
Alexis turned around on the couch so she was facing Katie. “Yes?”
“It’s hard to put into words. I was in limbo, floating betweenlife and death, and you are grounding me in life, in hope.” Katie took Alexis’shand. “You’ve been my anchor.”
Alexis turned away from her and rubbed her forehead with herfinger. She looked stressed, uptight.
“I don’t deserve such praise, Katie,” Alexis said.
“You do, you saved my life.”
Alexis just shook her head. Katie didn’t think she would getAlexis to open up at the moment. She was beating herself up over something, butit would take time for her to feel safe enough to talk about it, Katie guessed.
Katie leaned back on the couch and said, “Tell me a story.”
“Tell you a story? About what?”
“Where you were born, your family, how you became CaptainVilliers? How you became Duca? Anything.”
Alexis crossed and uncrossed her legs, ran her hand through herhair, and questioned whether she could tell her story. Katie must have sensedhow uncomfortable she was, because she said, “You don’t