Forgive me.

I felt drowned by the feelings he continued to pour into me while his mouth devastated me in different ways. The sensations were overwhelming, yet I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him closer. He thought I was his destruction, but he was wrong. Vlad was the fire that would inevitably consume me, and even though I knew that, I wasn’t backing away. Instead, I’d become the phoenix that kept rising from the ashes because I would not, could not, let him go.

I broke our kiss to whisper two words that meant more than ending our weeklong abstinence. They also meant I’d give up trying to fight Szilagyi through my abilities, when they finally returned. Instead, I’d fight him by taking myself out of the battle, allowing Vlad to arm himself with the knowledge that I was safe. Maybe that was worth more to him than all my psychic abilities combined.

“You’re forgiven.”

I didn’t expect that my vow would be tested so soon, but only a month later, Vlad received a text from a burner phone with the numbers 1088 making up the entirety of the message. That meant it was from Maximus, and he’d left a handwritten message for Vlad containing important information in one of their three prearranged locations. Just conveying the information via text, e-mail, or a phone call would’ve been far quicker, but those also left a permanent trail that Szilagyi could find. Even if Maximus’s text had been intercepted and read by someone else, only Vlad knew the significance of the numbers 1088: the year Maximus was born, as specific as a signature.

Of course, personally retrieving what Maximus left for him was also far more dangerous. Vlad wasn’t taking bodyguards, for the same reason he insisted on retrieving the message himself: He wanted no one to know that Maximus was spying for him. I didn’t think Maximus would willingly betray Vlad, but I still worried that Vlad might be walking into an ambush. What if Maximus made contact with Szilagyi, and then was followed when he made the message drop? What if Szilagyi had found Maximus out and had forced him to lure Vlad into a trap?

I tried to ignore the ominous scenarios my mind kept coming up with as I asked, “How long will you be gone?” in as neutral a tone as I could manage.

“Perhaps a few days, perhaps a week,” he replied.

His vagueness only inflamed my morbidly spinning thoughts. Unless Maximus’s information allows him to attack Szilagyi. Then, he’s not coming back until one of them is dead.

I touched his arm, wishing I could feel something aside from the thick, smooth fabric of his coat, but my abilities were still buried beneath who-knew-how-many layers of Vlad’s aura.

“Be careful.”

His smile reminded me that I was admonishing one of the world’s most powerful vampires as if he was a kid about to cross the street. I flashed him an answering, rueful grin.

“I can’t help it,” I said, slipping my arms around his neck. “I love you, so I worry.”

Hard arms encircled me and he bent until his mouth was a velvet brand against my ear.

“I understand completely, which is why I’m clearing all nonessential staff out of the house. I won’t risk another wolf in sheep’s clothing around you, and if someone here so much as gives you an uneasy vibe, have them thrown into the dungeon. I’ll sort it out once I return.”

Laughter choked in my throat. And I thought I was being paranoid. If Vlad truly thought any of the people in this house were a threat, they’d already be decorating a long wooden pole.

“Dungeon. Got it.” Hey, if it made him feel better . . .

His mouth claimed mine in a kiss that suffused my whole body with slow, delicious heat. When he let me go, a knowing smile curled his lips.

“That should ensure you’ll miss me,” he said with his usual arrogance, “but this will help the time pass more pleasantly.”

I was still shaking my head when he turned me around to face the massive front doors. They opened, revealing a four-foot-tall vampire with black hair and bushy sideburns.

“Marty!” I said, both surprised and delighted.

My best friend grinned at me. “Come here, kid.”

I left Vlad’s arms to throw mine around Marty when I reached him. He hugged me back, bracing at the voltage he absorbed because I wasn’t wearing my gloves. I seldom did when I was with Vlad. I made a mental note to put them back on now that Vlad was leaving and gave Marty a final pat with my left hand.

“I’m so glad to see you, but what are you doing here?”

“You’re giving me grief for swinging by to see you while I was in Europe?” he replied with mock reprimand.

“Of course not,” I said, but inwardly, I wasn’t buying it. The only time Marty liked to travel was when he was performing on the carnival circuit. Plus, he hated Europe. He’d told me years ago that he didn’t understand why so many people went there to see a bunch of “old stuff.” The irony of a hundred-and-thirty-something-year-old vampire making that statement was lost on him, but it had amused me to no end.

I let the reason behind his visit drop because I only had moments left with Vlad. Besides, I wouldn’t interrogate Marty as soon as he walked through the door. I’d wait until after dinner.

Vlad was already behind me when I turned around. He exchanged polite if somewhat brisk hellos with Marty and then slipped something into my pocket.

“I won’t always have my regular mobile on me, but in case of emergency, push the red button on this. It’s programmed to a mobile I will always carry.”