“It was wrong of me to go, for us to go to such a place potentially filled with danger. You have the ability to make me forget—to want to forget—but the past few days have been the reminder I’ve needed. Such distractions can only do harm.”
It was like he was speaking Latin to me. All I could hear him saying was that he didn’t enjoy himself with me in Mexico. His jaw was tense and when he looked at me his gaze was guarded—as guarded as it had ever been.
I forced a smile to my lips. “Well, just try to say that after we’ve gone to Disney World.”
“Sarah—”
“It’s the happiest place on earth, you know.”
He shook his head, his eyes stern, but a smile played at his lips. “You are incorrigible.”
“I actually have a T-shirt that says that. It has sparkles.”
“After all this time, you have yet to embrace the uniqueness of your situation. You have spent the last two months living life as you always have. Going out at any time during the day or night with barely any heed to your own safety, despite the dangerous situations you’ve found yourself in time and time again.
You told me just last week that your parents expect you to come and visit them soon.”
I put a hand on my hip, feeling awkward at the direction of this conversation. “I’m going to tell them I’m a vampire. Eventually. My mother is a huge Buffy fan. She might be excited for me.”
He sighed. “You shouldn’t tell them anything. You should simply not see them. It is safer that way. For them and for you.”
“There’s no such thing as safe, Thierry. I’m seeing that more and more every day.”
“There is. I have survived for nearly seven centuries by paying attention to my surroundings. To make certain I am in no immediate danger.”
I faked a yawn. “Sounds really exciting.”
“It’snot exciting. But it is necessary for survival. Have you not witnessed this for yourself? The danger you’ve faced in the last few days? Hunters will never give up, whether or not they think you are a great threat to their safety. Nicolai’s malevolent presence in town has only increased the level of risk.”
“Nicolai isn’t that bad. I think you two just don’t like each other.”
I immediately cringed as I remembered what Nicolai had told me about his wife. About Thierry. An accident so long ago.
His expression softened. “You’re so young.”
I moved toward him and put my hands on his chest, then moved them up to tangle in his dark hair.
Enough with this interrogation. I didn’t care about hunters, or bodyguards, or necklaces, or old mistakes,
or vampire elders other than the one in front of me right that moment. I just wanted Thierry to kiss me.
Nothing else mattered.
He took my hand in his and, as if he’d read my thoughts, pressed his lips against it. My heart did a little cartwheel and I smiled at him.
“I’m not that young.” I paused. “You know, my high school reunion is coming up soon. I got an invitation last week. Ten years. I can’t believe it.”
He shook his head. “See? You jump from one subject to the next like a hummingbird trying to find the sweetest flower. Your life is in constant danger, yet you speak of silly things that would only matter to a human.”
“High school reunions are not silly. Stressful? Yes. And somewhat nausea-inducing since I don’t have anything to wear.” I caught his look and shrugged at him. “I am an enigma.”
He squeezed my hand and let it go. “And I am caught up in your enthusiasm for life. You make me forget myself, Sarah. In Mexico. And here.”
I took a deep breath and studied him. So guarded and yet so uncertain as he looked at me.
“All right, so Mexico as a yearly destination is out. I get that.” I looked at him directly and raised an eyebrow. “Though they did have that nice hot tub in our room, remember?”
His gaze grew more intense, but then he looked away. “Yes, it did have that.”
That hot tub was a definite highlight of the week. Several highlights, in fact. I smiled at the memory.
Then the smile vanished as I remembered that the only highlights since we returned were the ones in my hair. And even those were fading.
I absently brushed my fingers against my neck, feeling the fang marks from the other night. They felt rough against my fingers. My eyes flicked to him. He stared at my neck with a pained look on his face. I removed my hand from my neck and my hair fell back into place.
“You were going to tell me how you met Barry.”
“I was?”
“Sure. Did you pick him up at a flea market? Was he on sale?”
His expression shadowed. “You mustn’t joke about buying slaves. It is something I have witnessed personally over the years in many places and is a cruel, barbaric practice.”
I blanched. “I didn’t mean to. I . . . Barry just makes me always want to say mean things about him. I know I shouldn’t.”
“He can be difficult. I understand that. And I haven’t seen him extend you any courtesies, either, so don’t be alarmed. He is no innocent.”
“No, he’s not. But I shouldn’t be such a bitch to him. I know that. And he really does love Amy. I can’t figure out their relationship at all, but if she would stop being so paranoid and he would stop being so secretive, I actually think they might be perfect for each other.”
Hint, hint.
“Two people so vastly different from each other?” he said. “You truly believe they have a chance for future happiness?”
“If they want it enough, then yes. I believe it. But their problems are pretty tall. Much, much taller than
Barry.” I frowned. “See? I can’t help myself. I’m such a bitch.”
“No. You are simply fiercely protective of your friend’s happiness.”
“You’re just saying that.”
“Perhaps.” That smile played again on his lips. “And perhaps I reacted so quickly to your flippant comment about how Barry and I met because it comes so close to the truth. I met him at a traveling fair in England two centuries ago where he was held against his will and forced to show himself in a humiliating spectacle.”
The color drained from my face. “A freak show?”
“You could say that. A vampire kept in a cage and displayed as something to be laughed at instead of feared. He was beaten mercilessly if he refused to tear apart the animal they would throw into his cage as part of the entertainment.”