Page 81 of A Touch of Crimson
“It’s impossible.”
“Why? Lycans aren’t mortals.”
He barked a humorless, bitter laugh. “Helena said the same thing, but seraphim aren’t designed to experience mortal love. We’re not supposed to have mates. She wanted my blessing. She hoped I would give it to her, because I have you. But it’s not my place to make that decision. It’s my responsibility to keep the Sentinels on the right path.”
Lindsay felt the progress she’d recently made in regard to having some faith backslide again. How could love, in any form, be wrong? “What did she do?”
As he explained the actions Helena had taken, Lindsay’s blood chilled and goose bumps spread across her skin. She relived the horror and agony of that night with him, her shoulders sagging under the growing weight of his despair. There was no greater proof of the impossibility of loving Adrian than the suicide of Helena and her beloved lycan.
“Jesus,” she whispered when he was done. “I can’t imagine.”
“I can.” His chest expanded with a deep inhalation. “I have.”
Her heart stopped, then lurched into a double-time rhythm. She pulled back and glared up at him.
“I swear to you—” Her voice cracked, forcing her to clear her throat before continuing. “If you ever try something like that, I’ll make you regret it.”
His lips pressed to her forehead. “You worry too much about me.”
“I’m serious.” Her fingers dug into his waist. “Whatever consequences we face for being together…it’s out of our hands. We don’t need to borrow trouble on top of that.”
“And we won’t.” For a moment, he looked so resolute and somber, giving her the impression there was something more he needed to say. Instead, he said, “We should head back. You have an early day tomorrow, and I have to look into how Elijah’s blood ended up in Louisiana.”
“Do you have any guesses?”
“We take and store blood from each lycan for identification and genetic purposes. If any of Elijah’s stored blood is missing, I have a traitor in my ranks. The alternative would be that someone collected his blood from a hunt at some point in the past and saved it, which would speak to lengthy premeditation. There’s really no good way to look at this. Someone out there has an ulterior motive that can only cause me a lot of trouble.”
His thumb brushed over her cheekbone. “I know how you feel about the lycans, neshama, and I don’t disagree. But there’s simply no way one hundred and sixty-one Sentinels can contain the thousands of vampires in the world without their help.”
“Let me help you, brainstorm with you. I want to support you…”
“Yes. I look forward to it.” He urged her toward the door. “But first, you need to get some sleep.”
“That won’t be a problem.” She preceded him out of the building. “I haven’t slept well since Vegas, and it’s been a long day.”
His mouth lifted in a half smile that charmed her. “Your definition of a long day may change after training tomorrow.”
Lindsay looked at him through the lock of hair the evening wind blew across her cheek. “You can’t scare me.”
He turned off the lights and stepped outside with her. The wind kissed him, too, whispering across his wings. “You’re fearless. That’s one of the many reasons I want you.”
A quiver of sexual awareness moved through her, heating her blood.
When they got back to the house, she didn’t go inside, knowing it was best not to confront temptation directly. “I’m going to head back to the hotel. Is my stuff still out front?”
Adrian paused on the threshold of the sliding glass door leading back into his bedroom. “I want you to stay.”
“That’s not a good idea. Besides,” she rushed on, when his eyes took on the glitter of determination, “I need to give two weeks’ notice, and the sooner I do that, the better.”
He weighed that a moment. “Once you quit, you’ll stay here.”
“Adrian—”
He took a step toward her.
She knew what would happen if he touched her. “Can we talk about it later? I’m beat.”
After a brief hesitation, he nodded. “Tomorrow. Leave your suitcase here.”
