Page 31 of Radiant

A knock on the door made me jump, but this time it was Auris. His eyes were nightly black, and his face darkened when he saw me.

“What did he do?”

“Uhm. He’s gone, right?”

“Yes. I came to collect you so we can camp out in front of the living room fireplace to celebrate the fact. What did he do?”

“You’re not going to hunt him down or do anything weird?”

Auris sighed. “I will not give you my word on that, because it depends on your answer.”

“Fair enough, I guess. He said I was a good guy, and that he wanted to warn me because all vampires are like you. They promise you things and are nice at first. He said Jonathan made him his chew toy eventually.”

Auris nodded once. “He did, at that. I cannot say what happened between the two of them, but I can see why Charlie might be wary. Why do I get the sense that you’re scared right now if that was all he said?”

I handed Auris my kitty notepad.

“‘Was scared to be drowned in the bathtub,’” Auris read. “‘Was scared to be driven to his grave.’ ‘Was scared to be murdered in his sleep.’ You were making a list about all the ways Charlie might’ve confused compassion for intimidation or a prelude to murder?”

I shrugged. “In my defense, I just wanted to get a sense of what his perspective was. It’s what you said, about people not wanting to tell other people about you. I am scared that he’s going to tell some church people about you if he thinks you’re mean and abusive toward me. If he’s scared of you and even thinks you’ll come after him, then that’s more likely.”

“He may be able to lead people here, but I told Jan to take a confusing route and drop something about the building being in another area of town. It’s why I went downstairs, so I could talk to him without Charlie overhearing.”

My eyebrows flew up. “You didn’t tell me that.”

Auris pinched his nose; a very human gesture I’d never seen on him. “I’m sorry, my sweet. I didn’t want Charlie to overhear.”

“Right. I don’t really care about that, anyway. I do care if he tells people where we are. I care that you’re safe from murdering church people, and I don’t want Eva and Jan to be drawn into any trouble.”

Auris took a step forward, dropped my notepad in the trash, and knelt in front of me to grab my hands. “My sweet, your concern for me and mine touches me deeply, but it is unnecessary. I can keep you safe, which is what matters, but I’ve also always kept those who work for me safe. I know I have failed you before, and I am very, very aware of that, but I will not let it happen again. You are the one I love, the one I will protect above all else. If it sets your mind at ease, know that I have a private investigator standing by to follow Charlie once he touches down in Heathrow. I do think he deserves to return to a normal life, but I’m not fool enough to simply release him into the wild without keeping tabs.”

I swallowed, my throat feeling tight. “Oh. Okay then.”

Auris remained where he was, but he reached up and peeled my Band-Aid off. He dropped that in the trash as well, then bit his thumb with his inhumanly sharp teeth and dabbed at the wounds until I felt no more friction from the puncture wounds under his finger, only unmarked skin.

“There. That’s better. How do you feel about joining me now?”

I nodded and let Auris pull me to my feet.

“You built another blanket nest,” I said when we got to the living room.

He shrugged. “You liked the last one.”

I chuckled. “I did, and so did you.”

“Mmm. You were in it. Of course I liked that.”

Auris helped me down into the middle of the pillows and blankets he’d collected from the smaller sitting room, our bedroom, and the sunken living room.

“Aw. You defrosted the muffins as well?” I pointed at a large plate that contained the very same muffins I’d almost taken out of the freezer last night.

“I did. Eva noticed you liked them, and so did I. Besides, if our guest didn’t want them, that’s entirely his loss.”

Auris went over to the fireplace and started putting a fire together while I got comfortable and watched him.

As I did, fractured light twinkling against the living room window caught my attention, and I went over and pulled the curtain open a fraction.

“Oh, it’s snowing. Look.” My voice was giddy. First snow had the power to do that to me.