"Ah, that is a relief." Ruthlessly shaking off the strange desire to sweep the petite maiden into his arms and carry her off to the protection of his home, Sebastian took a step forward. He had to somehow convince this overly bold woman that she could not be so recklessly indifferent to her own safety. "The streets of London can be a perilous place. Most especially when the night cloaks them in shadow."
"So I have discovered." Her smile faded and for the first time Sebastian noted the weary smudges beneath the dark eyes. "Unfortunately, William has no understanding of danger. He believes that all possess his own gentle heart."
A flare of impatience raced through him. "A grievous error and one that might lead to your own harm."
His tone was sharper than he had intended, and her expression swiftly settled into lines of defensive stubbornness.
"I have spoken with him. There is little else I can do."
Realizing his mistake, Sebastian forced back the words trembling upon his lips. For the moment it was important that he not alienate this woman. He would have to consider what was to be done with her troublesome brother at a later time.
"If it is not your brother that you seek, then what brings you to such a melancholy place?"
Her gaze slowly turned toward the shadows of the stables, her arms wrapping about her waist in an unconscious motion.
"I could not sleep," she said slowly. "I wished ..."
"What?"
There was a moment's pause before she grimaced. "I wished to assure myself that I had been mistaken."
"Mistaken in what?" he asked softly.
A visible shudder raced through her. "There is no such thing as a shadow that speaks and murders innocents. It must have been fear that made me believe in such an absurd fancy. It could not have been real."
Sebastian frowned at her troubled tones. Surely any other maiden who had received such a fright would wisely lock herself in her home and not return to the very spot where the demon had lurked? Reckless, indeed.
"And so you came in search of this killer?"
"Of course not." She regarded him with a hint of surprise. "I merely desired proof that it was a human monster and not a figment of my nightmares."
"Ah. Have you satisfied your fears?"
She grimaced again. "Not really. There is nothing to verify what I witnessed last evening."
There was a pause as she studied his deliberately unreadable expression. "Unless you possess an explanation?"
He did, of course. He possessed all the answers she clearly desired. But he feared that she was not yet prepared for the truth. Should he tell her of Drake and the Medallion, she might very well think him mad, or worse.
Besides which, the knowledge that a desperate vampire was stalking her was hardly a reassuring revelation, he acknowledged ruefully. For now it seemed preferable to worry over nightmares.
He gave a lift of his shoulder. "As I said last evening, it is a creature of the night."
Her lips thinned at his cautious words. "That is no answer."
Sebastian stepped closer. Close enough to smell the heady scent of her warm skin.
"And will giving it a name make it any less dangerous?" he asked in low tones. "Will your fear be abandoned and your heart lightened? Man or beast, it is a thing to be avoided."
Not surprisingly, she appeared far from satisfied by his vague response. "I think you know more than you are willing to admit."
"Perhaps."
She studied him in exasperation before at last heaving a sigh. It was obvious that she sensed his adamant refusal to reveal anything more.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
His lips twitched at her unmistakable annoyance. She was not a maiden often thwarted. It did not suit her to be anything but in command of every situation.