Blood Past - By Samantha Young Page 0,78

jet hair back from his forehead before crossing his arms over his chest, blocking her way.

Eden pulled her earphones out. “Hey.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You know I couldn’t hear your heart beating like a hammer over your God awful singing,” his warm, Bostonian voice pulled at her teasingly and Eden relaxed. Perhaps it was Jack’s age or attitude towards her (not suspicious, not wary, not acting like she was going to go

‘Carrie’ on them at a moment’s notice) but Eden felt comfortable around him in a way she didn’t around Cyrus’ other security guys.

“God awful?” Eden mirrored his body language, crossing her arms over her chest defiantly. “A little harsh, don’t you think?”

“On the ears, yes.”

“Oh haha. You’re a funny guy.”

Jack smirked at her. “So I’ve been told. But seriously… you never heard of stealth?” Eden frowned at him. “Why do I need to be stealthy in my own home? Are you guys planning a rebellion? First man to kill the half-breed gets the keys to Cyrus’ Cayman S?” She was just teasing but Jack immediately grew tense and serious at her joke.

“That’s not funny, Eden. Even joking about hurting you could get one of us strung up before Cyrus. We’re taking your safety very seriously.”

“I can take care of myself.”

He ran his dark blue eyes over her in a way that made her flush inwardly. “So I’ve heard. Still…

don’t say crap like that OK? I kind of want to be Cyrus’ Head of Security one day and joking about killing his daughter is not exactly the good impression I want to make.” At her mocking look he suddenly seemed to relax and shrugged. “And it would be the Aston Martin. Why go Porsche when you can go One-77.”

Eden laughed. “I prefer the Porsche. I’d rather be killed for the Porsche.” Jack grinned at her and stepped aside. “There you go again with the killing jokes. You’re going to get me in trouble.”

She breezed by his tall frame, chuckling up at him as she strode onto the third floor landing. “It’s a specialty of mine or didn’t you know that already?”

“What? Getting people into trouble?”

“People. Warriors. Innocents.” The smile bled out of her voice as she thought about Teagan and what he had done to Tobe’s family. She wasn’t sure Tobe was ever going to speak to her again. Why was this guy? The Neith all knew what she had been. Who Teagan had been to her. She raised her eyes to meet Jack’s unwavering gaze. “Why are you talking to me like I’m a person? You saw what my cousin did to that Carey guy. You must have heard what Teagan did to the Neith in Scotland.” His eyes darkened and his expression grew tight. “I guess I just don’t think a person should be judged by who their family are… or by their past.”

She thought of Tobe and the Douglas’. They hadn’t judged her either but after what had happened to them… she snorted unhappily. “Give it some time. Stick around me long enough and you’ll change your mind.”

Jack shook his head. “I doubt that.”

Before Eden could reply a buzz of static broke the hushed air around them and Jack pressed a finger to the handsfree curled around his ear. He nodded. “OK, I’ll be there in a minute.” He sighed and turned back to her. “Duty calls.”

“Anything serious?”

“Oh extremely. Dawson needs to take a piss but he can’t leave the Control Room unattended.” Eden laughed. “You better get a move on then.”

He sighed and threw her a quick grin. “Be seeing you.”

As she watched him take the stairs down two at a time, Eden shook her head, smiling at herself.

She needed to stop judging the Neith and expecting a negative response from them all. Some of them were actually OK to her. Feeling a little better about life at Cyrus’ mansion, Eden turned around and headed towards Noah’s suite.

Eden rapped her knuckles against the open door and smiled anxiously. “Can I come in?” Noah looked up at her in surprise, sitting on the end of his bed. She was glad to see his colour was back to normal now that the toxin had made its way out of his body. “Uh...” he glanced uneasily across his room and as Eden stepped into the room she realised why. She froze as she met the belligerent stare of Alain Valois.

Eden had stupidly assumed Alain had accompanied Emma out on a shopping trip and had thought it the best time