hands gentle, loving, stroking her bare skin while he brought her fully out of the enthrallment.
Joie blinked up at him. “That’s twice,” she said. “I’m that much closer to being in your world.” She touched his face with gentle fingers. “I’ve fallen pretty hard for you, Traian.”
He knew what she was saying. She was fully committed and just that little bit scared that somehow he would change his mind about her. There was no way to adequately explain the concept of lifemates when she lived in a human world where divorce seemed a way of life. It would be absolutely impossible to leave a true lifemate.
“You are not alone, Joie,” he assured. “I had no idea emotions could be so intense, but when I look around me, I can see only you. You are truly the light to my darkness.”
She sent him a small, tentative smile, rolling onto her side, propping up her head with one hand. “I don’t know about that. I doubt if either of my siblings would ever call me light to anyone’s darkness.”
“I guess they do not see you as I do.”
“You guess right.”
Traian gave a sigh of regret. “I have to go, Joie. It is almost sunset. I have to find at least one of the master vampire’s lairs before he rises.”
“Do you have an idea where to look?” She traced first his face, and then his mouth with her fingertips, committing his face to memory with each caressing stroke.
“I hope they did not leave the cave. They were so reluctant to leave it before, but we had not discovered the mage traps. It is a dangerous place to be, even for the undead—maybe especially for the undead.”
“Promise me that you’ll contact me if you run into any trouble.” She looked him straight in the eye, insisting on the truth.
“You are my lifemate, Joie. If I run into trouble, you will know.” He bent his head to kiss her. Slowly. Lingering over it. Pouring his heart and soul into it.
Her mouth went dry the moment he stepped away from her. She sat all the way up and reached for a blanket, holding it to comfort her. “Traian, it’s difficult to let you go alone.”
“I know it is, sivamet—my love, and I thank you for your understanding. I know allowing me to hunt alone is against your nature, but truly, you and your brother and sister are in great danger here. It is just as difficult for me to leave you unguarded when I know danger is close. Your scents still linger in the cave and the undead can hunt using scent alone. Do not think for one moment that you are not hunted.”
“Here? Surrounded by everyone in the village? Are they really that bold?”
“Vampires are very vengeful creatures. And they use humans to do their bidding. Anyone is a potential enemy.”
“I have a lot to learn about vampires,” Joie sighed. “All the training I’ve been through and my experiences on my job don’t seem to count for much in dealing with them.”
He caught her chin and kissed her again. When he stepped back, he was fully clothed, looked immaculate and a little bit lethal. “I removed the safeguards at your door so your siblings can enter without worry, but those at your windows remain. I will return as soon as possible.”
Just that fast, Traian was gone. Joie lay back on the sheets, staring up at the ceiling, her heart pounding in fear for him. He was gone, slipping out through the window, a cloud of vapor streaming into the air. It wasn’t yet sunset, but she felt as if the sun had gone down on her world.
Nothing can happen to you, she whispered into his mind. I would never forgive myself for letting you do this alone.
I can see I will have to impart my knowledge of hunting the undead as quickly as possible to you. It really is difficult for you to be left behind when there is danger surrounding me. Think of your siblings, Joie. They have great need of you.
Joie pressed her hand to her heart in an attempt to control the wild pounding. She took a deep breath to steady herself. This wasn’t just about him going off alone to fight. Dread built fast. Had she not been touching his mind, she knew she would have thought him dead to her. Sorrow lurked just behind the dread.
It is only the effects of our connection. I am with you. Feel with your