for Julian now?”
He nodded stiffly, but she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. What had Rose’s memories made him feel? She was tempted to look inside his thoughts but held herself back.
She climbed to her feet and went to Rose, still lost in disbelief that Rose did not hate her.
“You and Seamus don’t have to be alone ever again,” she said. “We’ll leave tomorrow night. Go home to the underground.”
Rose’s eyes widened. “Tomorrow night? That’s too soon. And what of Julian? How will you protect us?”
“He doesn’t even know we’re here. But it doesn’t matter. He’s not a threat,” Eleisha insisted. “He won’t come near me. I swear.”
Why did no one believe her? She had felt his terror, his conviction to flee from her and never come back. She had been inside his mind.
“Why is tomorrow too soon?” Wade asked, frowning.
“I had no idea you would come tonight,” Rose answered. “I’ve lived here for a hundred years. I have arrangements to make before we can leave.”
But Eleisha could hear a hint of fear behind her calm voice. Traveling . . . journeys . . . unfamiliar places frightened Rose.
“Of course,” she said quickly, looking back at Philip.
But he nodded again.
Only Wade seemed uncertain. He’d been expecting a short trip.
She’s frightened, Eleisha flashed to him. She needs time.
He looked at her. “Should we find a hotel?” he asked.
“I have room here,” Rose said, climbing to her feet, her legs still trembling. “Couches and a spare bedroom I never use. Apartments were more spacious back when I bought this place.”
Talk of couches and spare bedrooms seemed safe in the midst of all they had shared. But Eleisha could not release the memory of Edward’s mouth on Rose’s the night he turned her. Eleisha had never thought of Edward as a man, someone with passions or drives. She knew for certain he’d never felt that way toward her. To him, she had been a child, a doll to dress up. Rose was hardly either of those things. Did Edward fear feelings that might be too real? Perhaps guilt wasn’t the only thing that kept him from ever seeing Rose again.
“Are you sure you want us here?” Wade asked. “You might feel invaded.”
Eleisha felt a rush of affection for him. Such a statement would never occur to Philip, but Wade almost always considered the feelings of others.
Rose glanced with hesitation at Philip, and then her eyes fell upon Eleisha. “You are welcome to stay. Change is a welcome thing here.”
Seamus had remained quiet through most of this. Perhaps he felt helpless to stop the flow of events. Eleisha thought on his life, too, cut off so soon, leaving him in state of endless limbo.
He was watching her. Then she realized he had not been seen by anyone but Rose since the night he died. Maybe new company would not be so unwelcome?
“How long will you need, Rose?” she asked.
Rose hesitated. “I am not sure. A few nights at least.”
And now we are five, Eleisha thought.
Wade woke up to a silent apartment in the late afternoon. He was lying on a Victorian couch. Disoriented for a moment, he blinked and sat up, trying to remember where he was.
The previous night came rushing back.
For the first time, with a few moments to himself since arriving, he suddenly realized that he wanted to help Eleisha in this venture. Rose was exactly what Eleisha described her to be—frightened, lonely, and blind to her own potential. He could help her, train her, and teach her to feed without killing. He could help Eleisha create the underground and then help her find others like Rose. He could do more good in this venture, save more lives, than he could in a hundred years working as a psychologist for the Portland police.
He could do something that no one else could.
As he looked around the faded sitting room, it struck him as sad, like a flower that had once been lovely but was close to losing its petals. He got up and walked into the kitchen. This room was more cheerful with its colorful pots of herbs. There was a kettle on the stove, and he found a few dusty tea mugs, but the other cupboards and the refrigerator were empty . . . as if the very presence of a kitchen was a lie.
He went back out into the sitting room. The place was so quiet.
Vampires slept all day.
The door to Rose’s bedroom was closed.
Philip and Eleisha had taken the guest