He raised an eyebrow. "An excuse for what?"
"I remember a teenager holding his dying girlfriend in his arms and vowing to never let another woman come so close to his heart. A promise he has kept, until now." She hesitated, green eyes regarding him steadily. "Sam threatens that vow.
You know, deep down, that she is the one. That's why you got rid of her."
Though an empath, his sister could sometimes be surprisingly off base. He frowned, and sipped his coffee. There was some truth in her words, though. He did have a connection with Sam, and he was definitely attracted to her. But as much as he might occasionally hunger for it, he really didn't want emotional complications of any kind in his life. That was part of the reason he continued to block Stephan's thoughts. Why he was so comfortable with Sandy, another SIU officer and his sometimes lover. She wanted no commitment, no emotion, beyond friendship.
As for Sam being the one… He put down his mug, and tried to ignore the ache in his heart.
"Andrea was my destiny, my lifemate. Not Sam. Whatever I feel for Sam, it could never evolve into something that lasts.
My heart died with Andrea."
"Are you so sure, lad?" Alain said, deep voice holding a touch of compassion.
"Yes." At least Alain understood. Jess, and the rest of his family, probably never would. They weren't shapechangers.
Weren't cursed with the knowledge that there could only be one permanent mate for them—ever.
Jessie sniffed softly. "You were so very young when Andrea died, Gabriel. Don't be so certain that what you felt then was life altering."
"Look, I came here to ask for help, not to be emotionally dissected."
Jessie placed a hand on his, squeezing gently. "I'm sorry."
She hesitated, her face losing animation, and her brown eyes suddenly clouded, distant. "Sam is one half of a force—light to his shade. You are her anchor, her reality. Push her away and you force her into his circle of influence."
"Whose circle?" Gabriel said softly.
Jessie blinked. Warmth returned to her face and her eyes.
She rubbed her arms and smiled ruefully. "I'm sorry. The vision's gone."
Gabriel cursed silently. Perhaps he shouldn't have spoken.
Her visions were fragile at the best of times. "Will you help me?"
She glanced at Alain and nodded. "But I wouldn't hold much hope of keeping this from Stephan too long."
"Let me worry about Stephan." He gulped down the rest of his coffee and rose. "I'll head to the office now and grab a copy of Wetherton's schedule. I'll email the roster once I work it out. Hopefully, between the three of us, we can keep her out of Hopeworth's hands."
* * * Sam shoved her hands in the pockets of her jacket and leaned a shoulder against the bus-shelter wall. Across the road, people were beginning to file out of Her Majesty's Theatre and reporters jostled with spectators for the best position to view the exiting celebrities. Limos lined the curb, waiting for their passengers.
It was the perfect place to attempt an assassination. With the noise and the milling crowd, it was unlikely anyone would notice anything until it was too late. As yet, though, there was no sign of anything untoward.
The latest teen sensation came into sight, his blond head promptly disappearing amongst the crowd of waiting paparazzi and fans. Two seconds later Wetherton came into view and was greeted by resounding indifference.
He wasn't happy about it, either, if the look on his face was anything to go by. He hovered near the doors for several minutes, then roughly grabbed the woman by his side and guided her away. Three others followed in his wake—two men and another woman.
Sam pushed away from the bus shelter wall. Wetherton's chauffeur hadn't been quick enough to grab a front position and his car was parked half a block up.
She ran across Exhibition Street and fell into step several yards behind them. Though she kept an eye on the shadows surrounding the nearby buildings and shopfronts, and listened to the sigh of the wind, there just didn't seem to be anything out of place. No sign of the vampire. No sensation of evil humming through the night.
And yet, something was here—a presence that itched at the back of her mind. A memory waiting to surface.
She frowned and eyed the group ahead uneasily. The sensation was coming from their direction and she had no idea why.
Frown deepening, she tore her gaze from them and checked the night again. They were beginning to move well away from the theater and the crowd. Why hadn't the vampire attacked?