“Well, then,” Colin said, raising each hand in turn and kissing her fingers. “I’ll tell you what, Sophie. Until you can make your own vamps, I’ll be the one who stands guard and watches for that stake so you won’t have to. And if you get angry, you can yell at me. If you get down or just need a sounding board, I’ll be there. And at the end of the night, when we’ve locked the door and it’s just you and me again, I’ll strip you naked and we’ll make love until sunrise, because I happen to love every womanly inch of you.”

Laughing, Sophie slid off the seat to stand in front of him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

Colin tugged her closer, pulling her into his arms while resting one hand on the curve of her delicious butt. “Hold me anyway you want, darlin’. I’m easy.”

“Colin,” she said, pulling back to see his face. “You do understand that if you go with me to Vancouver, if you continue to take my blood . . .” She paused, searching his eyes. “We will live a very long time together. You need to be sure—”

He laughed with relief, squeezing her tightly. “Is that all?”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I, darlin’. And I am sure.” He bent his head and kissed her, drinking in the sweet warmth that was his Sophie, feeling her soften in his arms.

“I love you, Sophie,” he murmured against her mouth.

“Colin,” she said breathlessly, her eyes wide open and staring into his from only inches away. “You’d really leave your home here and go with me to Canada?”

“Just try to keep me away. I do have one question, though.”

“Just one?” she said, smiling.

“Just one. Who says we have to clear out on his high and mighty’s timetable? There’s plenty of hours left before sunrise and Vancouver’s not that far. I say we blow this place tonight and the hell with Raphael.”

Sophia fisted her fingers in his hair and pulled him in for a quick, hard kiss. “I like the way you think, meu querido. You drive.”

“Damn straight I’m gonna drive. Don’t let this vampire lord thing to go your head, woman.”

Sophie was still laughing as they drove out to the highway and turned right, heading for Canada.

Chapter Forty-Six

“You didn’t destroy Sophia,” Duncan observed quietly, as they sped back to the compound.

It wasn’t a question; Duncan would never have questioned him. But Raphael heard the curiosity in his lieutenant’s voice. He considered the statement for a few moments, then said, “In the end, she wasn’t really a part of this. Lucien played her just as he did the rest of us. But mostly, I want the Canadian territory stable, and she’s strong enough to hold it. She’s also indebted to me now. That will be far more useful in the coming days.”

Duncan nodded thoughtfully. “The Koepke woman didn’t know Lucien was using her.”

“No,” Raphael agreed.

“Lucien knew her in Vancouver. He’d never bound her to him, but he’d used her. It was easy for him to find her and use her again.”

Raphael shook his head irritably. “Lucien might have pointed the killers at Marco and Preston, but they didn’t need him for the addresses. They’d both been here long enough that people knew where they lived. They may not have gotten out much, but they did go out, and Marco’s horses made it easier to identify his property.”

“Even so, my lord, if they’d only upgraded their sleeping arrangements, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Raphael nodded. “When the new compound was commissioned, I authorized whatever expenditure was necessary to bring everyone’s security up to modern standards. Loren was to have seen to it.”

A few more miles went by as Raphael thought about everything that had happened since they’d arrived, all the details that had slipped his mind in his worry over Cyn. His hand tightened into a fist as he fought the urge to punch something. Or someone. But Loren wasn’t here, and Lucien was no more.

“I want someone new brought in,” he said abruptly. “Someone from outside the Seattle nest. Wei Chen can remain the nominal leader, but I want a strong head of security, someone more powerful than Wei Chen.”

“I’ll compile a list, my lord. Do you want it before we leave?”

“No. We’re leaving first thing tomorrow night. Cyn will be able to travel by then and I want to take her home.”

They pulled through the compound’s gate, Juro guiding the SUV to a smooth stop below the stairs to the main building. One of Raphael’s security contingent was waiting. He pulled the door open and Raphael climbed out, giving the vampire a nod of greeting.

As he started up the stairs, Duncan joined him. “How is Cynthia, my lord?”

Raphael gave his lieutenant a small grin. “Well enough to fight with Doctor Saephan over his restrictions.”

Duncan laughed. “I would expect nothing else. I will see you both tomorrow evening, then, my lord. I will make the arrangements.”

The next night came none too soon for Raphael, nor for Cyn, although for all her professed eagerness to return to the comfort and security of their home, there was something troubling her.

He didn’t push her, though, knowing she’d eventually tell him what it was.

He glanced over to where she sat on the bed, resting after the exertion of her first shower since the shooting. She’d managed to pull on her underwear and a sweater, but her long legs were bare, and far too thin.

Doctor Saephan had finally permitted her to eat something this evening. Or rather to drink something. He’d arrived bearing a high protein liquid shake instead of the usual blood bags. He’d made it up for her himself, adding plenty of chocolate syrup, which testified to how well he knew his patient. Cyn hadn’t even whispered a protest.

“Raphael.”

He shook himself out of his thoughts and smiled at her, picking up the yoga pants she’d chosen to wear.

“Stay there, lubimaya. I’ll put these on for you.”

“I can stand.”

“Of course you can,” he agreed, standing in front of her. “Now, slide over here.”

“Bossy,” she muttered, but she did as he asked, sitting on the edge of the bed while he slipped the pants over her feet and up her legs. He held out a hand and she took it, letting him help her stand and then support her while she wiggled the pants over her hips.

“I look awful,” she said miserably, stepping into her shoes.

“You don’t. You look beautiful, as always.”

But her eyes when they met his were shining with tears. “I don’t want everyone staring at me,” she whispered.

Ah, he thought to himself. So that’s what it is.

“Then no one will,” he told her and pulled out his cell phone. “I want the great room cleared, Duncan.” He looked around, gauging their departure time. Everything was packed and ready, except for Cyn. “In five minutes. You, Juro and Elke. The rest of our security can wait in the vehicles outside.”

“Thank you, Raphael,” she said, then gave him a weak grin. “It’s good to be the king, huh?”

“Only if you’re my queen, lubimaya.” He bent over and touched his lips to hers. “Come. I’ll carry you.”

“No!”

He scooped her up easily. She was too weak to fight him, but she didn’t try very hard, wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulder. He touched his cheek to her freshly shampooed hair and smiled, remembering her almost orgasmic sigh when he’d washed it for her.

“You’re thinking about the shower,” she murmured, stroking one finger along the back of his neck.

“Be good,” he scolded, carrying her to the elevator.

“Give me a few days,” she said softly, switching her finger to the curve of his ear. “And I’ll be very good.”

“And now you’re just toying with me.”

Cyn nestled into the curve of his shoulder, her kiss soft and moist against the underside of his jaw. “Have I told you you’re my very favorite vampire?” she murmured tiredly.

“Not often enough,” Raphael said smoothly, fighting a tidal wave of emotion at how light she was in his arms, how very fragile.

He felt the curve of her lips as she smiled against his skin. “I’ll have to remember that. I love you, fang boy.”

Her body softened and Raphael knew she was close to falling asleep. He tightened his hold on her, the terror of almost losing her still too fresh and too horrible to remember. He didn’t know what he would have done if she’d died. But he knew one thing . . . She wouldn’t have died alone.

Epilogue

Malibu, California

Raphael settled the phone back on its cradle and shared a sober look with Duncan, who sat across the desk from him in one of the two visitor chairs.

“It’s time, my friend.”

“I know.”

“I will miss you. Cyn will—” He lifted his head and nearly groaned. “Cyn will be joining us soon.”

Duncan stood immediately. “I’ll give you some privacy, my lord,” he said and headed for the doors.

Raphael laughed grimly. “Coward.”

Duncan grinned, bowed slightly from where he stood at the open door and disappeared down the hall.

Raphael sat alone, tracking Cyn’s movements as she drew closer to his office, automatically gauging her mood and her physical well-being. She’d made considerable progress since coming home from Seattle, but she was far from her usual fighting form, and she still tired much too easily. He hated that he was about to upset her. Hated the news he was about to deliver almost as much as he hated telling her about it. But now that the decision was made, word would travel like fire through the household, and she would be angry and, even worse, hurt if she heard it from someone else first.