Page 64 of Discovery of the Vampire
She hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor as her shoulders sagged, all the fight leaving her. “He thinks the book he’s looking for is here in the city, and he thinks I can find it."
My jaw clenched as I searched her face. "Can you?"
She raised her eyes to mine, a single tear sliding down her cheek. "I don't know. I'm trying."
"That's why you were at Lizzy's store after hours."
"Yes."
She was finally talking to me. Fuckingfinally. My relief was only overwhelmed by the fear wreaking havoc with my protective instincts.
I wanted to ask more, to press her for details, but the way she practically trembled with fear stopped me. "You’re not staying here anymore,” I said firmly. "You’re coming with me."
For once, she didn’t protest.
I helped her pack the lone suitcase she'd brought with her from Mexico and got her the hell out of there as quickly as possible. As soon as we were outside, I pulled out my cell phone and texted Killian, letting him know what happened and that we were on our way to the house. Then I took Esme by the hand and we rushed to the house. Hell, if I thought I could get away with it, I would've thrown her over my shoulder and ran at full vamp speed.
"Won't he be able to find me here?" she asked when we got to the house. Killian's car was gone, presumably to pick up our guests at the airport.
"No," I assured her. "It's one of the perks of having witches for mates. There's a ward surrounding the house."
She stopped walking, tugging on my hand. I looked back at her, and her terrified eyes met mine. "I had wards around the apartment building. The entire building. That won't stop him."
Dropping the suitcase, I took her face between my palms. "He won't get to you here, Es. I promise."
She shook her head. "How do you know that?"
"Because I won't fucking let him."
Whether or not she believed me, she turned her face and kissed the center of my palm, and my heart skipped a whole fucking beat.
"Come on, let's get you inside."
Lizzy and Kenya were sitting at the kitchen table when we came in. Lizzy took one look at the suitcase in my hand and immediately jumped up and gave Esme a big hug. "I'm so glad you're here."
Esme wrapped her arms around her and hugged her back for a long moment before pulling away and smiling at Kenya, who'd gotten up from the table also. "Hola."
"Hi." Kenya gave her a little wave. "I'm Kenya. It's nice to formally meet you, Esme." To me, she said, "Killian is locking everything down. After tonight, The Fang will be 'closed for repairs'." She made air quotes when she said it. "And he's forcing Lizzy to close her shop, too."
I nodded. "I'm gonna take Esme upstairs and get her settled."
"We'll see you in a bit," Lizzy told her with a smile.
I led Esme up the stairs, her hand warm and small in mine. When we reached my room, I pushed the door open and gestured for her to enter first. Mine was the smallest bedroom in the house. Just a bed on the left wall, some built-in drawers and shelves on the opposite wall, and a small closet at the far end.
"It's not much, but we don't have a spare room with all of us here." I pointed back out the door. "There's a bathroom right across the hall. And Dae's room is down at the end."
"Will you be staying here too?" she asked, catching me off guard.
I hadn't really thought about it. "I'll stay wherever you're most comfortable with me being."
"I'm comfortable with you being in here," she told me with no hesitation. Quieter, she admitted, "I don't want to be alone, if that's okay."
Setting down her suitcase, I gently brushed her hair back off her perfect face. "It's totally okay."
Her eyes scanned the space—the unmade bed with the green comforter, the abstract paintings on the walls that were here when we moved in and I decided I liked, the open closet door with my shirts hanging inside and my shoes taking up space on the floor. Some in the closet. Some not.
"I'll make you some space," I promised. "And clean up."
