Part 32 (1/2)

The Vampire Council and the wolf elders made it back to the house alive, which was a good sign.

Finnegan slapped me on the back so hard he almost knocked the wind out of me. ”The war is off,” he announced to the crowd at large. ”Thanks to your hard work,” he added under his breath.

Sure. Nothing like accolades for a job well done.

Oh, who was I kidding? I didn't need praise. I had a happy ending.

At least until, ”Hi, Lucien.” The corners of my mouth turned up as he wrapped his arms around me and kissed me on the head.

We ignored the catcalls from my pack mates.

Yeah, yeah.

McPhee was smiling. McPhee was smitten.

McPhee was in love.

d.a.m.n it all.

I vowed to keep my pride. I'd let him go when the time came. I just hoped it wouldn't be tonight.

”Heather,” he said into my hair, ”we need to talk.”

d.a.m.n.

I felt my smile falter. ”Sure. Whatever you say.”

He led me out of the packed kitchen and upstairs to his room.

Hoo-boy. To be dumped in the same spot where we'd made love this evening. I could hardly wait. Then again, maybe this was for the best. I'd know it was over. We'd make a clean break. I could do this.

I let out a hard breath.

This was worse than preparing for a fight.

”Heather.” Lucien held my hand, his expression earnest. Curse him and his amazing body and his gorgeous lips and the way he made me feel hot even now when I knew he was about to hightail it out of town.

”Look,” I said, unable to stand it. ”I know you have to leave. You said it before we ever got involved.”

It wasn't his fault.

It was mine for being stupid enough to fall for him.

”I do have to leave,” he said, in that same infuriatingly calm tone.

I was so tempted to use my truth powers on him. My chin lowered and I stopped myself. What was the point? I already knew he was heading out for the next a.s.signment.

d.a.m.n the man. Would it kill him to be a little upset about this? Meanwhile my insides felt like they'd turned to glue.

”I'm heading down to New Orleans,” he said, oblivious. ”We're looking into a coven of voodoo mambos turned vampire.”

”Sounds lovely,” I said, just trying to make it through the conversation with my pride intact. In a second, I was going to cry.

He caressed my cheek, which made it worse.

Could we just get to the dumping part?

”It will be amazing,” he said.

”I'm sure,” I agreed.

”If you join me,” he added.

”What?”

He looked vulnerable all of a sudden. ”I could use a were who can make people tell the truth.”

Was he actually saying what I thought he was saying? ”I'm not even sure it works on vampires.”

”Ask me if I care.”

I couldn't leave with him. I didn't quite know why, but I knew there was a reason it had never occurred to me. ”You can do this on your own,” I said, making complete sense.

”It wouldn't be half as much fun,” he said playfully.

Maybe so, but, ”My pack needs me.”

”You can fly back home if they do.”

I tangled my hands in my lap. ”Finnegan would never let me go.”

He untangled them. ”I made it part of our negotiations this evening.”

”So you knew-”

”I think I've known all along.” He brushed his lips over mine. ”Go with me, Heather. Let's see where this leads.”

I pulled back, but not so far as to unwrap my hands from his. ”It can't be this easy,” I said, trying to reason with him.

Nothing in my life had ever been this easy.

It could be amazing.

”Heather?” he asked, waiting for my answer.