Gaby,

  Call me when you get this. Just let me know you’re okay. I’ll stay at the old apartment if you need your space. Please. I’m worried.

  Love,

  G

  I went to the old apartment to search there. Her scent clung to the place, but not heavily. I searched everywhere. I even opened all the closets and pantry to see if she was hiding. I knew it was ridiculous. I’d feel her through our bond and even if I couldn’t, I’d hear anyone in the apartment.

  I sat on the couch burying my fingers into my hair and thought about the last place she’d expect me to look. Then it hit me and I was out the door.

  It was late, or early depending on how you saw it. I pounded on the door to a place I had been unable to enter months ago. I didn’t relent until I heard the locks release and the door swing open.

  “Is she here?” I demanded. It took everything in me not to barge in past him and search for her.

  “Who?”

  “Gaby! Is she here?” I was losing my patience. My wife vanished without allowing me to explain.

  “No,” Shawn said rubbing the sleep from his face.

  “Please Shawn. I just need to know she’s safe. If she’s here, I’ll leave her alone. I just… I need to know.”

  Shawn stared at me like he was realizing how serious I was. “You can come in and look for yourself if you want?”

  “Thank you,” I sighed sidestepping him and began searching. He knew as well as I did that I would feel her if she were there, but I needed something to do while I thought of where else she’d go.

  “What happened?” Shawn asked.

  “There was a misunderstanding.”

  “A misunderstanding and she disappeared? Come on Grayson. She may be pissed at me, but I know her better than anyone.” When I glared at him from under my brow he nodded. “Yeah, even you too.”

  “And yet you thought working with Ava was a great idea, to what? Get revenge on me for defending my wife?”

  His face shifted and I knew I struck a nerve. “I never told Ava a thing. Yes, I agreed, but it was the night Clive died, but I never betrayed Gaby. I kept trying to get Ava to leave me alone. I told her I changed my mind, but the bitch wouldn’t take no for an answer. I knew Gaby would hate me if she found out.”

  “But you should have told her. She might have understood,” I advised.

  “Glass houses, Grayson. Why did Gaby run away from you?”

  I stopped searching and took a seat on the couch. With a sigh I ran my palm down my face. “She saw me feeding from a woman tonight.”

  Shawn hissed like he was in pain. “That’s no bueno, Grayson. Big problem there.”

  “I didn’t know she was a woman. I thought she was a man.”

  “You couldn’t smell her?”

  I groaned, because I hadn’t. She was wearing clothes that smelt like a moldy towel. “She was robbing someone. I thought I was doing a good thing.”

  “So you fed on her as a reward?” I huffed at his question. “Come on Grayson, I’m just playing devil’s advocate here. Why’d you feed?”

  “Because I wanted to,” I spat admitting it out loud for the first time. “I didn’t go looking for someone to feed on, but when I heard the scuffle I figured I’d help. These people who think that what they’re doing is okay, robbing people because they have more than them. It pisses me off. I could have been one of those victims. Hell everyone thinks I was and I hate to see anyone go through that.”

  Shawn sat there quietly listening to my babble. “I get it. You don’t want to see anyone victimized, but isn’t that what you did to that woman who was robbing?”

  I swallowed hard because he was right, but I knew why I had done it that way. It wasn’t the woman I was trying to punish. It was the people who kidnapped me. Who tortured me. After I fed, I erased her mind of the ordeal, something I would never get and I tried to better her afterwards.

  “You should try Persephone’s. If not there then Damien’s. She’d figure that would be the obvious so you wouldn’t think to look there.”

  “Thanks Shawn.”

  He nodded as he showed me to the door.

  I checked the nest first. Persephone tried calling Gaby, but she didn’t answer. The sun was rising when I arrived at The Angelo Tower. I’d been out all night and still found no sign of her. I went to Damien. He seemed surprised by my appearance, which didn’t bode well. Whether it was my arrival in general, the early hour, or perhaps my attire, which was still damp from the rain that had stopped some time ago, I didn’t know. I had hoped it was one of the latter, but he swore to me he hadn’t seen her.

  Defeated, I didn’t know where else she could be. Heading down the hall back towards the stairs that would take me to the elevator, I froze. It was the first time all night that I felt a hint of her. I rushed into the room following the inclination of her. She wasn’t there, yet I felt her. I probably looked lost staring around the room, spinning in circles. Thankfully the room was empty. I walked back and forth then side to side, bouncing around like a ball trying to find the source growing stronger, but every direction I moved it faded. Finally, I glanced up. Could she be directly above me?

  I sped from the room fighting against my body, urging me that I was going the wrong way. When I landed on the floor above and began walking down the hall I felt my mating bond to her grow. I closed my eyes letting it lead me.

  When I opened them I was facing a door. My stomach sank recognizing where I was. I hadn’t been there often, but enough to know whose door it was.

  I didn’t knock. I stood there with my hand hovering over the knob, willing myself to open it while trying not to loose my head. I wanted to barge in. I wanted to release my rage, but I didn’t know what I would see. Slowly I twisted the knob. Drawing in a breath of determination, I opened the door. My eyes immediately drawn on Gaby where she laid sleeping alone. I visibly relaxed until movement caught my eye.

  Sebastian sat up on the couch. I knew he saw me tense. He held up his hand bidding me to stay calm and headed across the room towards me. He wore sleep pants but had no shirt on. Seeing him so relaxed had me struggling with my temper again. He was sleeping in the same room as my wife.

  He crossed over the threshold and pulled the door closed behind him. Before I could open my mouth, he spoke. “Nothing happened.” I let out the breath I’d been holding. “But green is not a pretty color on her. What were you thinking?”

  “She told you?” I questioned, bitterness ringing heavy in my voice.

  “About the woman? Yeah.” I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t feel the need to explain myself to him. “Don’t be angry that she came here.”

  “How can I not be? She got mad at me and came to you.”

  He shook his head. “She didn’t run to me. She thought it would be the last place you’d look and if I’m being honest, I think it was partially to punish you. She wanted to hurt you the way you hurt her.”

  Hurt me the same? “She said I cheated on her, but I didn’t.”

  “That explains it,” he mumbled, but I heard it. I narrowed my gaze at him. When he glanced away remorsefully, my face hardened. He held up his hands noticing the change in my demeanor. “Nothing happened. I didn’t let it.”

  “Didn’t…What?” I demanded flustered. What the hell did he mean? What had happened?

  “It was nothing. She… She touched my face.” He waved it off as no big deal. “I don’t even think she realized what she was doing. She was just looking for a way to hurt you and I was there.”

  “Well, she succeeded,” I frowned. Even if she hadn’t done anything the fact that she tried hurt more than I could explain.

  “Talk to her. Stop keeping things from her.”

  Gaby

  I laid perfectly still when Grayson slipped from the bed. I waited patiently for him to dress making sure to keep my breathing steady. With his supernatural abilities it wouldn’t take much to alert him that I was awake. When I heard the front door shut, I jumped from bed, threw some pants on under the t-shirt I wore and slipped into my shoes.

  I peeked out the front door, but he wasn’t there so I sped down the stairs. I rushed out of the building but saw no sign of Grayson. I glanced both ways trying to determine where he’d gone. I made a choice and went to the right. The rain was coming down heavy and I wished I had grabbed a coat, but I hadn’t wanted to risk missing him. I needed to know what he was up to. Realizing this wasn’t working, I quickly pulled my phone out and used the locator app to track him. I swore silently. I was going the wrong way. I spun heading the opposite way. I moved through the people trying to track Grayson, but to also stay far enough away for him not to realize I was following. I didn’t know how fast he was moving through the city, but eventually I caught his scent. It would ebb occasionally before I’d catch a stronger whiff of it. A woman rushed by me in a hurry jostling me as she bumped carelessly into me. She was terrified and barely apologized. I tried catching Grayson’s scent again but it had all but vanished. I moved forward hoping to catch it before I relied on my phone again when I inhaled the strong tang of blood. I don’t know why I did, maybe it was because of what Chris said, but I followed the scent. It led me down a dark alley. I shivered, but not just from the icy rain that had soaked through my clothes. My breathing was labored as I watched a predator in all their glory. A vampire was feeding from a human several feet away. I doubted any passerby would notice as they were cloaked in the shadows.

  My feet compelled me forward. I needed to know who it was and I prayed it wasn’t whom I believed. My foot kicked something that gave a hint of a noise, but it was enough to pull the vampire from his meal. He spun baring his fangs to me. His honey-green eyes glared at me. It was a look that would evoke fear in its beholder. I was no different. I staggered back a step from the sheer power of his appearance. Tears streamed down my face as I looked upon the man I loved in this animalistic form.

  “This is what you’ve been sneaking off to do?” I hissed “Feeding from women?” I couldn’t help the look of disdain I gave him. How could I have not noticed? I remember when he came home kissing me, tasting of blood. All those jogs he took to clear his head. Had every one of those ended like this?

  “Let me explain.” He had the audacity to look guilty, but I was too hurt to care.

  “You cheated on me!” I cried.

  “No,” he drew out the word with a raised brow. How could he not see that that was what it was? He fed from a woman, behind my back. How many others were there? I suddenly felt ill.

  “Yes, you did. Do you understand how intimate feeding from the opposite sex is? You don’t have to have sex, Grayson, for it to be wrong. I didn’t believe Chris when he told me. I had to see it for myself. I can’t believe this. I can’t even look at you.” He moved towards me but I couldn’t let him touch me. I couldn’t let him make me feel that this was nothing. “No!” I staggered away almost tripping over my feet. My body was stiffening from the cold. “Don’t you dare follow me Grayson Alexander!” I needed to get away from him. I couldn’t believe what he had been doing

  “Gaby!” He tried again, but the woman he had been holding broke away. When he turned to go after her, I took off. I moved quickly at first worried that he’d find me, but after ten minutes I slowed down unable to keep up my brisk pace. My body argued against every step I took as the cold soaked into my bones. I needed to get out of the rain, but I couldn’t go home. He’d be there. I tried to think about where I could go but my feet led me on their own accord. I entered a building unaware of where I was. I was running in zombie mode. I barely noticed I was out of the rain as I shuffled my feet along entering an elevator. The door closed, but I didn’t move.

  I peeked up at the floor numbers and without a conscience effort I pressed a sequence that I had long since memorized before the car moved upwards. When it halted and the doors opened I stood there for a long moment. I felt the tether beckoning me but I couldn’t follow. When the doors began to close a hand shot through the door forcing them open.

  “Gaby?” The familiar voice asked. I tried to step forward, but my knees gave out. Sebastian caught me in his arms. “What happened? Are you okay?”

  I glanced at him with a tearstained face while more tears filled my eyes. I saw so much compassion from this man who I had repeatedly hurt and it broke me. Everything came crashing down. I opened my mouth but words wouldn’t come. Instead, I cried. I cried for him. I cried for Grayson. I cried for the hurt I felt where they were both concerned and for the pain I caused each of them.

  Sebastian lifted me into his arms like I weighed nothing and I went without a struggle. “Come on. I’ll take you to Damien.”

  “No!” I found my voice. “He’ll tell him I’m here. Please Sebastian.”

  “Gaby,” he looked confused. “Damien won’t tell anyone anything.”

  “Yes he will. Please Sebastian. Put me down. I’ll go. I don’t…I can’t…” I stammered struggling to get out of his embrace.

  “Okay,” he conceded tightening his hold. “Okay. I won’t take you to Damien.”

  I eyed him unsure if I should believe him, but I saw no lie in his green eyes. I stopped struggling and relaxed against him. He carried me down the hall and into his room. I shivered trying to find warmth. Even though I was out of the rain and the room was fairly warm, the cold had soaked to my bones.

  Sebastian hesitated for just a second before taking me into the bathroom. He set me down on the counter, but I clung to him. He was warm where I was cold. Smiling, gently he pried my hands off his shirt and went about adjusting the shower. Once he was satisfied he kicked of his shoes and lifted me back into his arms. I wanted to ask what he was doing, but before I could ask, my question was answered as he stepped into the shower with me, both of us fully clothed. I bristled at the temperature, which he quickly adjusted. Once it was comfortable, I laid my head against his shoulder letting the warm water soak my clothing and my skin.

  After a few minutes, he eased me to my feet. When my knees seemed unsteady, his arms wrapped around me and I rested my head against his chest.

  “Are you okay?” he asked. I shook my head. Once I stopped shaking, Sebastian turned off the water and helped me from the shower. He wrapped a plush towel around me and had me sit on the toilet lid while he disappeared into his room. When he returned he wore a pair of sleep pants and nothing else. He held a pile of clothes in his hand, but seemed unsure what to do. Setting them down he squatted in front of me. “Are you okay to get dressed? I can go get Jade if…” I was already shaking my head no. She’d tell Damien and then Grayson would find me before I was ready to face him.

  “I’ll be fine.”

  He left me alone to dress. I slipped out of my shirt with some effort and replaced it with the one Sebastian offered. When I went to remove my pants, it was a struggle I hadn’t been prepared for. I was wearing skinny jeans, which were difficult on a normal occasion, but now they were soaked and my center of gravity was off. When my palm landed hard on the door to catch my balance, it was only a few seconds before I heard a hesitant knock.

  “Gaby?”

  I grabbed the towel and covered my lower half. I had managed to shimmy them down my hips so far. I sat down and told Sebastian he could come in.

  “Trouble?” He smiled sympathetically, but I stared at him with tears welling up in my eyes. “Hey, it’s alright.” He squatted in front of me cupping my face. “I can help if you need?”

  I wanted to tell him I was fine, but I knew I couldn’t stay in the wet pants and I couldn’t get them off on my own. Holding the towel in front of me, I stood. Sebastian reached behind it until his fingers found my thighs. He traced them up to the bunched fabric of my jean. His eyes stayed on mine while he separated the fabric to just pull down my jeans. Once they were to my mid thigh he had me sit while he removed them from each leg until they landed on the floor. “Do you need anymore help?” his voice was sincere but his eyes were darkened in a way that had my heart pounding. I shook my head. He stood to leave but just before he exited I spoke.

  “I caught him feeding on a woman tonight.” I gazed down as the words tumbled out. I saw him spin to face me, but I couldn’t look at his face.

  He let out a heavy breath. “Get dressed, Gaby,” he muttered before walking out, but he left the door cracked.

  Standing, careful to leave the towel around me, I slid out of my wet panties and into the basketball short Sebastian offered. When I entered the room, he was sitting on the edge of the bed. I took the spot next to him.

  “Did you know?” I asked remembering a conversation we had had about Grayson hiding something from me.

  He shook his head. “I would have told you.” He grabbed my hand squeezing it sympathetically. “You can stay here if you want. Or I can go get the key for your room from Damien. I’m sure I could get it without raising suspicions.”

  “If it’s all the same, I’d rather not risk it. I’ll have to face Grayson soon enough, but I’m not ready just yet.”

  He nodded. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  I shrugged. “There’s not much to talk about. He’s been sneaking around behind my back feeding from women. I feel betrayed.” I let out a heavy sigh realizing I really didn’t want to visit the scene again. “It’s late.”

  He gestured to the bed. “Go ahead and lay down. I’ll grab some more pillows.”

  I smiled because he knew what I needed before I asked. Once I was settled and Sebastian returned with more pillows, I grabbed his arm stopping him from retreating. I thought he was going to leave which might raise questions. “Where are you going?”

  “Just to the couch.”

  I bit my lip knowing that it was unwise to ask, but I did anyways. “Will you lay with me? I have a hard time getting comfortable.”

  He swallowed hard. I thought he’d say no, that it was a bad idea, which of course, it was, but instead he nodded. Crawling into bed, he put his left arm across the back of the pillows and I scooted into him. I lifted my left leg over his thigh while shifting until my large stomach rested on his hip then I laid my head on his shoulder and placed my palm on his chest. Sebastian settled his hand over mine and I got a glimpse at what it would have been like if we had ever been a real couple. If our relationship had grown and developed would we have eventually found ourselves there?