Cassie nodded slowly as she digested this information. “I see.”
He was silent for a moment, his eyes dark and distant. “I’m not sure I can promise anything when it comes to her either.”
“She got us out of there,” she reminded him.
“She helped to put us in there,” he retorted.
Cassie was silent for a moment, torn between her desire to get even with Dani for her actions, and her desire not to see her hurt. At one time she had thought of Dani as a little sister, she had cared for her, and she had been betrayed because of that trust. But she still could not bring herself to let the girl get hurt. “No Julian, Dani will get hers in the end, but we won’t be the ones to give it to her. Besides, we may need her still.”
He grunted softly as he folded his arms over his chest, looking completely disgruntled by her answer. “Are we staying here all night?” she asked softly.
“That’s the plan.”
“If you want to get some sleep, I’ll keep watch for awhile.”
He shook his head, leaning against the wall again. “I’m fine.”
Cassie nodded, resting her head against the wall as she studied the street. Though they had spent every night in their cells talking endlessly, they both remained quiet while on watch. The moon moved across the snow, its light illuminated the street even more. Cassie shifted slightly, she pulled on the edges of the over large sweatshirt she had found in the back, along with a pair of work jeans.
“Did you know they were giving me your blood?” she asked softly after awhile.
Julian tore his attention away from the window. “I suspected,” he admitted.
She gaped at him for a moment. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He shook his head, his platinum hair falling across his forehead. “You had enough to worry about in there without me adding to it, especially when I wasn’t certain.”
She bit on her bottom lip, turning back to the window. “How did you know?”
“The discoloration in your arm, it’s what happens when vampire blood is introduced into the human system.”
“I’m not human.”
“You’re more human than not.”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.” Cassie jumped slightly, turning in surprise as Devon emerged from the darkness. He strode purposely forward, the shadows hugging his powerful frame. Her mouth went dry, her heart thumped loudly at the sight of him. He was the most magnificent thing she had ever seen, and he was hers. She glanced swiftly away, her eyes focusing on the floor as she tried to get her body under control. Julian may understand where she belonged, but she didn’t want to rub her relationship with Devon in his face.
Devon’s arms encircled her, wrapping around her waist as he pulled her against his chest. He stared hard at Julian for a moment before bending to drop a gentle kiss on top of her head. Apparently he didn’t care what Julian thought, or how it affected him. “You should be asleep.”
“I slept all day,” she reminded him.
“Hmm.” He nuzzled her gently for a moment before pulling slightly away. “Has there been anything out there?”
“Not in a long time,” Julian answered.
Devon turned toward him, his hands tightened on Cassie’s waist for a moment. She could feel the tension humming through him as he watched Julian. Devon was still uncertain what to make of him, uncertain how to handle this change in events, or if he should trust him. Cassie wanted to tell him once again that he could trust Julian now, but Devon had to come about this in his own way, on his own terms. They had once been good friends; she hoped that they could get that friendship back.
Minus the murder, destruction, and women that had once bonded them, of course.
Cassie shifted slightly acutely aware of the fact that she was now surrounded by two of the most powerful men on the planet. Men that could destroy each other if she wasn’t careful. Sensing her distress, Devon pressed tighter against her, gently rubbing her back as he tried to soothe her.
“You can get some sleep if you want,” he said to Julian.
Julian shook his head, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “I’m good.”
Cassie turned back to the window, pulling the curtain aside. Devon leaned over top of her, his chin resting on her head. “How long are we going to stay here for?” she asked quietly.
“We’ll gather things tomorrow, leave tomorrow night,” Devon answered.
Cassie shifted uncomfortably, hating the idea of being cooped up in here for that long. “Why so long?”
“Everyone needs a rest, including you.” She chose to ignore the censure in his words, and Julian’s soft chuckle. She wanted them to be friends she didn’t want them gaining up on her though. “Plus, we need to formulate a plan, and exhausted overwhelmed people do not think well.”
“The same with vampires,” she retorted.
She felt his smile as he rested his cheek against her hair. “Yes, and vampires.”
Cassie leaned into him, savoring in his strength. She was never going to leave his side again, it didn’t matter if he thought it would be best for her, she would not do it. “You can’t send me away again,” she said softly. “Even if it is for my own good.”
He body tensed against hers. “I won’t,” he promised.
“Ever.”
“Ever.”
She turned slightly toward him, searching his intense emerald eyes. She saw the sincerity in his gaze, read the determination in the hard lines of his face. “Good.”
He smiled wanly at her, kissing the tip of her nose. Cassie grinned back at him, wishing that she could kiss him for much longer than that, but knowing that she couldn’t. Her gaze darted to Julian, a momentary wave of guilt crashed over her. Whenever she was around Devon, she forgot all sense of reason, and everything around her. Including Julian. And although his face remained impassive, she could sense the strain in his body. The last thing in the world she wanted was to hurt him further.
She turned slowly back to the window, guilt eating at her. Devon rubbed her back gently as he leaned around her to pull the curtain back further. “Where are they all?” he murmured.
“Somewhere up to no good,” Julian answered.
They continued to watch the road, the moon moving over the horizon as an hour slipped past. Cassie’s feet began to ache; her back grew sore from standing for so long. She leaned harder against Devon, needing to ease some of the pressure on her already wounded feet. “Want me to get you a chair?”