He hated to part from her for even this short bit of time, but he needed to speak with Julian, and now would be the only time that he would get Julian alone. Julian turned toward him, the faint light filtering through the windows lighting his ice eyes, warming them to an almost soft ocean hue. Julian’s face was blank but there was a flicker in his eyes as he scanned Devon quickly.
“Is she ok?” he demanded, his voice oddly hoarse.
Devon nodded, his hand tightening on the thin railing of the stairs. Though Devon had known that Julian would have knowledge of what had passed between them, he still did not like the fact. What had passed between them had been so wonderful and precious that he didn’t want to share it with anyone, but there was no keeping it from Julian. Not only would Julian smell it upon him and Cassie, but a simple touch would reveal all to him.
That was why Julian had retreated immediately down here when Devon had taken Cassie upstairs. “You knew what she intended.”
Julian nodded, his eyes flickered briefly again. “I saw it when I touched her, yes.”
“Why didn’t you warn me? Why didn’t you stop her?”
Julian tilted his head, his eyebrows drew questioningly together. “Why would I do that?”
Devon started in surprise, his hand tightened upon the rail. “Because you knew that there was a chance I could hurt her, knew there was a chance I could lose control.”
“Was there?”
“Julian,” Devon growled, not in the mood to deal with his friend’s cavalier attitude.
Julian sighed as he moved away from the window, the rays becoming too much for him to stand. “Yes, I admit that I worried for her safety, but she didn’t. The amount of faith and trust she puts into you is staggering, and I was not going to stand in the way of that.”
“You know what we have done to other human women,” Devon whispered, hating the words that came out. He did not want to think of those dark times, and atrocious acts while the glow of what had just happened still surrounded him, but he needed to hear what Julian had to say.
“I may not wish to remember, not anymore, but yes I know. However, this was something that she needed to do Devon. Something that she wanted so badly that I couldn’t bring myself to deny her it; could not stand in her way. And I believe that she is right. You both needed this night, she deserved this night. Her love for you, your love for each other…”
Julian broke off shaking his head as his gaze darted away. Devon could sense the emotion welling up within him, the hurt, and yet the joy and awe that suffused him. “It is staggering Devon. Believe me, if I thought there was any chance that you would hurt her, I would have warned you. I would have stopped it. But I knew that you wouldn’t. The demon inside us is strong, but no matter how close you get to snapping, it is always her that you put first. Her that you protect. I knew what she intended, and I also knew that if you could not handle it you would walk away. You may not have faith in yourself, but she does, and I do too.”
Devon remained silent, stunned by Julian’s confession, stunned by Julian’s absolute belief in him, which Devon now realized was just as much as Cassie’s. “Julian…” his voice trailed off as Julian turned toward the growing daylight. His shoulders were slumped slightly, a weary air surrounded him. “You really do love her, don’t you?”
Julian turned back to him. “Yes, I do.”
“Then how, why…?”
Julian shrugged as he ran a hand through his disordered hair. “You know when you first met Annabelle I understood your obsession for her, understood that you loved her because I had been there once before too. I got it, I really did. I even sort of understood the fact that you stopped feeding from humans because of her. I never understood how you could just hand her over to Liam like you did. I thought you were crazy, weak, a complete and utter fool.
“But I understand it now. You loved Annabelle enough to let her go. You loved her enough to realize that you didn’t love her enough. That you did not love her the same way that she loved Liam and that he loved her. I love Cassie enough to realize the same. I love her enough to know that what I feel for her is a pale comparison to what you feel for each other. I would die for her, but I would not die without her. I do want her happiness more than I want my own though. And you are her happiness.”
Devon was silent, staggered by Julian’s admission, rattled by the keen insight his friend had developed. “I see.”
“I guess I’m the crazy, weak, fool now.”
“No, you’re simply more of a man than a monster once again.”
Julian tilted his head, his eyes sparked with amusement. “Is that what this feeling is? Humanity?”
Devon laughed softly; he slid down to sit on the stairs. “It’s a bitch,” he muttered.
“That it is,” Julian agreed. He moved over to sit upon one of the crates stacked within the basement. “We can’t trust them you know. I may not have seen any plan for betrayal in them, but we cannot trust them.”
“I know.”
“Especially not Robert.”
Devon’s hands clenched tight, anger spurted through him. Julian’s gaze was hard, his hatred toward Robert apparent in the tight set of his shoulders. “No matter what the others believe, or want, he will try to kill her.”
“Yes,” Julian agreed.
“I’ll kill him first.”
Julian was silent for a moment, his head tilted to the side, his eyes distant and thoughtful. “No Devon, if he goes for her, I will take him out. I owe him for the last time that we met, but this time I will be prepared for the battle, and not taken by surprise.”
“Julian…”
“You cannot kill your own brother Devon, you were never able to. Even back then you were unable to destroy him, though you knew that he would kill you in a heartbeat.”
“If he goes for her…”
“I will take care of him. I owe it to him.”
Devon thought over Julian’s words before nodding slowly. Julian was right, Robert did hate Devon, and Robert would kill him if given the opportunity, but Devon had never been able to kill his brother. Until now. But Julian, well Julian would take great pleasure in destroying Robert, in paying him back for the ambush he had executed on Julian all those years ago.
“Brother,” Devon said on a snort of disgust. Even when growing up they had never been anything even close to brotherly, but once Robert had been changed he had grown to hate Devon even more. Devon had never understood his brother’s hatred of him. Robert had always been the favored son, the one that had stood in the spotlight while Devon slunk through the shadows, hoping to go unnoticed at home. “He must be kept away from her.”