Jack lay on the bed, underneath the covers next to Ellie, watching her as she slept so peacefully. She was a real vision of beauty. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

His eyes were still flushed from the sex earlier. His teeth were still long and pointed. It was a common reaction to arousal in vampires, but something told him it should have subsided by now. It must have had something to do with the raw desire they both shared back then. God. Thinking back over it made his cock hard as steel again. It turned up slowly, pressing against the covers, longing to be back in his mate.

A familiar, yet distant voice echoed in his mind. It was Wraith. I enjoyed that. Fuck. I really enjoyed that. Can we do that again?

He huffed a quiet laugh at the voice of his other. It wasn’t often that they agreed, but for once he had to. Visions of her naked body flashed through his memory. The way her skin had felt under his hands. The way she looked with her legs parted. The way her head dropped back. The sound of her voice as she moaned his name. The wet slick of arousal as their bodies hammered together.

Breath came from his chest as a low and deep rumble. It was all he could to do keep himself held back right now. He was perfectly content watching her sleep. Her blonde hair was curled and messy from their intense fuck. She had the covers pulled up around her arms, sleeping peacefully, body recovering.

You’re supposed to take it slow jackass. Wraith’s voice hissed. Humans aren’t like vampires. They need time to build up to our level.

Memory loss or not, Jack suspected that was the case. Ellie had practically passed out in his arms after they finished fucking earlier. She’d been asleep for a few hours now. She could take all the time she needed. He wanted to jump her bones straightaway, but he didn’t mind waiting for her.

As it turned out the wait wasn’t that long. Her gorgeous blue eyes fluttered open fifteen minutes later, blinking themselves from sleep and staring at him in confusion. She sat up slightly and rubbed her eyes. “J-Jack? Were you watching me sleep?”

He smiled and pulled himself across the mattress to settle a hand on her side. He stroked her hip gently, brushing his thumb down the side of her naked thigh. “Guilty as charged. Sorry. I couldn’t help myself. You look beautiful.”

She blushed and pushed a stray strand of golden hair from off her rosy face. “Thanks. Did I fall asleep? I don’t remember.” Ellie looked around the cottage’s cozy bedroom, seeing it for the first time. She sat up. “Say, this place is nice.”

Jack followed her gaze across the room as she studied its contents. They were on a large four poster bed with thin satin draped on each side. Intricate carvings scored the headboard and each post. The mattress and bedding were soft, warm and freshly washed. Plush cream carpets covered the floors. A broad and ornate wardrobe stood in one corner, a vanity table in the other. A wide window filled the wall to the left of them, which looked out on the snow-covered street at the front of the house.

He was pleased that the room charmed Ellie. She only deserved the best. He only wanted her to be happy. He smoothed his hand around to the small of her back and pulled her close. She turned back to face him, and their lips touched with a long and tender kiss. She was so beautiful.

“You leave me breathless,” she smiled as they pulled away. “When did I fall asleep?”

“Downstairs, after we finished. It was pretty much instant.”

Her white cheeks flushed again. “I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize. Mating with vampires is an intense affair for humans. I should have warned you. I did say we needed to take it slow…”

She half-laughed. “I know, but I don’t think I could wait any longer. It’s crazy, but it was like my mind would focus on nothing else. I needed you more than I need air. That probably doesn’t make sense.”

“It makes perfect sense,” he said, pulling her lips against him once more and smoothing his palm over her ass.

“I had a dream,” she said after they broke away. “We were in the shower together. It was nice.”

Breath rumbled from his chest again, almost sounding like a deep roar. He imagined what it would look like to see the water flowing down her bare skin. His cock stiffened at the thought. “I think I’d like that very much. Shower is just in there. Wanna jump in?”

* * *

Water came down as a hot torrent, instantly filling the walk-in shower with steam and comforting heat. They were on each other in an instant, bodies crushing together, lips tangled in a long and slow kiss. He worked his way down to the crook between her neck and shoulder, squeezing her ass in both his hands, tugging his hips against her stomach as his lips kissed her.

“You bewitch me,” she said, giggling as he pushed her back against the cool tiles. His hand brushed up her leg, found her warm pussy and slipped inside. Her body opened in response. “Oh Jack…” she soothed. “Fuck me. Jack…”

He brought her to a quick and heavy orgasm, her voice echoing across the shower space while the hot water came down upon their bodies. Her fingers clawed against his back, desperately trying to hold onto something as his strong hands turned her to a trembling mess.

It took a while to get past the distraction that was each other, but they eventually managed to wash each other off, lathering one another from head to toe, removing the sweet coats of sweat that covered their bodies from their earlier entanglement.

Once they were out the shower they went back to the bedroom to dry off. Jack lay on the bed with a towel draped over his body, reading a magazine he’d found in the bedside cabinet. Ellie sat at the vanity table, drying her hair in the mirror. When she was done she disappeared from the room and came back in a few minutes later, wearing a white t-shirt and a pair of pink panties. Jack looked up from his magazine, nearly knocking the towel off his waist as his cock sprung to life.

“Where did you get that?” he asked slowly, dragging his eyes up and down her body. The white t-shirt she was wearing was barely long enough to cover her ass, which meant that her legs and underwear were his to ogle. The fabric was thin, see-through, and he could make out her breasts underneath, focusing on those hardening points.

“There’s a walk-in wardrobe through that other door. There was a note saying we’re free to take whatever we want. You should take a look. There’s loads in there. I’m just wearing what felt comfortable.”

Comfortable? You look like a fucking angel walking on earth.

She laughed nervously, looking down at herself. “What’s the matter? You’re looking at me all funny again. Is this too shabby?”

He shook his head, throwing the magazine onto the floor beside him. “Definitely not shabby. To be honest… I’m struggling. I need to hold back and let you take your time, but all I want to do is fuck the life out of you.”

Her eyes widened at the admission, and a goofy grin filled her face. Adorable. “Wait. This?” She looked down. “This does it for you?”

He gave a primal grunt and nodded, struggling to contain himself. “You could put a potato sack on darling and I’d still want to fuck you senseless.”

Ellie pushed her tongue against the inside of her cheek, rolled her eyes up and cocked her brow as if she was plotting something. She twirled a finger through her hair, padded across the carpet and climbed onto the bed, resting at its end on her knees, one hand clutched on the bedpost beside her. “What if I don’t want to wait?” she said playfully.

“We have to,” he said, his cock aching in painful protest. “Too much too soon could hurt you.”

She shuffled forward again, ripped his towel from around his waist and threw it onto the floor behind her. “But what about a little tease? Surely that would be fine?” Her hand found his thigh and she rolled him onto his back, shuffled up his legs and stopped on his thighs. He looked up at her and tensed his cock, feeling it drip against his stomach.

Tease? He wasn’t sure he could take that. Whatever it meant.

She bent down, took his cock in her hands and started pumping slowly. “What if I just want a little taste? You wouldn’t deny me of that would you?”

Jack’s gaze turned up to the ceiling as her mouth sank over the top of his cock. He spread his arms out wide, bunching fabric into his palms. She dipped her head down halfway along his shaft and pulled up again, kissing his tip and licking pre-cum from his slit. His cock went hard as molten rock. She pumped faster and dipped her head down again.

His hips lunged up from the bed, ass clenched tight as his cock longed to be buried deep inside of her. She bobbed up and down on his cock, swirling her tongue around his thick head, rapidly coating his juices over his base with her hand. She pushed her hips against his legs, grinding her pussy against him. She was already wet. Her panties were soaked again.

Good lord Ellie, he thought. How could he keep himself away from this? How could he deny this fucking perfect angel?

She sank her head onto his cock, humming pleasure through her nose as she fucked him with her mouth. One hand pumped up and down the bottom half of his shaft while the other slipped under her panties, slicking between her slit in time with her strokes.

Within a minute the pressure built inside of him, threatening to spill from his balls and erupt up his shaft like a volcano. He tensed at the thought, his chest raced up and down, his body stiffened. “I’m gonna come baby,” he said through hissing breath. “I’m gonna fucking come!”

She tore her mouth away for a brief second before closing in on him again. “Fill me Jack. Fill me!”

His cock erupted with a plume of molten love, tightening and tensing a dozen times before he was done. She kept her lips clamped firmly around him the whole while, drank him down and held his cock held tight in her hand, moaning her approval through her nose.

When she was sure he was done she sucked her lips all the way to his tip slowly and sat up straight, rolling her lips together and humming with her eyes closed, lost in a lust drunk haze that filled them both with happiness. “I like the way you taste,” she said after a minute, opening her eyes to look down at him. She bent down to meet him, and they kissed long and hard. He pulled his hands around her ass and squeezed, tugging her against him. His cock began to harden again, always wanting more of her.

She sat up a little, eyes closed and mouth moaning, pushing her damp panties against his hard iron. “Jack… fuck. You want more?”

Her scent lifted through the air and he breathed it in deep. Her arousal was the sweetest scent to him. He’d rip down walls for it. He’d kill for it. “I want to taste you again,” he said, voice purring like some wild beast. It had been too long since he was last between those legs. It was too long since he last tasted that sweet salt of her heavenly nectar.

They flipped positions in one swift movement. The fastness of it startled her, causing her to shriek and laugh in surprise as Jack flipped her onto her back. Before she could realize it, he was down on his knees, his lips soldered against her damp panties. She reached one hand up and grabbed the headboard, gasping silent gratitude for what she was about to experience.

He wrapped his hands around her panties, rolled them down her legs and crouched back down again to press his lips against that delicious pink heaven. He dragged his tongue up her dripping line slowly, smiling to himself as he heard her shaking moans overhead. Her thighs trembled. Her body shook. She was his. And no one else’s.

* * *

Time blurred between them as their physical affection heightened. They forgot their surroundings, their place, they lost all sense of self. The only thing that mattered between them was joining their bodies. The only thing they wanted was to answer the endless burning that rolled underneath their skin.

Seconds seemed to slip into minutes, and minutes seemed to slip into hours. They twisted and turned, took turns giving pleasure to one another, coming up for air and diving back down once more only to do it all over again. It was as if their souls had slipped from their bodies and ascended into some ethereal realm containing only love and pleasure.

The first disturbance came only many hours later, when a distant knocking sound was heard at the door. Jack, who was perched over Ellie on the bed, pulled his lips from hers and felt a red-hot aggression boiling through his veins. Who dared disturb them? Who dared disturb this time with his mate?

“Who is it?” Ellie said, speaking through wordless breaths after an intense session of slow love making.

“To hell with them,” Jack said as he pushed his lips back to her breast. “It’s not important.”

The rapid knocking at the door several moments later seemed to indicate it was important. Jack tore himself from Ellie once more and jumped up to his feet, cursing the idiot that was stupid enough to disturb their alone time. He pulled on a pair of jeans and stalked out of the bedroom, telling Ellie that he would be right back.

Jack flew down the stairs and found himself at the front door in a moment’s notice, he threw it open, ready to snarl at the unwelcome intruder and found himself staring at Garret, the blacksmith from the village. The sight took Jack by surprise a little, and he reared back slightly.

“Garret? What are you doing here?”

“Morning lad,” Garret said in his deep and rumbling voice. One hand twisted the end of his long red beard while the other hung in the air at his side. “Been wondering where you’ve been. You never turned up for that shift.”

“Shift?” Jack said, finding faint recollection in the word. Realization hit him a moment later as memories of the world outside their bedroom came back. “Shift! Fuck. Sorry Garret. I’ve been…” He paused, wondering how to explain his absence. “I’ve been…”

The visiting vampire looked into the wide black eyes of his prospective student and huffed a laugh. A look of understanding passed over his face. “You… you don’t have to explain. I’ve seen that look before. You’ve got the eyes of a vampire in calling.”

Jack turned his head at the words. “I… I do?”

Garret gave a slight chuckle. “Sure do. I’ve seen it enough times in my life to recognize it when I see it. Who’s the lucky lady? Hope you’ve strapped that bed down tight.”

A nervous laugh came back from Jack in reply. He brushed a hand over the back of his head and straightened up. “Look, Garret, I’m sorry I didn’t show up for the shift. I know it doesn’t look good, what with it being my first shift and all. I promise I’m not like that. I just lost track of time, I’ve been preoccupied with… other things…”

The bearded vampire gave a hearty chuckle. “I can imagine you have. I’ll let you off this once, seeing as it’s a rare occasion. I’ve never experienced the calling myself, but from what I hear it’s a mighty hard thing to ignore. I’m not sure I’d want a vampire working for me that could ignore something like that.”

Jack smiled, but he had to ask. “I’m sorry, but what do you mean by calling?”

“Some vampires have other words for it. Calling. Mating. Bonding. It was your eyes that gave it away. Your teeth as well. It’s what happens when vampires make a physical bond with a mate for the first time. Don’t get me wrong… I’ve had plenty of throwaway sex. The girls in this town love a big strong blacksmith.” He leaned forward and nudged Jack with his elbow. “But I’ve never experienced the calling. Must say you’re a lucky fucker. Hope you treat her right.”

“Uh… thanks,” Jack said back. “I still got the job then?”

“If you want it,” Garret said with a gruff nod, looking down at a watch on his wrist. “Sun will be up soon so there’s another twenty hours before I open shop. It would be good to see you at the next shift, but I’ll understand if you’re not done. These things can take some time.”

Jack glanced outside at the dawn blushed sky and pulled back inside quickly. “Jesus. It’s nearly morning?”

“That it is,” the blacksmith laughed. “I guess your sense of time has lost priority to other things. Just come and visit me when you can lad. No grudges held.” With that Garret gave Jack a mighty slap on the shoulder, turned from the doorway and left. Jack shut the door slowly and made his way back upstairs. Ellie looked back at him from the bed.

“What was it?”

“Garret, from the metal shop in town. He wanted to know why I didn’t turn up for my shift.”

Ellie sat up. “Oh God. Jack. I made you late. Can you still make it?”

Laughing, he shook his head and nodded over to the window. “Not unless Garret likes to work under the sun. I’m seven hours late, Ellie. We must have really lost track of time up here.”

Ellie looked as stunned at the revelation as Jack. She sat forward, pulled a blanket over her torso and propped her brows up. “Wow… I didn’t realize we’d been…”

At it that long? Jack thought. He laughed and nodded. “Yeah, I guess we might have got a little carried away.” Not that he was complaining of course. He’d happily do it all again in a heartbeat. He sat down on the bed next to Ellie, brushed a strand of hair from her face and kissed her cheek.

“I like getting carried away with you,” she said, beaming as she said the words. “I hope we can do more of it.”

“Me too.” He smiled and laced his hand with hers. Garret’s interruption had knocked the wind from their sails a little and their momentum felt as if it had pulled back. “What do you say we have a look around the rest of the house and maybe fix you up some food?”

“Sounds good.” She smiled. “I can always head into the village and get supplies for us should we need anything.”

With that they both dressed properly and looked at the rest of the quaint cottage. The rest of the home was just as wholesome and cozy. It turned out that a supply run wasn’t necessary, as a quick inspection of the kitchen stores revealed that the house was well stocked. The fridge was full of fresh food. The cupboards were packed with supplies. There was even a secondary fridge that held a suitable supply of blood for Jack.

The day was spent refueling and recouping together. They talked, relaxed, laughed about things and lost track of time once more, staring into each other’s eyes idly while the world turned outside, growing darker with each passing hour.

* * *

The sun set at the edge of the world, and as it did the twinkling lights of Skarvast turned on once more. As the air grew dark and cold the many inhabitants of the quaint little town filled into the streets once more, resuming their nightly rituals of work and play. Ellie and Jack decided to venture back into the village again. They wanted to look around together this time. There was a well of curiosity flowing through Ellie. She had a strange desire to learn about this new way of life. Her upbringing in The Order had never prepared her for this. Vampire’s weren’t civilized. They couldn’t love. All they knew was greed and hate. If the twinkling lights and happy faces of Skarvast citizens was anything to go off, it seemed the Order’s lessons hadn’t been entirely honest.

They walked back into the large square at the center of the town and spent some time wondering around idly, arms linked as they observed the new world. Ellie got the sense that Jack wasn’t really the settling down type. He struck her as a wanderer. Someone that roamed wherever the feeling took them. She wondered if his staying here might drive him slightly mad, but his first impressions by all accounts were only positive.

“I got to admit,” he said as they took a break on a bench to watch villagers in the ice rink, “I kind of like it here. I was annoyed at first when I found out the passage into the mountains is blocked. I’ve still got that picture burning in my mind and feel like I have to go there. It feels like the urgency has eased off a little though. The pressure has lifted. I have to say… it’s kind of nice.”

She stared into his eyes, lost herself in his deep gaze and smiled. They hadn’t spoke of the prophecy to each other since meeting with Kara the other day. In a way it had been nice just to forget who they were. She’d certainly been enjoying their time together. Jack might still feel some strange desire to head north and go looking for lost castles, but she was happy to forget about all that for now. As they sat there the idea came to her that maybe all the prophecy business was nonsense anyway. Sure, she seemed to bare a mark that resembled a spiral, and it had made her cross paths with a Belmont vampire, but maybe underneath all that they were just two ordinary people who were looking for someone.

Couldn’t it just be that simple? Couldn’t they just find their own private corner of the world and forget about all that other stuff that was happening?

“Hey,” Jack said, tugging on her arm. He lifted his hand and pointed at a tall building across the square. “Check it out, The Royal Oak. Isn’t that where Natalie said she was staying with Rourke? Want to go over and say hi?”

The old inn at the middle of the town square was as cozy as it was ancient. The low ceilings were crossed with sagging wooden rafters, and the stonework floor was suitably scuffed from several centuries of footfall. The place had a charm to it however and judging from the number of people inside it was a popular destination within the village.

“Where do you reckon they’d be?” Jack said as he looked around the crowded room of drinking vampires. Ellie’s eyes shot to the bar and saw Natalie immediately. She was stood behind the bar serving drinks.

“There’s Natalie,” she said, tugging at Jack to follow her. As they approached the bar Natalie spotted Ellie and ducked around to meet her friend with another enthusiastic hug.

“You made it! I was wondering where you two got to! Rourke was worried you’d been sent to Radst with Monica and the rest of her cronies.”

“Radst?” Ellie said, watching as Natalie ducked back behind the bar.

“Yeah, Radst. It’s another village about an hour east. Skarvast is a passive settlement, so most Supers aren’t allowed to stay here unless they can prove they can behave. Kara was nice enough to let Rourke and I stay, but most of the other Valentine vampires got sent to Radst, including Monica. They’re free to come and visit during nightfall, but they can’t stay over.”

Ellie almost felt like laughing. She knew that a vampire as wild as Monica would have looked out of place in a quaint village like Skarvast. “I bet Monica took that well.”

Natalie rolled her eyes. “There was a temper tantrum to say the least, but Kara has a loyal following. Monica didn’t kick up too much of a fuss when she realized she was outnumbered. Where did you guys get to last night? We were expecting you.”

Ellie and Jack stared at each other. Ellie tried to think of some explanation that seemed dignified, but her words only ended up trailing off. “We, err, well…”

Natalie looked between the couple and her gaze stopped on Jack. A knowing look filled her expression and she smiled while nodding. “Ah. I’ve seen that look before. You’ve been sharing some alone time. That’s… very interesting.” Natalie left her reaction there, but both Ellie and Jack could tell there was more she wanted to say. It was down to Natalie’s foresight that she kept her mouth shut, but the curiosity blazed there in her eyes, plain enough for anyone to see.

Ellie looked into her friend’s eyes and understood the look immediately. Natalie knew Wraith’s real identity. She wouldn’t share it here and risk getting them into trouble, but the fact that Wraith Belmont could share a connection like that with a human was interesting. It made Natalie look at Ellie in a different light. It put questions in her mind that didn’t have a voice yet.

“Where is Rourke?” Jack asked, partly to change the subject.

“Rourke is out working,” Natalie said with a dry smile while polishing a glass. “It might be hard to believe, but that privileged pretty boy has never worked a day in his life. He was half terrified when he heard that all vampires here had to work. I think he’s actually enjoying himself though.”

“What’s he doing?” Ellie asked.

“Hunting in the forest. There’s a small team of vampires that gathers food and supplies for everyone in the village. They work throughout the night mostly. I thought he might struggle with it, but he’s taken to it quite well.” She leaned in close and dropped her voice to a whisper. “It’s been quite helpful in venting his frustration over the attack on the gate. He’s still mad they lost control of it to the Circle and the White Order.”

Ellie almost choked at hearing the words. “The Order?”

“Yeah,” Natalie said with an indifferent smile. “We found out from Kara’s men that the Order coordinated the attack on the border with the Circle.”

“How do they know?” Jack asked, suddenly growing interested in the conversation.

Before Natalie could speak Ellie already knew the answer. “The explosives,” she said.

“Bingo,” Natalie said and clicked her fingers. “So you did know?”

“No,” Ellie shook her head. “I just know the Order and how they work. Now I’ve realized it I can’t believe I didn’t see it earlier. Our weaponry is the one thing that lets us hold an edge against vampires. If they’ve formed a real union with the Circle their power could be devastating.”

“Scary, right?” Natalie said and picked up another glass. “Rumor has it they’re looking for these lost daughters together. You know, that bull crap prophecy about these human breeders?” Natalie sighed and looked down at her stomach, holding a hand there momentarily while she looked glum. “I wish I could be one of those girls. Might make Rourke do some bonding sex with me. He’s nice enough, but I know he’s not really interested.”

A large group of vampires walked in and approached the bar. Natalie rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. “Looks like I got to get back to work guys. Maybe we can catch up later? See ya!”

Ellie and Jack exited the Royal Oak and walked around the village some more before deciding to head back to their house in the guest village. They had just walked by the temple and emerged onto the long street that led to their cottage when they saw an old woman waving to them from the garden of a cottage on the nearest corner. As they got closer they realized it was Kara.

“Kara!” Ellie said with a start. The old woman looked more real out in the moonlight. Where her previous self in the temple had seemed like a paper-thin apparition, this version looked more sprightly and certain. “Is this your house?” Ellie looked at the crooked old cottage behind the woman. It was small and made of odd angles. They seemed like a perfect match.

“Oh? No. I’m just getting rid of some bad energy. Tell me. How was your first night in the village?” She looked between Jack and Ellie, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Fine.” Jack answered with a polite smile. “Our accommodation is very nice. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she said with a curt nod. “If you don’t mind boy I’d like to speak with Ellie here. You have a shift starting at the blacksmith I understand. Why not hurry back to the house and get ready for it?”

Jack looked down at his watch and saw that Kara was right. His brows jumped at the news. “Crap. She’s right Ellie. I better hurry back and get ready.”

“Okay,” Ellie said. “See you back at the house.”

“She’ll only be a minute,” Kara shouted as Jack hurried down the street to their cottage. Once he was out of earshot the old woman turned back to Kara and dropped the smile from her face. “Thought you might be gone by now. Seems you trusted your instincts?”

Ellie nodded bashfully. “I’m not sure what happened exactly.”

“This.” Kara jabbed her finger through the air and hit Ellie in the chest. “You listened to your heart for once. And aren’t you all the better for it?”

“I guess,” Ellie said, rubbing the spot on her chest where Kara had poked her. “Does anyone else here know who Jack and I are?”

The old woman shook her head. “No, and I’ll be keeping it to myself for now. Best we don’t announce it too loudly. Lots of punk ass morons running around trying to interfere with things they don’t understand. Vampire hunters. Vampire police.” Kara hocked her throat and spat. “They’re all eager to involve themselves in something that doesn’t concern them. I take it you’re staying then?”

“Huh?” Ellie said, blindsided by the question a little. Kara whipped a hand out as quick as a flash and clipped her ear.

“Ow!” Ellie said.

“Listen then girl!” she bawled. “You’re staying?”

“I don’t know,” Ellie said, rubbing her ear. “Maybe.”

“Well you maybe better start thinking about looking for a job. Lost daughter or not, you’re not staying in my village if you can’t make yourself useful. What are you good for? And don’t say vampire hunting, because I’ll kick your ass to the curb myself.”

“How did you know I was—” Ellie started, but stopped at seeing the old woman tap her head.

“That’s right,” she said. “All seeing, all knowing. I can see you’re good at surviving too. All those years with the hunters was mostly wasted, but it looks like you can forage all right. Food is scarce here at the moment. Maybe you’d find a good place with the hunters. I’ll put a word in with Malachi. He’s their leader. You should go speak to him come nightfall. He needs more humans on the day shifts.”

Ellie opened her mouth to tell Kara that wasn’t really necessary, but the old woman spoke up again before she could answer back. “No need to thank me. Why don’t you go back to the cottage with lover boy and sit on it before you make any decisions? No sense in wasting any more of my time standing here and acting all vague. Get out of here. Go on, get out! Before I smack that other ear!”

Ellie jumped back from the fence quickly and backed down the street, wary of the old woman’s gaze all the while. When she got back to the house she saw Jack had changed into a pair of ink black overalls. “There was a package on the porch courtesy of Garret. Had this inside. Looks like this is my work get up.”

“Looks hot,” Ellie said, kissing him on the cheek as she walked in.

“What did old crazy want?”

She let out a sigh and shook her head. “I’m not sure I know exactly. She’s a weird one.”

“That she is,” Jack laughed. “I’m just gonna head upstairs and finish getting ready. Maybe when I finish my shift later we can pick up back where we left off?” His hands looped around her and pulled her tight. He kissed her, and everything melted away momentarily. When he pulled away Ellie felt dizzy.

“That would be great actually,” she said with a goofy smile.

“Great,” he said back. “I won’t be a minute.” Jack bolted up the stairs, leaving Ellie stood alone in the hallway. She made her way for the kitchen when she heard a knock at the door. “Tell Garret I’m coming now!” Jack shouted from upstairs.

Laughing, Ellie rolled her eyes and went for the door. “Okay!” Opening it, she saw the guard stood there, the same one that had escorted them to the house the night before. “Err… Hi. What’s up?”

“Not much miss. I’m just here to take you to the meeting we arranged last night.”

“Meeting?” Ellie asked.

“Yes,” the guard said with certainty. “You informed me you were traveling on from here and needed some assistance in planning your outward journey.”

“Oh.” Ellie blinked a few times as she faintly remembered the conversation. “I guess I did, yeah. Sorry. It’s been a… hectic twenty-four hours.”

“No problem, miss. If you’d like to accompany me I will take you straight there. We can have you on your way in almost no time.” The guard turned from the door to descend the porch steps when Ellie reached her hand out.

“Actually… I was wondering. Is it possible if we could delay that for now?”

“Delay miss?” the guard said in question.

“Yeah.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and chewed at her lip. “It’s just… well. Things might have changed a little, and I’m not so sure I’m leaving now.”

“Oh? That is… not a problem. Providing that you are sure?”

“Yeah…” she said after a long moment’s thought. “I think I am. I’m going to stay for a little bit if that’s okay. I don’t think I’m ready to leave.”

“Very well then miss!” the guard said with a smile. “I’ll head to the office now and let them now their assistance is no longer required. Good night!” With that the guard left. Ellie shut the door slowly and turned back to face the hall. Jack’s footfall came down the steps.

“Where is that impatient bastard? He waiting outside?” he asked, looking around for signs of Garret.

“It was just the guard from last night,” she said.

“Oh. Everything okay?” Jack walked across the hall and slipped his hands around Ellie’s waist. She stared up into his red eyes, feeling her heart flutter once more.

“Yeah, actually. Everything is… fine.” She stopped and listened to the words, realizing it was the first time in her life that those words were plain truth. She wrapped her arms tight around Jack and pressed herself against his chest, sighing to herself in content as the scent of earth and oak lifted around her.

Maybe staying didn’t make any sense. Maybe she was in overhead. Maybe she should have gone to that meeting and left Jack here in Skarvast. Whatever maybe meant, she didn’t really care anymore. All she knew is that she was happy here, and her instinct told her it was where she was meant to be.

She’d made her choice, and she was sticking with it.