Hunter leads Rook up the stairs to his brownstone, “This is my home, our home.”

Rook takes in the feel of the building with a smile and glances either way down the street, “You’re in the middle of everything here.”

“I like it that way.” His features darken, “I enjoy the sounds of the living.”

“I grew up on a farm, our closest neighbor was at least ten miles away.” She steps inside the door, “When I first arrived in New Orleans it was really hard sleeping with all the noise.” She shrugs, going in, “But I eventually–”

She’s interrupted when Hunter pulls her close to him, putting his finger over her lips to shush her.

Her eyes go wide, “Augustus?”

“Shh.” Hunter listens for a moment, sniffing at the air.

“Hello, Hunter.” A woman’s voice with a heavy French accent comes from the kitchen.

“Sophie?” Surprise rules his tone.

A tall, slender woman wearing a skin-tight designer dress appears in the hallway. Rook eyes her six-inch stiletto heels and the way she gracefully floats down the hallway. She breaks away from Hunter, pinning him with a questioning look. She rests her hand on her hip, “Sophie?”

A grin passes across his lips, “Sophie, this is Rook.” He motions to Rook, “Rook, this is Sophie. Camille’s wife.”

Embarrassment creeps up Rook’s neck, “Camille’s wife?” She reaches out, offering her hand, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“I’m so pleased to meet you.” Sophie smiles enthusiastically. “You have no idea how excited we are that Hunter found you.” She leans in, “Maybe he won’t be quite so surly.”

“I’m not surly,” Hunter defends himself.

Sophie purses her lips together then shifts to a smile, “Right then.” She turns to Rook, “Camille asked me to stock the fridge with food, she said you were human.” Sophie studies her, “She also mentioned you were beautiful, and she was right. But Camille has an eye for that sort of thing.”

“Oh, well, um, thank you.” Rook hangs her head, hitching a stray curl behind her ear.

Camille turns back for the kitchen, “I’ll only be another minute and I’ll be out of your hair. Sunrise is coming.” She quirks her brow.

“Thank you, Sophie.” Hunter motions for Rook to head up the stairs in the foyer, “I’d like to show you around. It’s not much, but it’s been home for about ten years.”

Rook hikes her backpack up to her shoulder, checking out the high ceilings and ornate crown molding, “It’s beautiful.”

Hunter takes her backpack from her, “I’m glad you like it.” He puts his hand in the small of her back, leading her to the study, “Of course, we can live wherever you’d like. We don’t have to stay here.”

“You do for bit.” Sophie appears in the doorway. “Camille said that someone was coming in the morning to speak with you.”

Hunter loops his arms around Rook, “It’ll have to wait.”

“It didn’t sound as though that was an option.” Sophie raises her brow, “Someone named Delia something.”

Hunter’s expression falls, “Delia Costanzo?”

“Yes, that was it,” Sophie recalls.

“Shit!” Hunter runs his fingers through his hair.

“Who is she?” Rook asks.

He sets his stance, shaking his head, “Directive.”

“Henry said they’d want to talk with us,” Rook reminds him.

“This is likely about me killing Augustus.”

The color drains from Sophie’s face, “Augustus Ramagi?”

Hunter waves a hand, “Yes, it’s about time someone put that dog down.”

“Oh, this is bad,” Sophie says, worrying her hands together. “Camille didn’t mention that.”

“It’s going to be fine, it was completely justified,” Hunter assures her.

“But there are a lot of people that aren’t going to be happy,” Sophie warns. “And how is Camille handling all of this?”

“What’s the deal with this guy? He was nearly untouchable in New Orleans. We had hard evidence against him and The Directive wasn’t willing to act on it. Who is he?” Anger brews in Rook’s belly at the thought of him.

“A very old, very powerful and very untouchable vampire.” Sophie wraps her arms around herself protectively. “He was also Camille’s maker.”

“He was just a vampire,” Hunter shrugs, blowing it off. “I easily bested him.”

Sophie’s gaze darts between Rook and Hunter, “Yes, but how many of his followers can you best if they come after you...or her?”

Hunter’s jaw sets with anger, “All of them.”

“You might want to consider laying low for a while,” she says, glancing at the window. “I’ve got to go; the sun will be up soon.”

Hunter goes to her and offers an embrace, “It’s going to be okay. I’ll handle this, haven’t I always protected you and Camille?”

“Yes, but–”

“And I’ll do it this time as well.” Hunter nods once. “Would you like me to walk you home?”

“No, I’ll be fine, it’s just two doors down.” She presses her lips into a tight smile in Rook’s direction, “It was a pleasure.”

“Likewise,” Rook says nervously, considering the danger they could be facing.

Sophie makes her way out the door. Hunter follows her out the door and watches as she walks to the brownstone two doors down. When she disappears in the door, he comes back in.

Rook paces the study floor, “What are we going to do?”

“We’re going to be fine,” Hunter says, taking her into his arms.

“You aren’t worried about retaliation? Or being locked away by The Directive?” She curls deeper into his chest, “They are all powerful.”

“They’re pretty powerful, but please trust me. I won’t lose you, I’ve haven’t survived for thousands of years by being faint of heart,” he grumbles into her ear, holding her.

“How old are you?” she asks.

“I don’t know.” He laughs, “I lost count many hundreds of years ago. Let’s just say I’m old enough.”

Rook nods, “Okay.” She wants to believe him, trust that everything’s okay. But her life has been nothing but chaos since entering this world and she doesn’t see an end in sight.

“Come on, I’ll show you the rest of the place.” He slides his hand down her arm, interlocking their fingers.

Rook’s shoulders relax as she follows him through the house, “You know, this isn’t what I’d expect from an old vampire.”

“What did you expect? Some sort of Gothic mansion?” He chuckles.

Rook pulls one shoulder to her ear sheepishly, “Sort of.” She sputters a little, “All of the vampires I know have grand mansions and live...differently.”

“Show offs,” he says with a wry smile before saying, “But I do own a Gothic mansion in Europe.”

He continues up the stairs, “And a castle in Ireland.”

“Really?” she asks, surprised. “Which do you like better?”

“I’ve enjoyed my time here in Toronto. I like the weather and the people are very progressive,” he says, reaching the top of the stairs. “Our room is there, this is a guest room, guest bath.” He motions to the various doors in the hallway.

“This is your favorite house?” She pays closer attention to the decor and the architecture to figure out what makes this is his favorite.

“No,” Hunter gets a faraway look in his eye, “My favorite is my farm house in the Faroe Islands.”

“Oh, somewhere tropical?” She jumps a little with excitement.

A laugh rumbles from deep within his chest, “Hardly. The Faroe Islands is an archipelago between Denmark and Iceland.”

“So not tropical,” she deadpans.

“No, but if you like, we can find some property on the island of your choice in the Caribbean,” he says, taking both of her hands in his. “I want you to be happy.”

“What about your happiness? Of the places you’ve named, they’re all in cold places.” She watches his reaction.

“I do prefer the colder weather, but it makes no difference to me. We can spend twenty or thirty years in the tropics, then move to Alaska if you wish.” He rocks her hips.

A peculiar expression crosses Rook’s eyes, “Hunter.”

He pulls her to him, “Yes?”

She lowers her gaze, “I…”

“You’re overwhelmed, overjoyed?” He tries to finish her sentence.

She pierces him with apprehensive eyes, “Mortal.”

Hunter sucks in a sharp breath, fear streaks through him at the prospect of losing her. “We can…” He stops himself from finishing his thought. He thinks back to when he met Camille, the state she was in and what it’s like for a vampling.

“What? Turn me?” she says, stepping back from him. “We don’t even know if we can do the ritual thing without killing you. Then what? I live eternity without you? No, thank you.”

“Rook, we’re going to figure this all out.” He closes the distance between them. “I don’t believe the gods would be so cruel as to have me find you, only to take you away from me.”

“But we–”

He places his finger over her lips, “Shh, it’s going to be okay. Henry seems to know something about the bloodmate phenomenon. I also have unlimited resources. I own four research facilities for Odin’s sake, of course we’re going to find an answer to all of this.”

He kneels on one knee and pulls her to him, resting his head between her breasts. “Please, trust me, trust the gods that we are meant to be, and it will be okay.”

She drags her fingers through his hair, “I do trust you.”

Rook let’s out a long yawn, stretching.

“You’re tired.” Hunter intertwines his fingers in hers. “You have to remind me that you require sleep.”

“You don’t?” she asks.

“No, but I still sleep often,” he says as they enter the bedroom. “It makes me feel more normal and I love dreaming.”

“I love sleep.” Her eyes widen at seeing the luxurious bed, then she turns toward the master bathroom, “I also love showers.”

“A shower, then sleep?” he suggests.

“Sounds perfect.” She smiles.

Hunter places her backpack on an overstuffed chair in the corner. “We can send for your things tomorrow.”

“No need.” She laughs.

He shoots her a curious glance.

“That is the sum total of my things.” Her face reddens, “I travel light.”

“Apparently,” he’s impressed. “We can take you shopping. If you like.”

She laughs, “It might be nice to have more than two pairs of jeans.”

“I’ll buy you a hundred.” He waves his arms, “Anything you want.”

“I was thinking maybe two more pairs. I don’t need a lot.” She flattens her smile.

“Whatever you wish,” he says excitedly. “You will want for nothing from this day forward.”

Her expression falls deep into thought.

Hunter slides his finger under her chin to capture her gaze, “What is it?”

“I’m trying to take it all in.” She runs her hands up his strong arms. “Here I am with what has to be the hottest man on the planet…” She reaches his shoulders and squeezes them to make sure he’s real. “I love him, like I never knew I could love. He loves me...it’s all happening so fast, my brain can’t keep up.”

“Are you afraid?” he asks quietly.

“Of some things, yes,” she admits.

“Are you afraid of me?” There’s caution in his question.

She gasps, “No.”

“Then what it is?”

“Yesterday I was running for my life from vampires, now all I want to do is be with one.” She chuckles, “It’s weird.”

“It is a little jarring. My entire mindset has changed in the past few days.” His expression darkens with thoughts of Runa.

“What is it?” she asks, trailing her fingers down his cheek.

“You’re right, it is a lot to take in.” He gazes deep into her blue eyes and sees his future, his life and his soul. “I’ve spent thousands of years alone, chasing a ghost.” He swallows hard, “And now, all I want is you.”

Rook’s face fills with color, “How could we be so lucky?”

“The gods have smiled upon us and it would be an insult to not enjoy it,” he says with a devious smile.

“You’ll have to teach me all about your gods,” she says, quirking a brow. “Because if this is their doing, I owe them big time.”

“Indeed,” he says, reaching past her to turn on the shower.

He tugs at the hem of her shirt, “May I bathe you?”

She nods, lowering her gaze. Hunter pulls her shirt off over her head then slides her jeans down, trailing his fingers up her bare legs. With care he explores the curve of her waist up to her bra, unfastening it.

She stands in front of him baring all of herself and feels nothing but warmth and comfort. He’s taking all of her in, devouring her with his touch. Rook’s nipples respond as he trails his fingers over them with a feather-light touch.

She inhales a deep breath, licking her lips. Rook raises her arms to his back, but he stills her. “Be still, I want to take every part of you in.”

She lowers her hands to her side, struggling to not touch him, “This isn’t fair.”

A ghost of a smile plays on his lips, “It isn’t meant to be.”

She bites her bottom lip, “At least level the playing field a little.”

He flicks a questioning glance.

“Take off your clothes,” she demands.

He complies and lays his clothes on the counter neatly. With arms outstretched, he turns to face her.

Rook works hard to contain her reaction to him, “Very good.”

Hunter steps toward her, cupping her face in his hands, “You’re stunning, you know that?”

She falters, looking down and away, “Thank you.”

His fingers lightly glide across her collar bone, then down the center of her chest. He halts, his touch resting on her birthmark, just above her sternum, “What’s this?”

“Oh, weird, huh? It’s a birthmark,” she looks down at where his fingers are resting.

“Interesting,” he whispers.

“How so?”

“It just is.” He continues moving his hands down her body.

Rook takes a step closer to him, putting her hands on his shoulders and tracing the tattoos on his chest, “These are beautiful.”

“Thank you.” He watches her hand glide over his muscles. “They all have deep meaning.”

“I want to know the meaning of all of them.” Her eyes scour up his body, meeting his gaze while her hands trail lower.

He grasps her hand lightly, “I want to tell you everything, and I will. For now, let’s get you into the shower and into bed.”

Rook sucks her bottom lip into her mouth, “I like the sound of that.”