Jerking to a stop, she turned, her chest rising and falling. “Don’t walk away from me. This isn’t over.”

His human face disappeared. He knew his eyes must be silver by now. “Get off my ship.”

“Turn me. Or face the consequences.”

The beast within lifted its head in anger. “Threatening me is a very bad idea.” He spun a little power into his voice. “Go home. Forget where I live.”

Some of the fire in her eyes died. “I… don’t…”

“Forget and go home,” he said again, this time with greater insistence.

She nodded and moved back toward the gangway. “Home,” she muttered.

As her car pulled away, another pulled up. Chrysabelle. The tension drained from him. If needing her weakened him, so be it, although in truth he felt stronger around her. More complete. And if she didn’t want to talk about the ring of sorrows’ power, he’d let it go for tonight. After the mayor, Chrysabelle’s company would be a welcome change.

She got out, her dark luminescence beckoning in the night’s gloom. She waved when she saw him standing on the deck. He lifted his hand to return the gesture. Odd the things he did around her. She jogged up the gangway. “Was that the mayor I saw driving away?”

“Yes. But I don’t want to talk about her.” Screw everything he should or shouldn’t do. All he wanted was her.

She stopped a few steps away from him and frowned. “I know. You want to talk about the ring and the power and all that. I should start by saying you might be right about Damian. At least Mortalis agrees he could be my brother, so if you want to say I told you so, go ahead and—”

“I’ll pass.” He took her hand and pulled her against him, then kissed her hard and fast before lifting his head. Her frown turned into an openmouthed gape. “In fact, I don’t want to talk at all. Other than to tell you I’m glad you’re still alive.” He closed his eyes as her perfume wrapped around him. Slowly, so did her arms.

“You’re in an interesting mood.”

He put a little space between them and held her face in his hands. He was done fighting with the voices in his head. Trying to deny what he felt. “I have bad news.” He watched her eyes for her reaction. “I love you.”

Beneath his palms, she tensed. Her breathing and pulse increased and she blinked rapidly.

Love. What a word to come out of his mouth. He shut out the voices’ chaos as he dropped his hands from her face. “Don’t expect flowers and candy. I’m telling you because it shades everything I do concerning you. The biggest danger is that you can be used against me now, and trust me, that’s the last thing I want. I’ll die before I let anything bad happen to you.”

She struggled to nod as he stepped away and gave her some space. “I know you would. You’ve proven that.” She gnawed at her lip. “Except for Maris, no one’s told me they love me before. I don’t know how to react.”

“There’s no reaction needed on your part.” He walked toward the door, letting her breathe air that wasn’t tainted with vampire. “Did you have another memory lapse this time?”

She followed him. “Mal, you can’t just change the subject like that.”

He stepped into the ship. “Something important must be on your mind if you came all the way out here.”

Her hands gripped the sides of the door, but she came no farther. “Your declaration is pretty important.”

“No, it’s not. It’s simply a statement of fact. A warning.”

“A warning? That’s romantic.”

“You want romance, look somewhere else.” He loosened one of her hands and closed his around it. Her pulse still raced. He dropped her hand. Maybe she’d had enough of his touch for one night. “Come inside and tell me what brought you here.”

She opened her mouth, then shut it again and, with a sigh, allowed him to lead her to the galley. Fi sat at the table, eating a slice of cold pizza.

Mal shook his head. “I don’t know how you can eat that.”

She spoke around a mouthful of food. “And I don’t know how you can drink blood.” She swallowed and closed the empty box. “I’m going to find a Dumpster for this. You two look like you need to be left alone anyway.” She got up from the table and tucked the box beneath her arm. “Nice to see you’re alive again, Chrysabelle.”

“Thanks, Fi.”

Mal gestured toward the kettle. “You want tea or something?”

“No.” She settled into one of the chairs around the old table and folded her hands on top of it, staring at the signum marking her fingers. “I feel like I have a million things to tell you and no idea where to start.”

“My apologies if I’ve discombobulated your thoughts.”

“You tell me you love me and now you’re apologizing without prompting? Who are you?” She gave him a crooked little smile. “Besides, you discombobulate me without trying. Not always in a bad way.”

“Nice to hear.” He took the seat next to her. “Just tell me what’s happening and we’ll figure it out together.”

“First of all, I’m sorry about the other night. You didn’t deserve that.”

“Also nice to hear.”

“I stopped to see Mortalis on my way over here. Like I said, he thinks the reason I said Damian’s name is the same reason you mentioned—because Damian is my brother.” She looked at him, clearly waiting to see his reaction.