Lavinia’s revelations about her childhood had shocked Adrian, but he greatly enjoyed this verbal sparring with her.

His bloodmate was inexperienced and naïve, and yet, she wasn’t overly impressed by his status and held her ground like a more seasoned woman. So refreshing; even though his entire body hurt from the need to be one with her, he looked forward to more stimulating conversations with her.

Mark reentered the scene too soon, spoiling Adrian’s opportunity to deliver his next sexually charged comment. Lavinia’s blush was adorable, and he wanted to see how far it would spread.

“I’ve just talked with the coroner,” Mark said, looking at Adrian with a troubled expression.

“And?” Lavinia asked, drawing Mark’s attention to her.

Adrian couldn’t help but take her hand in his. It was just a loose hold, to remind his friend that Lavinia was off-limits. He knew Mark would have never disrespected him or Lavinia, but the compulsion to claim her before the entire world was impossible to ignore. Never one to act irrationally, Adrian remained at the mercy of the Thirst. The malady’s symptoms had changed, and now his body craved Lavinia with the same intensity he had craved blood until a few hours ago.

Mark gave him an apologetic shrug. “Did Carolina have a vampire or shifter boyfriend?” he asked Lavinia.

“No, she didn’t know anything about the supernatural world,” she answered. “I told you she didn’t even know I was a werewolf. I was going to tell her—”

Feeling her anguish, Adrian pulled her to his side.

“Why do you ask?” she said.

“At first, we were looking for a vampire assassin because of the punctures on her throat.” Mark passed his hand through his hair. “But she had both vampire and werewolf marks on her body—”

“Are you saying that a vampire and a werewolf killed her?” Lavinia’s agitation unsettled Adrian.

It frustrated him that he had the power to make her feel better and couldn’t use it by his own rules.

Mark’s gaze briefly cut to Adrian before settling on Lavinia’s once again. “The marks on Carolina’s body were old and healed, and they belonged to a vampire and a werewolf. Are you sure she wasn’t seeing someone?”

“It’s not possible.” Lavinia’s voice was shrill. “Carolina didn’t have a boyfriend. She was too busy with school and work.” She shook her head, looking at Adrian as if waiting for a confirmation. “She would’ve told me.”

“Maybe she hid it from you,” Adrian said, softening his tone. With a gentle touch of his fingers, he caressed her wrist.

“It simply can’t be.” Her eyes filled with moisture. “She would’ve told me,” she obstinately repeated.

“You kept your true nature from her. Maybe she had secrets, too.” Adrian wished they were alone to soothe her turmoil with kisses and caresses.

“The marks indicate that she’d had a prolonged relationship with at least one vampire and one werewolf, possibly at the same time,” Mark continued.

Lavinia kept shaking her head. “Carolina didn’t even talk about boys.”

“There’s more,” Mark said.

Adrian inwardly groaned while Lavinia stiffened by his side.

“Carolina had sexual intercourse the day she was killed. She might have known her assassin,” Mark finished.

“No!” she screamed before bringing her hand to her mouth. Shaking, she sobbed, “It can’t be.”

“Is there anything else?” Adrian asked, lowering his voice.

“That’s all for now.” Mark sighed, rubbing on his chin. “The Special Emergency Unit is on its way. They’ll clean this up—” His gaze lowered to the corpse. “And I asked for the Directive’s blacksmith to come and repair your door. I’ll remain here to check on them, but you two can retire upstairs.”

“Thank you,” Adrian said, knowing that Mark had kept the jackals at bay to give them some time alone.

The Directive would send more people to investigate, and the new agents would scrutinize Lavinia’s involvement in her roommate’s murder. It was also possible that Collins, Mark’s boss, would remove him from the case because of his long-lasting friendship with Adrian.

Adrian steered Lavinia toward the stairs. Her shoulders shook from her crying, and he couldn’t wait to hold her in his arms. He would have preferred to take her to his bedroom, theirs now, and make her forget all about her friend’s death. He also knew that she was too fragile at the moment and needed cuddles, not passionate embraces.

“Let’s go to my library,” he said when they reached the second-floor landing.

The moonlight illuminated the library, bathing the room in a silvery hue that never failed to relax and soothe him. He hoped that it had the same effect on Lavinia. Turning on one of the table lights, he brought her to the bay window that jutted from the room, creating a small glass conservatory filled with vases. That cozy nook was Adrian’s favorite corner.

Sitting on the leather sofa facing the glass walls, he lowered Lavinia on his lap. His shirt she was wearing rode up her thighs when she sat, uncovering soft, tanned skin and making him gulp. Adrian was far from inexperienced. In his long life, he’d had more women than he could remember. His sexual whims had been met and then some. There wasn’t a fantasy of his that he hadn’t explored. In fact, he had become bored with sex a long time ago. Yet, the fabric sliding up her legs had roused his desire to the point of unbearable ache.

“Adrian,” she said, squirming against his hardness.

“Please, be still for a moment, my love,” he said in a pained growl as he adjusted himself on the cushion. When he felt in charge of himself again, he tenderly stroked her arms.

“How is all of this possible?” she asked, turning her face to his.

“Sometimes life doesn’t make any sense.”

“I thought I knew Carolina. For months, I’d been working up the courage to tell her about me. After living together for five years, I felt like a fraud for keeping her in the dark about what I was. So many times, I started talking only to chicken out at the last moment and say nothing at all. And then she dies, and I’m left with this guilt… and now this,” she said, wiping her tears with the back of her hand and smearing her cheeks with her running mascara. “Did I even know her at all?”

“Probably the same way she knew you. We all have secrets.” He caressed her back in slow circles.

Straightening, she cocked her head. “What’s yours?”

“Are you sure you want to know?” He stilled his hands.

“I am.”

“As you wish,” he said. “I am always in control. I’ve built my life around strict rules and never stray from them. My secret is that since the Vampire’s Thirst started, my life has been spiraling faster and faster out of control. I couldn’t do anything to stop what was happening to me, and it was scary. I’ve never been so terrified in my life. I was losing my identity and felt like a powerless vampling. For the last few days, I have been living a lie, pretending that everything was normal when, in truth, my life was a nightmarish chaos.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through this—” Lavinia said.

“Don’t be sorry. I am not,” he whispered. “You know what I am, though?”

She shook her head.

“I’m dying to make you mine in every possible way. My fangs ache against my gums, and the throbbing vein on your throat makes me hard. I can feel the Thirst pulsing in my head, telling me to tear that shirt you’re wearing underneath my jacket so that I can feast on the sight of your breasts. Your scent is a mix of arousal and fear and sorrow, though, and because of that, I’m refraining from plunging into your warmth and drinking from your vein.”

Lavinia’s green eyes widened, and her mouth opened, but she didn’t say anything.

“Did I shock you?” he asked, once again resuming his caresses.

She made to shake her head, then stopped. “I’m not used to men talking to me like that.”

“I’m pleased to hear so.” Unable to resist any longer, he leaned in to brush the spot under her ear. His tongue twirled against her shivering skin. Inhaling her scent, he relished her low moan before pulling away from the temptation that was her young flesh. “Not now,” he repeated the words that were starting to sound like a tired mantra. “You are not ready.”

Lavinia sagged against his chest, hugging herself as he embraced her. “I want you, but I can’t stop thinking about Carolina. And now I’m so confused,” she said. “I don’t know anything any longer.”

“You should rest a few hours,” he said. “You’ll feel better.”

Lavinia nodded, resting her head on his shoulder as she turned on his lap, making herself more comfortable.

“Sleep tight, my love,” Adrian whispered to her crown, cradling her closer.

Soon, she relaxed in his arms, and her breathing slowed until she fell asleep. Adrian waited a few minutes before carrying her upstairs to his bedroom. After tucking her into his bed, he sat on the edge of the mattress, watching her sleep and wondering once again about his luck.