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  "So you killed him?"

  "It was an accident."

  "Why didn't you call the police?"

  "Sera, please calm down."

  "Don't tell me to calm down!" she screamed.

  "I panicked all right," he said. "I just panicked."

  "You seemed pretty calm to me."

  "I didn't know what to do." He took another step toward her. "It was an accident."

  That was a lie, he'd meant to kill Jacob, and he’d enjoyed every second of it. But he couldn't tell her that. She was already looking at him like he was a monster. If she knew the truth, she would run screaming into the woods and never look back.

  "Then we'll go to the police now," she whispered.

  "Sera, I can't do that."

  "Why not? If it was an accident—"

  "They'll say I tried to cover it up, they won't believe me," he said.

  "They'll understand it was an accident. They'll know you stabbed him in self-defense; he had a knife, he was attacking me, and you stabbed him."

  He moved a step closer to her. "Sera, I can't do that."

  She lifted her eyes to meet his. They were full of despair as she gazed at him in confusion. He wanted to ease the sorrow in her gaze and make her forget everything that happened tonight, everything she’d seen. "My life would be over. I'd go to jail. Everything I've worked for would be gone."

  He stopped before her and gripped her arm. A sudden spark rolled through her eyes, an acknowledgment that made his stomach heave, and his heart hammer. She stared at him in dawning horror. "Sera," he whispered.

  "If you stabbed him," she whispered. "Then where's the blood? My sheets are clean."

  He tried to grab her, but she took a step away from him as her hand flew to her mouth. Liam closed his eyes against the revulsion and trepidation in her gaze. "Sera—"

  "My God," she whispered. "What are you?" His eyes flew to hers. His arms fell limply to his sides. Her eyes searched his face pleadingly, but he made no move toward her. "Liam—"

  "Let's go."

  Her gaze flew to Mike. He stood with his arms folded over his chest as he stared at her in resignation. It felt as if a sledgehammer slammed into her stomach as the breath rushed out of her. Mike knew what was going on, what Liam had done. He had helped him afterward; that was why he was here. He would be no help to her.

  Her legs turned to Jell-O. She panted as she hung her head and fought desperately against passing out. Hands clasped hold of her and lifted her up. She couldn't offer a protest as Liam swung her into his arms and carried her down the steps of the gazebo. She was confident she was being taken to her death, but she couldn't find the strength to fight against him.

  Chapter Ten

  Mike opened the door to Liam's room and stepped back to let him enter. Liam carried Sera swiftly inside. Her body was unyielding against his; her hands curled into fists in her lap. He shifted his hold on her to pull the blankets on the bed back. Sliding her in, he pulled the covers up around her as she lay unmoving. "Just get some sleep," he whispered. "We'll talk in the morning, all right?"

  Her eyes were dull and glazed as she looked at him before turning away to look out the window. She hadn't spoken a word to him since the gazebo. He didn't know what to say or do. He naively thought he could avoid all this.

  It wasn't the kind of a secret you could keep from someone who was as close to him as Sera was. Deep inside, he knew that. He just never wanted to acknowledge it. Now it was slapping him in the face.

  He turned away from her. Mike stood in the doorway, his gaze intense as he studied Liam. "We need to talk."

  "Tomorrow."

  "Liam—"

  "Tomorrow, Mike!" he barked.

  Mike's gaze was intense and irate as he studied him. His eyes closed as he nodded briskly and left the room. Liam stood in the quiet room, unsure what to do. Finally, he strode across the room and slid tiredly into the easy chair. He watched as she continued to stare out the window, hoping she wasn’t afraid of him, certain she was. How could she not be?

  "You're safe here," he told her.

  "Am I?" she muttered.

  He winced at the words. "Yes, you are."

  He turned to look out the window, unable to stand the revulsion in her gaze any longer. The moon had finally risen; its pale light spilled in to illuminate the room. He looked back at her as she lay motionless. He watched her for a long time as her breathing steadied. He knew she was still awake.

  Liam woke with a start and nearly toppled out of the chair. His neck and back ached, he felt as stiff as a board. He groaned as he straightened his aching joints, and opened his eyes. The sun was just touching the horizon. His bones cracked as he walked over to shut the blinds before it woke Sera. She was sleeping on the bed, her head buried beneath the blankets. His heart and body longed to hold her as he watched her for a minute.

  He forced himself to turn away and head for the door. He opened it cautiously, stepped into the hall, and made his way to Mike's room where he pounded on the door. "What?" Mike yelled.

  "Open up," Liam grated.

  He listened as Mike stormed over to the door and swung it open. Mike glared at him from bloodshot eyes. "When I want to talk you tell me to go away, but it's all right to wake me up at six thirty in the morning!" he snapped.

  Liam glowered at him as he swept into the room. A young brunette sat up in bed; she blinked sleepily at them as the blankets fell to expose her nude body. Liam scooped her clothes off the floor and threw them at her. "Get out," he ordered.

  "What?" she cried as she scrambled to gather her clothes. "Michael?"

  "Go on." Mike collapsed onto the couch.

  The girl cast him a scowl as she tugged her shirt over her head. "You're an asshole!" she spat.

  Mike laughed and draped his arm over his eyes. "Bye, sweetie," he drawled as Liam opened the door, and closed it behind her.

  "You know, one of these days I'm going to come barging in on you and Sera," Mike mumbled. "Kick her out of the room naked."

  "Don't even think about it," Liam warned.

  Mike removed his arm from his eyes and looked up at him. "Then again, I doubt she'll be sticking around for much longer. You've messed up, Liam, bad. What are you going to do about it?"

  "I was hoping you'd have some suggestions."

  "You could make her forget, take the whole night away from her."

  Liam closed his eyes as he slumped onto the bed. He absently rubbed his temples to ease some of the pressure in his skull. The idea was completely and utterly tempting, and the easiest thing to do. He could make her forget about Jacob's body and everything that followed afterward. He wished he could take everything about Jacob away from her, but that would take more power and capabilities than all of them had. Plus, he would have to change Kathleen, Danielle, and Michelle's memories. It would be too much, but he could make her forget enough to make her no longer frightened of him.

  "I don't know if I can."

  "Why not? You have the power and ability to do it."

  "It's not that."

  "Then what is it?"

  The truth was, he wanted her to know, he wanted her to know it all, and he wanted her to decide what she was going to do. If she left him, then he would deal with it, but if she stayed there would be no barriers between them. He wouldn't have to worry about her finding out, wouldn't have to worry about losing her.

  Liam lifted his head to look at him. "I don't know if I want to," he admitted.

  Mike's brow furrowed as he swung his legs off the side of the chair and planted them on the floor. "What do you mean?" he asked.

  "I want to tell her the truth."

  Mike's mouth dropped as he stared at him in stunned amazement. What he suggested went against all the rules, rules he made to keep them all safe. Right now though, he didn't care about the rules.

  "Why?"

  Liam had expected Mike to explode. Instead, he was still staring at him in astonishment. "Because I can't do that to her, I can't chang
e her memories; I can't invade her mind like that. I won't do it."

  "You don't have a choice, Liam," Mike grated through clenched teeth. "You've screwed up bad. I don't know what you want me to say, but you've got to do something. Other people need to be protected. You know that. If you can't do it, then one of us will."

  "No one," he said firmly. "Is going to harm her, in any way, do you understand me?"

  Mike looked away from him to stare angrily at the poster on his wall. He sighed as he ran a hand through his disheveled blond hair. "There may be no other option. You have to understand that. I know how you feel about her, but—"

  Liam launched to his feet, his hands clenched into fists as he glowered at him. "No! You don't know how I feel about her," he spat. "If you did, you would realize what you're suggesting is not, and never will be, an option."

  Mike's eyes shot back to his. "You need to talk to her. See how things go, but you have to realize what all of this could mean."

  "I do realize what it could mean."

  "No, I don't think you do," Mike's eyes were suddenly weary and resigned.

  "Yes," Liam grated. "I do. What you don't understand is I will kill anyone who tries to hurt her; that includes you."

  Mike looked as if he’d punched him in the jaw, Liam had never threatened any of them, but he would kill them to protect her. "Go talk to her, Liam, see what she says. Maybe there's nothing to worry about, but if there is—"

  "No!" he interrupted. "I'm not kidding, Mike, you stay away from her; do you hear me?"

  "Yeah, I hear you," he muttered. "I couldn't do anything to her anyway; you know that."

  "Don't tell anyone else about this."

  "Whatever, you're the boss." Liam strode to the door. "What are you going to say to her?" Mike asked as he opened the door.

  He turned to look at him and shrugged helplessly. "I don't know yet. The truth."

  Mike snorted as he shook his head. "We don't have to be concerned about what to do with her after that; she'll be locked in the loony bin."

  Liam shot him a scathing glare as he slammed the door. He hurried back to his room and opened the door. Sera had rolled over. The blanket fell away to reveal her exquisite face. She looked angelic and peaceful in her sleep. He dreaded the hurt he was going to inflict on her.

  He sat on the edge of the bed and touched her shoulder. Her eyes opened, and she stared up at him, a smile spreading across her beautiful face. Then, suddenly, it was gone. Remembrance crashed over her features and shuttered through her eyes. She bolted upright; her hair tumbled around her face and shoulders. Her eyes were huge, and a vivid, startling purple.

  "Sera, we need to talk."

  "Are you going to be honest with me?"

  "I never wanted to lie to you."

  "Really? Because it's all you've ever done. I feel like I don't even know you. You've been this one person, this person you've let me see, or wanted me to see. This person who I fell in love with, but you're not that person. And now this. This! Who are you, Liam? What are you?"

  Tears spilled down her cheeks, and she angrily wiped them away. She was mad at herself for crying, and she was furious at him. "I'm going to be honest with you, about everything."

  She laughed and shook her head despairingly. "How am I supposed to know that?"

  Her words cut into his heart, and he winced involuntarily. "I deserve that, but it will be the truth, Sera, I promise."

  She snorted and looked away; she rubbed her hands along her arms to ward off the chill racking her. "I hope so, Liam, I really hope so."

  He stretched his hand out to rub her cheek. She jerked away from his touch, her eyes burned with a resentment bordering on hatred. He dropped his hand away. He was going to lose her; no matter how much she loved him she wouldn't be able to deal with this. She was going to walk out of this room and never look back. But, she was going to hear the truth first. She deserved it, and no matter how much he never wanted her to be, she was involved now.

  He stood and walked across the room; he paced as he ran his fingers through his hair. "I told you why I didn't tell you about Michelle, but I didn't tell you about all the circumstances surrounding her—"

  "Don't you think you should tell me about last night first?" she cut him off abruptly.

  "No. Last night happened because of her. It will be best to explain her first."

  "Fine."

  "I met Michelle two days before school started. We were throwing an end of summer party here, and she came to it. I didn't pay much attention to her at first, which I don't think made her very happy. But it was a game I was playing. I knew by not paying attention to her, she would want me more. She was a challenge to me. She wasn't as tough to get as she pretended to be. By the end of the night, I'd had too much to drink, and I had her. It was quick, it was over with, and it didn't mean anything, not to me anyway.

  "Apparently, she thought it meant more, which I am sorry for. She came by here a couple of times after, but I didn't talk to her. When she confronted me about it, I told her the truth. It was a one-night stand, nothing more, and it was never going to be more. She didn't take it well, and I can't say I blame her. I was a jerk, I know it, but I can't take it back. But I wasn't by myself; she was there too.

  "Then, a couple weeks later, you showed up. I saw you before you saw me. Everyone was talking about you, and guys were fluttering around you like moths, but you didn't notice. I didn't know what to make of you. Some said you were stuck up, mainly the girls, but then I saw you with Kathleen and Danielle, and how open and happy you were with them. The guys said pretty much what guys say. They wanted to sleep with you, they wanted this, or they wanted that. Except for Mike. He told me to stay away from you. To leave you alone. For Mike to say something like that... well, it just amazed me and piqued my curiosity. I had to meet you."

  "Did I become a challenge too?" she asked as her chin lifted defiantly.

  He didn't want to tell her this, but she wanted the truth, and he was going to give it to her. "Yes," he admitted. "You weren't a challenge in the same way Michelle was, but you were a challenge."

  "Good to know," she mumbled bitterly.

  "You wanted the truth." A jolt of anger made his voice harsh. "I'm giving it all to you, Sera. You were a challenge simply because I had to know more about you, not because I just wanted you in my bed like Michelle—"

  "This is just getting better," she muttered.

  "Don't do that!" he retorted. Her hands fisted as her chin jutted out but she didn't say anything more. "All I wanted from Michelle was a one night stand. I wanted more from you. Otherwise, I would have gone to any of the many willing girls around here after the first night we met, but I didn't. You were not, and are not, just a stupid conquest; you never have been. That first night, I saw what Mike had been talking about. I saw the vulnerability in you, the fear, and I knew I shouldn't become involved with you, that I should stay away. You’d been hurt, and I could do nothing but bring you more hurt."

  "Then why didn't you leave me alone?" she asked.

  "I don't know!"

  His frustration had come to a boiling point. She jumped in surprise and then winced. Liam took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. She was scared of him already; he didn't want to frighten her anymore, especially when he hadn't even told her the worst part yet.

  "I don't know," he repeated. "You are unlike anyone I ever met, and I wanted to know all about you. The more I learned about you, the more I loved you. I think I've loved you since the first night. No matter what happens, I will always love you, and I will protect you from anyone who tries to injure you. Even if you never speak to me again, I will still protect you."

  She stared at him, crying silently as her hands shook in her lap. He walked over to the window and stared out the blinds as he gathered his strength before turning to face her again. "If you decide to leave, I won't blame you, but no matter what you cannot reveal to anyone what I am going to tell you. If you do, I don't know if I can protect you.
I don't think I could stop them from coming after you. They would kill me to get to you. Do you understand me?"

  "I don't want anything to happen to you," she whispered tremulously.

  "Are you worried about me?" he asked incredulously.

  "Yes."

  He closed his eyes and turned back to the window. Anguish filled him, and a love greater than he ever thought he could experience engulfed him. "You know," he said. "I never thought I could love anyone like I love you. I never thought I would meet a person like you. I didn't believe they existed."

  "Liam—"

  "No one is going to harm me, Sera. You just need to promise me you won't tell anyone, please."

  "I won't tell anyone anything you don't want me to."

  He felt as if his skin was flayed away and his soul bared as he turned back to her. "I'm a vampire."

  The words hung heavy in the air as she stared at him. Then, she began to laugh. Hitching in a deep breath, she managed to stifle her laughter as she stood. Her eyes blazed with fury, and her jaw clenched as she turned to him. "You know, there is something wrong with you. I've had it. If you don't want to tell me the truth, then don't. But don't pull this bull with me. I'm going to the police!"

  "Sera—"

  "No!" she shouted. "You have done nothing but lie to me. I've had it. I've had it with you! You've won whatever game you were playing. You've won! You can run around and tell everyone you made a fool of me; I don't care!" She turned and stormed toward the door. "You rotten bastard!"

  He moved swiftly across the room. He was ahead of her before her hand stretched for the knob. She froze, unable to believe he’d moved so fast. Suddenly, her mind flashed back to the red in his eyes, and the killing rage radiating from him last night. The lack of blood on Jacob, on her sheets. For a moment, she wanted to believe him. For a moment, she did.

  Then her mind snapped back into place, back into reality. There was no such thing as vampires. They did not exist. He had done nothing but lie to her from the beginning. She couldn't believe this insanity. It was impossible. Lifting her chin, she glared at him, her eyes full of a ferocity that rocked him.