Chapter 128

Jack and I fall into each other's arms.

My heart thrums as memories rush back - the forest, the trap, the terror and pain we endured together.

Now a warmth spreads through my chest. I'm overcome with an unexpected euphoria, like the missing fragment of my soul has clicked back into place. It’s an unexpected wave of relief after months of angst.

What the hell?

I force the smile from my lips and take a wary step back, confusion swirling. We nearly died out there. Why does seeing Jack now make me feel safer, more complete? This should feel heavy, not...right.

Jack's blue eyes shine kindly through his glasses. "I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am to see you alive.”

The wind picks up. Strands of my hair dance around my face. Jack tucks my hair behind my ears. This intimate gesture electrifies me.

My mind flies to Kadeem. What if he were to see?

But there's an undeniable sense of joy, relief, and most ashamedly, a desperate desire to be close to Jack.

I can neither explain it, nor contain it. It's flowing out of me, unstoppable. As powerful as it is, though, the tug on my heart doesn't exactly feel natural.

What is the matter with me?

I fight the windstorm inside.

“Alive, thanks to your rune,” I say, holding out my hand marked by his magic.

Jack pauses for a moment and reaches out, lightly tracing it with his finger, as if trying to understand its mysterious origin himself.

Just his finger pressed to my hand sends my heart thumping into overdrive.

"Well, this - and your mother," I add, anxiously. I exhale, trying to gather myself again. "She's the one who bit me, right?" I manage to get the words out despite the lump forming in my throat.

Jack nods. "Her name is Diane." His lips flutter, searching for something before he finally speaks. “She and Mingan are really looking forward to meeting you.”

He smiles cautiously at me as my eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

There's a strange mix of emotions - their names bringing forth feelings of comfort and peace I don't understand.

“They are?”

“Yes,” he murmurs softly. His blond hair falls across his face in the breeze and he brushes it back. “Do you mind if I come inside?”

“Of course not," I reply sheepishly. I take a deep breath, struggling to remain composed.

I lead him inside and we take a seat on the couch together. We’re close, pressed against each other - and there’s no excuse not to spread out. I swallow back the sense of shame over this, but I can't seem to move away.

I can feel the heat radiating from him. I have to stop myself from taking his hand, from curling into the shelter of his side.

It’s a temptation of such strange intensity.

I lock my hands beneath my knees to keep them still.

Get it together, Ardal.

"The kids are asleep," I say stupidly. It's 10:30 at night and the house is obviously dark and quiet. Of course they are.

Jack smiles, a knowing glint in his eyes. "I hoped we could talk, just the two of us."

I nod, pulse thrumming. Just us. The thought alone sends my mind spinning off in dangerous directions - his fingers tangled in my hair, his breath warm against my cheek...

I cross my arms, hugging myself tightly. Get a grip!

"I wanted to come sooner," Jack says, "but things in Pack X have become...untenable."

"For the vampires," I say. It's not a question.

He nods, expression darkening. "There's talk of purging them entirely from the territory, even those trying to live peacefully. Dangerous times."

I sit up straighter, edging away from him slightly, though it almost hurts.

I didn't even feel this strongly about Jack when we were dating. Not even close! I ball my hands into tight fists.

I swallow hard. "And your mom - Diane - and Mingan are here with you?”

“Yes,” he says.

And with his answer, my heart swells with a surprising elation. A symphony might as well be playing in the background.

Why do I care so much about that?

Then I remind myself - Idon'tcare! I do not give one, single damn.

"We're staying at my house on Canyon Lake - more space than my loft downtown."

I clear my throat. “And your job at the clinic?" I ask.

“I told them I was back from sabbatical early," he says. "I start on Monday.”

“That’s great,” I say. “Sounds like you're back to normal life... but this time, you'll have your family close."

I feel his happiness as easily as my own.

He offers me a half-smile. “Yes and no on normal, though."

I know what he means without him having to say it. Things haven't been normal since our nightmare in the woods.

He breaks into a grin and I realize, I'm grinning back at him like some fangirl idiot.

Damn it!

Tone it down, Ardal.

I've already broken up with Jack once. I don't need to send him mixed signals and then have to let him down again.

Then it hits me that I couldn't do it! I couldn't hurt him, even if it was best thing for us both. Especially not if it meant him leaving. That last thought sends me into a panic.

I clench my fists harder, my nails cutting into my palms.

“Jack,” I say, “Did you know the runes would keep us safe from turning into vampires?”

“It was sheer, dumb luck,” he admits. “And it does open up an incredible possibility for Erbao, doesn’t it?”

My heart flutters nervously. "I've been trying to research runes and learn more," I say, "But now that you're here..."

Despite how good he makes me feel, the pit of sadness opens up again. "Erbao just got out of the hospital."

Jack is attentive as I explain what happened. He listens like a physician, nodding at points and asking for further information on the medical details.

He briefly acknowledges the emotional elements - yet mostly skims the surface there. Typical doctor. If he had popped on a white coat, I wouldn't have been surprised.

Ooh, Jack in his white coat.

My cheeks are hot. Motherfucker. I bite down hard on my lip.

He says quietly, “I’ll place the rune on Erbao if you'd like me to, and then we can move onto the next step."

He pauses and I twirl a lock of my hair nervously, thinking about the meaning of "the next step" -the vampire bite.

"Now that I have access to medical supplies again, I can make sure he's comfortable - not hurting or scared."

I drop my gaze to my hands resting in my lap and intertwine my thumbs together.

"You can take your time," Jack says. "Ask me any questions you want, and we'll work on this when you're ready."

He takes my hand, his touch comforting me far beyond what it should.

Nor should I let him hold my hand at all. We broke up. I have Kadeem.

I want to pull away, but I can’t. My hand stays locked into his, as if that’s where it belongs.