Aric was the most powerful pureblood were in known history, not some mindless beast. “You lost control of your wolf?”

Aric’s face darkened. “No. I lost control over my human side.”

Neither of us moved for a long time.

“What’s happening?” I finally asked.

“I don’t know. But considering how crazy I get over anything happening to you, maybe it was enough to cause this disconnect.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

Aric’s deep timbre was laden with guilt and sadness. “Celia, when our son died, a part of me died with him. You’ll never be the same, I know you won’t, but neither will I.”

My eyes welled and a painful lump claimed my throat. Aric would never know what it felt like for a mother to lose her baby. But I never considered what it was for a father to lose his child.

The connection that was briefly lost between us resurfaced and pulled us together.

We held each other for what seemed like forever. “I’m sorry,” he said at last.

“I am, too.”

He stroked my back. “Will you…will you think about staying out of this thing with Shah? Celia, I can’t handle you getting hurt again.”

I understood his fear, and all the incidences that had reinforced them. That didn’t mean I was ready to walk away from what I knew was right. “I don’t know, Aric.”

He bowed his head. “Will you at least give nursing another try? If you want a thrill, try working in the Emergency Department. Maybe it will be enough to satisfy your need to help, and your desire to make a difference.”

But it wasn’t the same and he knew it.

Aric waited for me to answer. When I didn’t, he passed his hand through his thick hair. “Just please think about it, love. I can’t stomach the thought of losing you.”

I didn’t want to think about it. But marriage and matehood were about compromises so I nodded. “I’ll think about it. But I want you to think about letting me play a role in finding Shah, too. Okay?”

“All right,” he agreed, but I could hear the hesitancy in his voice.

I didn’t want us to part on a sour note, especially since this would be his first day away from me in a long while. So I welcomed his kiss like the peace offering it was.

“I have a lot to do today and may be late,” he said. “Will you come to the Den and have lunch with me?” He seemed sad then. “I don’t want to wait until tonight to see you again.”

I had planned to stop in, but knowing he wanted me there meant a great deal, especially following his outburst. “Why don’t we have lunch at that small bistro?”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll meet you there so you don’t have to drive all the way up to the Den.”

“Okay.” I waited a beat, considering what I needed to ask. “Will you do something for me?” He nodded. “Will you ask Martin about what happened just now? This can’t be good, Aric.”

“No. It can’t be,” he agreed.

My hands splayed along his chest when he seemed lost in his thoughts. “You don’t want to ask him, do you?”

Aric shook his head. “It’s not that. I just don’t want Martin questioning my ability to lead. The moon sickness inflicted upon me was supposed to lead to insanity before killing me. If he thinks I’m unstable, it might cause us problems we don’t need.”

“I know you’re finally in a good place with your Pack. But I don’t want you to keep things from the Elders if something’s wrong. As much as I hate to say this, they’re the ones who can help you.”

His hand cupped my jaw. “You’re the only one who helped me last time. And just like before, we’ll get through whatever comes together, all right?”

Which meant he didn’t want me talking to Martin, either. I didn’t want to think that there was anything wrong with him, but I couldn’t ignore what just happened. So I didn’t promise Aric anything, at least not then.

I clutched him against me until his strong arms released me and we said goodbye. Then I watched his black Escalade pull out of our driveway as he left to rid the world of evil without me. As if on cue, my iPhone buzzed on my nightstand the moment Aric’s SUV disappeared out of our neighborhood. Agnes Concepción, one of Misha’s most trusted vampires, had sent me a text.

Celia, the master has a little stone he’d like you to find.

Chapter 5

I slipped on a long, brown suede gypsy skirt that sat just below my navel, but kept the hideous red scars of my mangled pelvis hidden. The soft white cashmere sweater I wore fell just below my breasts. Aric loved this outfit because it complemented my curves and flat abdomen. I liked it because it was comfy.

I’d spent the week meeting Aric for lunch at a few local restaurants close to the Den. Today was a busier day for him and he wouldn’t be able to leave the grounds. As a treat, I decided to bring him lunch and made one of his favorite meals.

I finished marinating the steaks for dinner then hauled the picnic basket filled with goodies into my new Mercedes GL550. In lieu of a ring I’d probably lose changing, Aric had shocked me with a new ride. My jaw had practically unhinged when I saw it, and initially I tried to make him take it back. “You’re stuck with me and stuck with the SUV. Just smile and enjoy us both,” he said with a grin.

“What if I wreck it?” I’d asked.

“You won’t,” he’d said.

“What if some giant creature tries to destroy it with me in it?”

He hadn’t had an answer for that, except to have Genevieve ward the crap out of it.

The scent of Tuscan soup wafted into my nose, so did the Irish cheese I’d packed, and the Bavarian bread I’d baked the night before.

I allowed the aroma to soothe me. I needed it following my text-to-text interaction with Agnes earlier that morning.

Any more news on Shah? I texted back.

Nothing I can tell you over the phone. Get over here and we’ll talk.

I can’t right now.

Why? Are you and the mongrel having sex?

It took all I had to stay reasonable. If we were, why would I stop just to text you?

I never said you stopped. Or claimed it was any good.

Lord. Help me. I’ll be by later.

Why not now?

I’m busy.

Having sex?