Xavier disappeared into an office, and he didn’t emerge until night had fallen, and everyone had jammed their things into a cavalcade of four SUVs.

When he reappeared, he was still moving stiffly, but he seemed so much better than he had been previously. As Tess stood still and gazed at him, she was overcome with a ferocious feeling that shook through her entire body.

“Is everything all right?” He raised an eyebrow in mild inquiry.

She couldn’t say what she was feeling out loud. Telepathically, she said, I understand you might need more blood than I can give you, but let’s get one thing straight. You are never going to bite a young, attractive woman, ever again.

His expression lit with utter joy.

And perhaps with a bit of laughter, but mostly, she chose to focus on the joy.

I promise you, querida, he murmured in a low, dark voice that was better than all the chocolate in the world, and all the brandy too. Never again.

When she let out a pent-up breath, he drew her into his arms, and as he hugged her, he rocked her ever so slightly. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Eduardo and Foster grinning at each other, but she ignored them easily enough by closing her eyes and tucking her face into Xavier’s neck.

It was probably wrong to be so happy when so much of the demesne was in upheaval, but what was a girl to do. She couldn’t deny any of her feelings. They were too new, too surprising and wonderful.

Too necessary.

They left as a group, and the journey to the estate was uneventful. Tess and Xavier rode with Raoul, who drove. On the way, Raoul asked, “Is there any further news?”

“No, nothing of substance. Diego received a five hundred thousand dollar deposit the day after Melisande and Justine spent the night at the estate. Forensic accountants traced the money back to an offshore bank account.”

Raoul swore under his breath, and Tess knew how he felt. While they already knew Diego had been bribed, it was chilling to discover exactly the amount that had turned him.

“No word from Julian?” Tess asked.

Xavier rubbed his face. “Nothing. He’ll be in touch when he can. There’s nothing else for us to do but sit tight and wait.”

They fell silent during the last of the trip. As they pulled onto the final stretch of road that followed the coast, along the edge of the forest, the scene was filled with an unearthly kind of beauty. Moonlight illuminated the entire night sky, and the dark, sparkling ocean stretched to infinity.

When the gates to the estate opened wide and Raoul drove them through, Tess grew teary.

She had lived in a variety of houses, with other people’s families, but now, for the first time in her life, she came home.

When they parked, everyone poured out of the vehicles, and the people who had been waiting on the estate—Jordan, Peter, Angelica and Enrique—came out to greet the newcomers with hugs.

Xavier was the center of most of the attention. Tess smiled to see how relieved and glad the others were to see him.

She was immensely surprised and touched when Angelica turned to give her a hug. “Raoul filled us in on everything,” Angelica said in her ear. “I told you, you were a good kid. I’m glad you’re back safe and sound.”

“Thank you,” Tess said, returning the hug. “It’s good to be back.”

After the first flurry of activity was over, Raoul pointed a finger at Xavier. “You’re done for the day. Go to bed. Doctor’s orders.”

Xavier narrowed his eyes, and for a moment, the imperious aristocrat showed in his expression. But he did look pale and tired.

Tess put a hand on his arm. She said, “Please.”

He relented. “Very well.”

Taking her hand, he brought her along with him. She walked alongside him through the house. There, she glimpsed the formal dining room where the place settings were still laid out, along with the books Xavier had told her to read. And there, on the other side of the hall, was the jewel of the beautiful house, the shadowed, empty ballroom, waiting for people and music to fill it.

She had only glanced in that direction, as she had fully expected they would go upstairs to Xavier’s master suite, but unexpectedly, Xavier veered away from the stairs and tugged her into the ballroom.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I couldn’t resist,” he told her. “I’ve been wanting to get back here ever since we left.”

“Me too.”

He opened his arms and she walked into them, sighing as he pulled her close. His cheek came down on her hair, and she nestled her face into his neck.

I’m in love, she thought.

With a Vampyre.

There were issues—my God, there were issues.

Setting aside political unrest and assassination attempts, the age difference alone was enough to make her eyes cross.

Xavier would never grow old, while she would, and didn’t you know, something about that would have to change eventually. And while the medieval Spanish nobleman in him was unutterably charming, she had already butted heads with him, and would do so again.

She tried to get scared, but she just couldn’t manage it. He felt too strong in her arms, too stable. If there was any time in her life she was going to voluntarily place a bet on something, it would be now, on Xavier.

On them.

He put his mouth close to her ear and whispered, “You aren’t by any chance trying to run away in your head again, are you? Because if you are, you know what will happen.”

“You’ll come after me,” she whispered back.

“I will always come after you.” His arms tightened. “We have barely begun, and there are too many good things ahead of us.”

“I’m a little intimidated by everything,” she told him. “But I’m not going anywhere.”

She heard the smile in his voice. “Because you never run when you’re scared.”

“Damn straight.” But despite her strong words, her shoulders tensed. Thinking of Malphas, she amended, “Unless that’s the smartest thing to do.”

“Ssh, querida.” He rubbed her back. “Listen.”

At first she thought he meant to say something else, and she waited for him to speak, but he remained silent.

Gradually, she grew aware of sounds coming from another part of the house. Voices, talking together, and a burst of laughter. She caught a glimpse of others outside, carrying luggage to the attendants’ house, and she realized the strength of the community that surrounded them.