“I—” I folded my arms, taking a step back. “I thought you were confined to castle duties?”

He grinned warmly, drying his hair on the towel, standing shirtless in front of me. “As far as anyone’s concerned, I’m there right now.”

My throat tightened. “What are you doing here?” I tried not to sound reproving, but hadn’t practiced my acting skills today.

“Well, I’m not stalking you, if that’s what you’re implying.” He pointed his towel at me. “You snuck up on me—remember?”

True. For both times we met recently.

“And besides, unless you’re actually married into my family, you’re the one trespassing.” He hoisted himself up on the rock and folded his arms, looking ever so much like David—the boy, the one from school; carefree and fun-loving David.

“I know. I’m sorry.” I looked down at my feet, remembering the fox’s punishment for trespassing. “I just needed to get away.”

Jason leaped off the rock, landing beside me with a gentle touch to my cheek; “Ara? What happened?” His voice was almost soothing enough to make me want to confide in him.

“Nothing. I’m fine.” The fold of my arms tightened, but so too did my brow; Jason studied my face carefully, tracing every inch with a gaze that also penetrated my thoughts, I could feel it.

“You’re not fine.”

I drew a tight breath through my nose, biting my lip. I will not cry in front of him. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. “Yes, I am fine. And I’m not talking to you. So you need to leave.”

“Me, leave?” He stood back, practically laughing. “I own this land. I can stay if I wish.”

“You own part of this land.”

“Yeah,” he said, stepping closer. “This part. So, if you want to be alone, you’ll have to go over there.” My gaze followed his arm to the island.

“Maybe I will then.” I started walking; he grabbed my wrist.

“Wait. I’m kidding. Okay, I’m just being playful. You don’t have to leave.”

“I don’t plan to. But I need to think, and I can’t do that around you.”

“Why?”

“Because, a; you’ll read my thoughts, and b; you just destroyed my entire life.”

“Me?” he said, pointing to his chest. “What have I done this time?”

Was he trying to deny hurting Emily, or was he trying to brush it off like it didn’t matter? “Emily! You ignorant twit. You bit Emily!”

“Oh. That.” His arms dropped to his sides.

“Yeah. That.”

“I—” The distant sound of a dog barking drew my tears back in an instant, stopping Jason from the probable confession. He smiled instead and looked over my shoulder. “Ara-Rose, I have someone I want you to meet.”

I spun around to see a great, white, fluffy canine, bolting toward me—his tongue hanging out, flying around with his stride. Jason stood beside me, swung his towel over his shoulder, then squatted down, ruffling the fur at the dog’s neck. “Petey, this is Ara.”

I squatted too, entranced by Jason’s obvious kinship with this fluffy monstrosity, and the kindness he showed, which was obviously returned. Petey jumped to his feet after a scratch on the belly and sat looking at me expectantly.

“He wants you to say hello,” Jason said.

“Oh, um. I’m sorry. How rude of me.” I extended a hand; the dog placed his heavy, gristly paw in place. “Pleased to meet you, Petey.”

The dog whimpered, huffing heavily, his mouth turned up into what looked like a smile. His pale-blue eyes seemed almost out of place against his stark white fur, like transparent windows that showed right into his warm soul.

“What kind of dog is he?”

“Siberian Husky.” Jason stood up. “Do you like dogs?”

“I’m more of a cat person,” I said.

Jason turned back to smile at me. “You never seemed to like Skittles.”

I stood too, remaining close to Petey. “I affectionately disliked that cat.”

“Like how you feel about me.”

I huffed; Petey gave a low groan. “I actually just plain dislike you, no affection before it.”

Jason looked at the dog then and nodded. “I know. Told ya.”

“You know what?” I looked at Petey, too. “Wait, are you talking to the dog?”

“He likes you.” Jason dried the remainder of water from his dark, very messed hair, and dropped the towel on the rock. “He says my memory does your face no justice.”

“He can read your mind?”

“No.” Jason laughed. “I exchange images with him mostly—kind of give them to him.”

“Oh.” I smiled at the dog, then looked at Jason, who laughed, just once—keeping his back to me. “What’s that?” I walked closer to the vampire, feeling more comfortable, somehow, with Petey here.

“What’s what?” Jason turned around, his shirt in hand.

Without thinking about who or what I was touching, I rested a fingertip to the black band; the tattoo, two lines with an unreadable inscription in the banner. “This.”

Jason looked up from my gentle touch and threaded his thumbs through his shirt, stepping away. “It’s uh—” When he looked at Petey, the dog sneezed, shaking it off, the shiver running all the way down his body. “You know, you really shouldn’t be out here, Ara. David will be upset when he finds you were here—alone.”

“What, how do you know about Da—”

“I’ve known he was here since before he knew he was coming.”

“Then, why haven’t you turned him in?”

He sighed, almost annoyed, slipping his shirt over his head. “I may hate him, want to see him suffer, but I won’t take you down with him. If they come for him...” He left the ending to imagination.

“So, you won’t tell Arthur?”

“No. But be aware, our hunters will discover the true identity of the girl they’re following soon enough. They’re not the smartest lot, so I’d give it about two months. But, you better let him go after that, Ara. He won’t leave without your blessing. He will stick around, and he will get caught.”