“You cindered five, and the remaining three have been hauled off by PIT. They’re coming back for these two.”

As he spoke, two men appeared out of the shadows. They gave Jackson a nod of thanks, hauled the vampires upright, and marched them out of the gardens.

“And we,” Jackson said, tucking my arm through his, “can now go.”

“Good, because I seriously need to sleep right now.”

“You’re not the only one,” he replied heavily.

It was a silent drive home. We stopped briefly at McDonald’s in Seymour to move the van and drop off the phone PIT had given us, then continued on. Dawn was beginning to unfurl pink and gold fingers across the night sky by the time we reached the cabin. I bounded up the steps with more energy than I really had and quickly unlocked the door. Rory didn’t look up or greet me, but only because he was still fast asleep by the fire. But he must have been awake sometime during the night, because there were protein bar wrappers scattered around him.

The relief that hit me was so fierce that my knees threatened to give way. Jackson stopped behind me and lightly touched my elbow, providing support. “You’re letting all the heat out, you know. And while I happen to think that wouldn’t be a bad thing given this place feels like a sauna, I’m thinking it’s deliberate.”

“You’re right—it is.” I forced my tired legs into action and walked over to Rory. He must have felt my presence, because he muttered something and reached for me. I caught his hand and let his fingers wrap around mine. I felt the urgency to connect, to renew, jump from his flesh to mine.

“How is he?” Jackson headed for the bathroom, stripping off as he did.

“On the road to recovery.” And already feeling much stronger. “You can take the bed if you’d like. I’ll lie here next to Rory and the fire.”

“I’ll grab a shower first.” He hesitated, a grin flashing. “And I’d better make it a very cold one, since the prospect of loving is very far away on the horizon for me right now.”

Meaning, I suspected, he’d sensed Rory’s need for me. It made me again wonder just what exactly I’d done when we’d briefly become one.

Once he’d stepped inside the bathroom and closed the door, I quickly stripped off and lay down beside Rory. He stirred slightly and wrapped an arm around me, pressing me closer still, so that my breasts were squashed against his chest and his body was firm and hot against mine. Desire stirred, but it was a languid thing. This was more about reaffirming us than anything else.

“Need,” he murmured. “Flame.”