The part of me that was Cyrus's sire agreed with him. I wanted to feel badly for the things I'd said to Nathan, but all I could think was how he'd separated me from my fledgling, and how would he feel if someone beat me and left me on the sidewalk to die? I eased into the small space between the door and the foot of the bed and knelt beside Cyrus.

I don't want your pity. His voice filled my head again.

I pulled off his shoes and socks, and he wiggled his toes gratefully. "I know you don't," I said with a smile. "But you're my fledgling. I've got to look out for you."

He reached for the button of his fly and I pushed his hands away to do it for him. "Let me take care of you, okay?"

Thank you. He clasped my hand briefly, then sagged against the pillows. I think he might have lost consciousness again.

I finished stripping him of his blood-stiffened clothes and drew the covers over both of us as I maneuvered myself beside him on the tiny bed. I kissed his forehead and stroked his hair, feeling nothing but absolute, unconditional love for him.

The floorboards in the hallway creaked, and I looked up to see Nathan watching us. He didn't apologize in words, but the look on his face told me everything I needed to know. He felt remorse for his actions, and that remorse sapped much of my anger.

He gestured toward Cyrus like someone swatting a fly. "That's how I feel about you, you know."

"No. I didn't." I turned back to Cyrus and let all my relief at his survival and my love toward him—some of it residual from the time I actually did love him—cross the blood tie to Nathan. "Because you never tell me."

I don't know if he hesitated from surprise at my words or because he'd underestimated my feelings for my fledgling. When he spoke again, his voice was low and hoarse. "I feel all of that for you. More."

The uncertainty of the moment hung like a blanket of tension around my shoulders. Was this where we made up, or finally broke up?

Nathan's gaze held mine as he spoke. "And I would feel it even if you weren't my fledgling."

I moved as if to go to him, but Cyrus's mind invaded mine. Please, stay with me.

Understanding my reluctance, Nathan nodded. "He has you today. I've got you every day."

The gnawing guilt in my chest wouldn't let me turn my back on Nathan now. "All those things I said—"

"Don't apologize." He shook his head as if he could dissipate the hurt I'd caused him.

"Nathan, I—"

"Don't apologize," he repeated. "Because you meant everything you said."

"You know that's not true."