Then I'd completely misread the situation, kidnapped Cyrus—Mouse's only protector against the vampires holding them—and left her to die. Not a day went by that I didn't dream of her ruined body, lying in the bed where we'd found her. That I didn't wake up sick with guilt at the thought I could have saved her if I'd just listened to Cyrus instead of rushing to chloroform him.

But then, anyone who'd been alone with Cyrus for more than five minutes would have rushed to the chloroform.

"I'm sorry." I lowered my voice, but not for Nathan's benefit. "But I'm not sorry for asking."

"Of course you're not." He snorted derisively. "You're never responsible for anything where I'm concerned."

"Cyrus," I began, while Nathan stood and crossed the room, as if he'd be able to defend me over the phone.

I waved him away as Cyrus's angry voice cut me off. "I have to go. I have a finite amount of life left and I don't want to spend it arguing with you."

"Fine, I'll let you go," I said coolly. "But first, tell me what you know about the Soul Eater."

"I don't know anything about him!" Cyrus snapped. There was a pregnant pause, and I could nearly hear him throwing up his hands. "Dahlia stops by every now and again with groceries or money. Next time I see her, I'll find out what I can and I'll contact you."

"I would appreciate that, thank you." What I really wanted to say was, "I'm sorry I hurt your feelings. You don't have to wait until you hear from Dahlia to call me. I'll always want to hear from you."

But Nathan, good old, ever-watchful Nathan, stood so close I could feel him literally breathing down my neck.

Instead, when Cyrus asked, "Is there anything else?" I replied, "No. Goodbye, Cyrus."

"That went well." Nathan's words would have seemed sharp and sarcastic if not for his soft tone. "Are you all right?"

I turned and pressed my face to the front of his T-shirt. His hard chest muffled my response. "No."

He laid a hand gently on my hair. "It couldn't have been that bad."

"He called me a monster." I looked up and shrugged. "Call me crazy, but it bothers me."

Nathan stepped back and turned away, but I caught the grimace he tried to hide. "Well, do you blame him?"

"Pardon me?" My hands came to my hips in a horrible cliché of an angry woman, and I forced them down.

"He's human now. We probably seem pretty damn intimidating to him." He calmly returned to the book, this time looking far more interested in it than he had before, when he'd been listening in on my private conversation.