“Because he was fine and you were sleeping.” Jenks gave up on listening and faced me with his hands on his hips in his best Peter Pan pose. “He’s only been here five minutes, and already he’s causing trouble. Cool your hormones, Rache.”

“Your opinion of me is supposed to change my emotions for her?” Pierce’s voice came, hushed but intense. “You can’t assist her, vampire. Your love can only save her by limiting her. It’s what you are. There’s no shame but that you’re using her to try to rise beyond your scope.”

Great. Just freaking great. Snatching up a brush, I ran it over my hair three times before I gave up. God help him. He was stripping Ivy of the lies that kept her sane.

“Don’t go out!” Jenks exclaimed as I reached for the doorknob. “They’ll quit talking!”

“That’s the idea,” I said, jerking the door open. “Pierce?” I called, hearing Ivy hiss something. A quiver pulled through me as I felt him tap the line in the backyard. Shit.

“Don’t do it, Ivy!” I shouted, running painfully to the sanctuary. Damn it, if she pinned him to the wall, I was going to be pissed.

Remembering what Jenks had said about windows, I skidded to a halt at the end of the hall, heart pounding. Pierce wasn’t pinned to a wall, but standing beside the burnt pool table in the dusky morning light, dimmer than usual because of the boarded-up window. He still had his full-length wool duster on, and my dream rushed back. Facing Ivy, he looked wary and dangerous as he frowned, his hands in the pockets of his long coat and his hat on his head. I could almost smell the power spilling off him, rising above his pockets to spill over and eddy about his feet. He didn’t look hurt at all. In fact, he looked great.

The scent of redwood battled with vamp incense to fill the church with the hint of power and sex. Breathing deeply, I took a step in. Ivy had changed into her working leathers in preparation for today’s festivities, and her arm cast looked very white and new in its black sling. Her eyes were a full, intoxicating black, and she moved with a sultry pace as she circled him, eight feet back. Yup, she’d lost it. Her blood fasting was not a good idea.

She paused when she got between Pierce and me, coyly turning to me. Her expression was a sultry mix of lust and domination. “Ivy, stop it,” I said when my neck started to tingle.

“He wants to take you to the ever-after,” she said, fear dulling her sexual air. “Ask him.”