“What is it?” Katie asked.

Alexis couldn’t spit the words out. She was too frightened and fearful of the hurt and disgust she was sure Katie would show her. So Alexis chickened out.

“Is there anything I can get you?”

Katie gave her the smallest of smiles. “No, it’s okay. How did you know I needed help last night? Did you hear me screaming?”

“Not at first. I felt something was wrong, and then I heard you scream.”

“You felt it? Have you had intuitions like that before?” Katie asked.

Alexis couldn’t bring herself to lie about a second thing. She looked into Katie’s beautiful eyes and said, “No, I never have. I just felt you needed me.”

Katie looked back at her, clearly surprised, but something else was passing between them in that moment, something deeper.

“Wow—I mean, that’s great. By the way, I wanted to apologize to you,” Katie said.

Alexis was surprised. “What do you have to be sorry for?”

“I caused all this mess, Alexis. You told me it wasn’t safe for a human, and I was stubborn and wouldn’t listen.”

Alexis sighed. “I’ve realized now that I can’t lock you up and protect you twenty-four hours a day, as much as I’d like to.”

“You’d like to protect me?”

Alexis nodded and whispered, “Of course I would. You’re very important to m—the clan.”

Katie reached out her hand, and Alexis looked at it for a few seconds before taking it. Touching Katie made her heart thud hard. The feel of Katie’s skin also showed her how cold Katie was.

“You’re cold.”

“Yeah, I can’t seem to get warm,” Katie said.

Without thinking Alexis moved her chair closer and said, “Give me your other hand.”

Katie moved to the edge of the bed and gave Alexis her other hand. Alexis put her hands over Katie’s clasped hands and started to rub them vigorously.

Katie smiled, “That’s nice.”

“My mama used to do it for me when I was a little girl,” Alexis said and then kicked herself. Why had she said that? She never talked about her hurt and her family.

“I haven’t heard you talk about your mother before—mind you, I haven’t ever heard you talk about anything apart from giving me trouble.” Katie smiled when Alexis stopped her rubbing motion and looked a bit flustered. “I’m just joking, Duca. How about we call a ceasefire on all our squabbles from before last night.”

Alexis returned her smile but didn’t let go of Katie’s hands. It felt nice to be touching her, after she thought she’d lost her last night. She stroked her thumb across the back of Katie’s hand.

“I’d like that.”

Katie’s smile at that comment shattered any remaining hardness around Alexis’s heart. In that moment Alexis promised that she would help Katie back to health and guard her to make sure no harm would ever touch her again.

“I’m sorry Josie got past my guards. They have been reprimanded. She managed to sneak out when the guards were changing shift, then made off.”