He studied me. “Does it bother you, knowing this about me?”

Did it? No. That was the truth, whether it was right or wrong. I shook my head. “Just surprised.”

That odd half grin appeared. “It’s something that has to be done, but it’s always good to learn the reasons of why a human was led to where they were. Knowing might not change the outcome, but empathy will make it an easier one.”

I thought about Faye and the coven members. They’d done what they did out of greed. “Is that why you didn’t care that I took out Faye?”

“I wouldn’t go as far as to say I didn’t care, but it had to be done,” he replied. “And it would’ve happened eventually, but at least this way, more harm was prevented.”

I nodded slowly. “Killing is... I don’t know. It’s...”

“Never easy,” he answered. “It’s not meant to be easy, no matter the circumstances.”

“Yeah.” I walked to where he stood by the island. “And the senator? Once he’s talked, what are we going to do?”

Zayne didn’t answer immediately. “We’ll decide when we cross that bridge.”

I had a feeling I knew what was going to be on the other side of that bridge.

I inhaled then let the breath out slowly. This was a part of who I was. It would always be. I knew that. “I guess it’s good that I feel weird about this aspect of who we are.”

Zayne touched my cheek, drawing my gaze to his. He didn’t say a word as he lowered his head, halting a mere inch or so from my mouth for an indelible moment. Then he kissed me, a soft, lingering press of his lips against mine. “I’d be worried if it wasn’t.”

I smiled at that as he straightened. “Ready?”

“Walk? Impala? Motorcycle?” he asked, hands hovering over the keys.

“You should know by now that I’m always going to take the option that doesn’t involve walking,” I said, wrapping a hair tie around the end of the thick braid. He grinned at me, and I felt a happy wiggle in my stomach, which felt strange after our conversation. “Motorcycle.”

His grin spread as he curled his fingers around the lone key. “I knew there was a reason I liked you.”

35

Traveling by motorcycle was much less difficult than by car, though a little frightening as Zayne cut in and out of traffic like he was in a race to beat his own personal record for how many times a car could lay on its horn.