He was in my living room, and from over his shoulder he said, “Yes.”

My lips pressed together, and my slippers scuffed the wood floor we had found under the carpet. “Leave Marshal alone,” I said, hands on my hips. Kisten’s bracelet fell to my wrist, and I shoved it back into hiding. “He’s just a guy. And if I want to sleep with someone, I’m going to. You running off men isn’t going to send me rushing into Ivy’s arms, it’s going to piss me off and make me miserable to live with. Got it?”

I suddenly realized I was swearing at a past leader of the United States, and I flushed. “Sorry for barking at you,” I muttered as I fingered Kisten’s bracelet and felt guilty. “It’s been a hard day.”

“My apologies,” he said, so sincerely that I almost believed it. “I’ll stop interfering.”

I took a breath and unclenched my teeth before I gave myself a headache. “Thank you.”

The sound of the front door crashing open made me jump. Rynn Cormel took his hand from the door and turned to face the hall.

“Rachel?” came Ivy’s worried voice. “Rachel! You okay? There’s a couple of guys out front in a car.”

I glanced at Rynn Cormel. His eyes had gone black. Hunger black. “Uh, I’m fine!” I sang out. “I’m back here. Uh, Ivy?”

“Damn it all to hell,” she swore, her boots clunking in the hall. “I told you to stay on holy ground!”

She barreled into the living room, almost pinwheeling to a stop. She flashed red, her short, dark hair swinging as she stopped. Her hand went first to her bare neck, then she forced it down to her leather-clad hip. “Excuse me,” she said, her face going pale. “I’ve interrupted.”

Rynn Cormel shifted his weight, and she cringed. “No, you’re fine, Ivy,” he said, his voice now deeper and measured. He had lightened his usual demeanor to lull me, and it had worked. “I’m glad you’re here.”

Ivy looked up, clearly embarrassed. “I’m sorry about your men at the car. I didn’t recognize them. They tried to stop me from coming in.”

My eyebrows rose, and Rynn Cormel’s laughter shocked both Ivy and me. “If you bested them, they deserved it and needed the reminder. Thank you for correcting their poor interpretation of your skills.”

Ivy licked her lips. It was a nervous habit I didn’t see often, and my tension rose. “Um,” she hedged, trying to tuck her short hair behind an ear. “I think I ought to call an ambulance. I broke a few things.”

Looking like he didn’t care, the master vampire eased forward and, very slowly, took her perfect hand in his scarred one. “You’re too kind.”

Ivy looked at her fingers among his, blinking fast.