His heart softened a bit. Damn it. “I heard. It’s unfortunate all this is happening to you at once.”

“Yes, I think that’s why I feel extra . . . lost. If you could give me a compass, I’d appreciate it.”

He leaned forward, bracing a hand near her shoulder on the couch, and pulled a book from the shelf behind her head, bringing his body uncomfortably close to hers. She smelled good. He’d noticed it yesterday, even under the scent of the dirt he’d tried to drown her in. It was her perfume, maybe, or the shampoo she used. Her soap? Whatever it was, it was subtle and seemingly an integral part of her. His gaze caught hers and he noticed her eyes were a little shiny. A beautiful blue . . . and filled with just the lightest sheen of tears.

Theo drew back, book in hand. He hoped she didn’t cry. Oh, Gods. The last thing he needed on his hands was a blubbering female. What the hell did you do with a weeping woman?

After tossing the book into her lap, he eased down into the chair behind him, a safe distance away from her. The dog jumped into his lap immediately. Theo stared down into Grosset’s furry, panting face and tried not to curl his lip.

Sarafina looked down at the red hardcover book in her hands. “What’s this?”

“That’s all we know about what we are. Micah, our scholar and the cousin of the head of the Coven, compiled it and had it bound for the members of the Coven. It’s our history, as much as we know.”

She picked up the thick volume and turned it over in her hands, a thoughtful look on her face.

“Take it home, read it, and then ask me any questions you have.” Hopefully, that would ensure they have contact after she left this apartment, so he could keep his eye on her.

“Answer one for me right now?”

“Shoot.”

Her face tightened. Theo recognized fear when he saw it. “Do witches have red eyes?”

He stilled, a nasty icy jolt going through him. “There’s only one thing I know of that has red eyes and they’re not witches.”

“What are they?”

“Where did you see someone like that?”

“At the farmhouse. He woke me up in the middle of the night and nearly made me soil the mattress. He didn’t hurt me, but everything about him was threatening.” She paused. “And he was big, almost unnaturally so. When I asked Stefan about the creature, Stefan never told me what he was, only that he was curious about me.”