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With great reluctance, Jenna stepped back "Okay"

"I’ll see you toht "Feel better"

"I already do"

For the next week Richart lived a dual life He began each evening by having dinner with Jenna Sometimes he took her out Sometimes he cooked for her at her place Then they parted ways She went to work, and he left to hunt and fight bloody battles with vah Her smile Her wit Her delectable body pressed to his He was falling in love with her and thought--hoped--shein love with him Her face lit up when she saw his to talk about when they were together And the passion building between the his nature fro elowed That was dahtest touch of her hand enfla at her made him want to rip her work clothes off and lick every inch of her body

But he resisted the urge and, though he knew it frustrated her, was glad either work or her son frequently intruded and kept the more than the ht aboutwho and what he was

"Earth to Richart"

Richart blinked and realized his Second stood in front of hiers "Oh Thanks"

Sheldon shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest as he watched Richart tuck the blades into the sheaths on his thighs He was young for a Second, only twenty years old Inexperienced And not the quickest learner But Richart liked hi nature

"When are you going to tell her?" Sheldon asked He alone knew Richart was seeing soenius That you’re two hundred years old Don’t you think she should know she’s sleeping with Methuselah?"

"First, thank you for that," Richart offered dryly as he grabbed a couple ether yet And third"

"What?"

"It isn’t the easiest topic to broach And telling her could put her in danger"

Sheldon frowned "You mean Reordon? He wouldn’t har Immortal Guardians very seriously "At the very least, he would interrogate and threaten her to ensure her silence And if she didn’t react well and told someone else"

Sheldon scowled "No wonder Roland kept Reordon away froht? I mean, you know her"

"And Roland knew his fiancée several centuries ago when he told her Did she accept hi to afire, wooden stakes, and pitchforks"

"Wow No wonder he’s such an untrusting bastard" Sheldon glanced at the clock "Al"

Richart took out his cell phone "I really hate to do this It’s her night off, and I didn’t get to see her yesterday" But when Seth called a

Disappointed, Richart dialed her nu winter wind ruffled Richart’s hair Barren liether overhead while the leaves of evergreens fluttered and swished

What’s going on with you? a female voice with an accent identical to his own asked in his head

Richart glanced over at his sister and brother, who examined him much like they would a previously undiscovered insect

Stay out of my head, he warned theift and had often bemoaned the fact as a child until he had learned he could teleport and they couldn’t They could still read his thoughts or send hihts and have respected your desire for privacy, Lisette said and shared a look with Étienne But we don’t have to read youris up

Richart frowned at the dark forest that surrounded the he desired the Ied a rendezvous with Marcus, Ami, and Roland (the last of who that had once been the site of Bastien’s lair Seth had ordered Richart, his siblings, and Roland’s wife, Sarah, to follow and linger doind in case it was a trap

Sarah likely had no notion the French i silently and stood off to the side, staring intently into the trees as if she could see her husband waiting on the other side

In lieu of answering, Richart decided to change the subject Did anyone else notice the way Marcus looks at his Second?

Étienne smirked As if he wishes to devour her? No, I didn’t notice at all

Richart s sounds, a mile or two distant, reached their ears The vaed the --followed