page19 (2/2)

"It's a sore subject," he answered in a dry tone

She grinned "It's Gaelic for William?"

"Aye Like Uilleam Uallas"

"Can I call you Will?"

Will hat his family had called him Yes, Chloe was his mate, but the name reminded him of his past

Hell, he'd figure all this out to her laugh again "If you're verra good"

In their roo"You need to rest" He slipped her heels from her wee feet, then reached for her skirt She sed, turning those big hazel eyes up toward him

"Just getting you ready for bed" He couldn't tell if she was happy about that or not Once he'd tucked her in, he said, "Need to go shower off"

This shoas slightly slower than the one he'd raced through the night before Torapped around his waist, he swiftly hunted for a pair of worn jeans and another T-shirt

When he returned, her mood had turned more somber

"What happens to you if I die?"

He sat beside her on the bed, stroking her hair fro to find a way to make you immortal, lass"

"You want that?"

"It must be so"

"MacRieve, I" She trailed off, as if she had tooyou need to know"

"What? You can tell "

She bit her lip "Um, I really appreciate all you've done for me"

Clearly not what she'd been about to say, but he didn't press They had time

"I had a lot of fun with you today" She traced the sheet with her forefinger "There were a couple of ti up at you and you were already s at me And it felt like we'd pulled off some kind of coup Just the two of us"

"We did Silad to hear you enjoyed the day, since this has been the best one I've ever had"

She frowned "You don't have to say that"

"You asked o I've lived for more than three hundred thousand days And you made this one my favorite one of all"

"Really?"

"Oh, aye And I vow to you, Chloe, so to have an eternity more of them"

Just then, one of the creatures beyond the wall gave a particularly loud screech

"Talking about the future?" She gazed away "Mine is a bit in flux" She see up "You said you'd et ot a taliss would find me"

When he said nothing, she asked, "Have you ever worked for so all you could-only to have it snatched away?"

He'd helped in the search for their king when Lachlain had been captured by vampires For decades, they'd searched only to fail

Lachlain had escaped on his own

"I want verra badly to give you the chance to play," Will finally said "But there's only one way to ensure your safety"

She read his tight expression "By giving them my father"

"It would erase all our problems"

She shook her head, tawny curls bouncing "I could never let that happen"

He exhaled "What can I do to make you believe that he's a villain?"

"Nothing There is nothing you can do I've known you for only twenty-four hours I've known him for twenty-four years I just need to talk to him"

"I bet you're telling yourself this is all a bigIt's no' People were hurt" His voice was rough as he recalled being strapped down on Dixon's operating table, a chest-cracker poised above hi ht

Chloe's gaze dropped Only then did he notice that his hand was pressed over his chest, as if guarding his heart, his claws digging into his skin

By the look on her face, she comprehended his reaction So Ronan had told her Only a matter of time before she found out in the compound

"I was hurt," he said brusquely, letting her knoouldn't discuss this further

She sat up, laying her small hand on his forearm "I am so sorry, MacRieve I wish that you hadn't been But for all uy who pickedIf it wasn't for hiet all he's done for me I just can't In my position, you wouldn't be able to either"

And on top of everything, she was loyal Just to the wrong man "Nay, I would no' But I fear for you, lass One day you will learn what he's done; one day it will grieve you"

"If only I could see him"

"As I said, no one in the Lore can find him"

"Maybe if you helped me past the wall, he would make contact with me"

Will cupped her nape "You vowed seven days with me, Chloe Could you leave me behind so easily? Even after today?"

"I' to lie to you-I feel some kind of connection to you that's different fro to me" She squeezed her temples, clearly bewildered "For weeks, I've been so confused and lonely And so eyes up to him, she clutched his free hand and squeezed it hard "You're the only thing in ht now"

"You're the only thing thatuilt and self-hatred

"This is really intense" Her gaze darted "I just feel like I should watch myself" She looked utterly spooked

As Munro had said, this wasfast even by ure this out in theto help you however you need me to All will be well For now, lie with me"

If any part of his body below his waist touched any part of hers, he'd lose control So he lay beside her on the outside of the cover But then she looked hungrily at his arms, like she wanted to be within the her head to him, he reclined back