“My ancestors merely passed their gifts down our family line,” he continued, oblivious to my reverie.
I cleared my throat, focusing. “So before you were a vampire, you had this second sight? Like premonitions?”
He shrugged. “Perhaps I was a more intuitive man than most. It was only when I turned Vampire that my gift became amplified. ” His hand grew still on my thigh, his thoughts lost to another time.
I asked quietly, “Is that why you knew to come to me when I dreamed of you?”
He became present again, life snapping back into those eyes. “With our bond, my mind is open to yours. I felt…needed by you, yes. ”
“So we really are sort of connected?”
He began to stroke again. “Mm. And hopefully other parts are engaged, too, aye?”
I swallowed hard. Stay on topic. “Do the other vampires know you can do this?”
He pulled his hand away. “There is no doing of anything. I merely have insights others lack, and that only sometimes. ” With a tired exhale, he reclined, resting his head in his hands. “But aye, the vampires have their suspicions. I believe it’s why the Spaniard keeps me around. ”
“So, Master Alcántara doesn’t like you, but he’s too worried he might need you, so has kept you around just in case. ”
“He’s not your master,” Carden snapped, pinning his eyes on me.
“Hey, I don’t trust him, either. ”
He softened his words, pulling a hand from behind his head to stroke my lower back. “These things I tell you…it’s important you not discuss it with others. ”
I trusted Carden, and hearing his words made it clear how much he trusted me, too. “He suspects you of the murders, you know. ”
His laugh was jaded. “Suspects me, or merely wishes to conveniently pin them on me?” His hand stroked up to my shoulder, and he eased onto his elbow to pull me down beside him. “Fret not, petal. He cannot touch me. ”
I rolled onto my side to face him, the move natural, me drawn to him. My whole body throbbed, aware of him lying so close. I’d never been with a guy before. It was all so new, so overwhelming. How was I supposed to act? I rested my hand on his hard chest and longed to stroke up and down, to explore every inch of him, but was feeling oddly shy.
This close to him, my thirst nearly overpowered me. But something else overcame me, too—it was the urge to make him smile. I told him, “I can hang with dove, but you cannot call me petal. ”
He laughed, and the faint moonlight picked out the white of his eyes and teeth. “But it got your mind off Hugo; did it not?”
I tried my best glare, even though it was probably wasted in the shadows. “It did not. ”
“I’m flattered by your concern, but truly, Alcántara and I were sparring for centuries before you were born. ”
Sparring. The notion gave me a chill. I’d seen how Alcántara dealt with his enemies. I couldn’t bear to see Carden hurt. I wouldn’t see him hurt. “You’re obviously not the killer,” I said, growing serious. “We need to find out who is. I’m investigating. ”
“The killings?” Carden cupped my cheek, his tone suddenly intense. “You’ll do no such thing. ”
“I have to prove your innocence. ”
“I’m flattered, Annelise. ” He swept his thumb along my lower lip. “You do me an honor even to think it. But I cannot allow you to put yourself at risk. ”
“Look,” I continued quickly before his touch could distract me, “I’ll be careful. ” I could make headway, especially now that I had Mei-Ling helping me. And I knew exactly where I’d look next—at the cliff where Acari Kate had fallen. She’d seen something before she died; I couldn’t get that scream out of my head. “I’ll go in daylight. I’ll bring friends. There’s strength in numbers. ”
“You’ll get hurt. ”
“Alcántara told me that the punishment is death. If he pins this on you, and you get killed, how hurt do you think I’ll be then?”
“Dearest one,” he said, his voice gone hoarse. He twined his hand through the hair at the base of my neck, sending a delicious shiver up my body. “Pray it doesn’t come to that. ”
I furrowed my brows, trying to keep focused. “It won’t. Not if I find the killer. ”
“I’ll find the killer,” he said definitively. He was stroking my neck now, and his touch seared me like a brand. “You need only do two things. ”