18. Lucien

Kieran crowds closer. He is so warm, his heat burrows into my chest as he gasps into my mouth and sucks on my tongue. I am holding his wrists tight enough to bruise, but he does not seem to care. He moves closer still, and we press together, chest-to-chest when my back hits the brick wall behind me.

I cannot let go of him. I cannot stop because I cannot think, not of anything but the way the scent of him fills my lungs, the way I want to hear nothing but the little gasp he makes when our hips push together.

I nip his lower lip, pulling back only for a moment so he can breathe. He growls and kisses me again, tugging his wrists free. His hands cradle my face before one sweeps up into my hair, holding the back of my head. My own hands tremble. I set them on his hips, my thumb stroking under his vest, over smooth, silky skin.

He tastes like the sunshine I have not seen for centuries. He tastes like warmth and home and…

Someone clears their throat and we both go still. Kieran's breath against my lips is shaky. He is the first to pull back, but he does not turn his head. He blinks up at me and his eyes are so, so dark.

When he does turn them on Sam, who looks faintly amused, it is with a glare. Kieran has not moved further away, and I do not want him to.

"Not to interrupt all this, but someone needs to take Carey home."

Kieran sighs and all the irritation leaves him at once. "Yeah, you're—You're right." His fingers stroke over my nape before he lets go. It takes a conscious effort for me to let go of him in turn. "I'll go talk to her."

He leaves the alley without looking back. I lean against the wall, surprised when Sam does not go with him. He eyes me speculatively, and I am not certain he likes the conclusion he comes to.

"Thought it might be better if I'm the one to come over," he says, and the next words are biting. "Kind of figured you didn't want the other vamps to see."

By the time I have opened my mouth to reply, Sam is gone. Do I not…?

I shiver. Did I not want anyone else to see us kiss? See our first kiss? No, of course not. But I am not—Kieran is not—

He is not someone to be ashamed of. I know that. Even if I should be making different choices, they are not his fault.

I join the others on the street and Adam immediately moves to my side. Kieran and Carey are having a heated discussion and Elle raises an eyebrow when she turns her head in my direction. I have no doubt she knows what just happened. My lips still tingle with a phantom touch.

"I'll be fine," Carey says. She crosses her arms over her chest with a little huff. "You need to go home, too. I'll call a taxi."

"Okay, so I'll come with you, and then I'll get one back to mine." Kieran seems stuck on the idea, even as Sam frowns. I understand his hesitancy, but we all know it is not really Carey Tristan is after.

"I can go with her," Elle says, and Carey blinks up at her in surprise.

Kieran frowns. "I can—"

"It's been a long night," Carey says. She takes out her phone. "And you've been running around doing this for days, right? I'll be fine with Elle."

Elle nods solemnly. She will defend Carey with her life. I am certain.

Carey smiles. It does not waver as she looks at Kieran. "Okay?"

Kieran huffs, but he looks at Elle and nods. "Fine. But text me. Promise."

"I promise." Carey only rolls her eyes a little.

I order a car from the clan for the rest of us as we wait for Carey's taxi to arrive. Elle ushers her inside and says she will meet us at the clan house when she is done.

The warning is in her voice. Do not linger. I nod. It is not as if Kieran and I will have any more time alone tonight, and even if we did… It was just a kiss. Kieran was clearly worried after the attack, after meeting Alpha Deacon.

Just a kiss.

I sit up front when the car arrives and try not to notice the way Kieran takes the seat behind me. Sam is in the centre, Adam to his left, and every time I look up, my eyes meet Kieran's in the mirror.

His eyes reflect the hunger gnawing in my chest. Something deep and dark that might choke me if I let it. I cut my gaze away, turning my head to look out the window.

I know better. I cannot risk everything, not again, and especially not this soon. Not now.

Only we all get out of the car when we reach Kieran's building, even though there is no need for that. Kieran's gaze on me is like a physical touch and I fight the urge to shiver.

"You should check the wards," Kieran says to Sam.

Sam throws his arms up into the air, exasperated, before he stomps off.

Adam looks between us curiously, but it is only a second before he follows. If I could think of anything else, I might pay more attention to the way he is looking at the little mage, but it is a thought I push aside.

The car still idles by the kerb. I should call Adam back and get in. I need to inform Vasile of all that has happened tonight. Tell him that Alpha Deacon is now involved and…

Kieran reaches out and his fingers brush mine. He is not much shorter than me, but his shoulders dwarf mine, his very presence imposing in a way that makes me want to close my eyes and offer him anything he wants.

Everything he wants.

"Lucien," he says, voice a low rumble that slides through my veins. There is no uncertainty in the word. No question as to whether we should be doing this. His warm breath fans over my lips. I close my eyes. I—

"Lucien!"

Adam's sudden cry has Kieran rocking back and I turn on my heel, racing to where he is standing with Sam. Kieran is right behind me. I expect to find a body or at least blood, but there is—

"A vampire was here," Adam says. He takes a deep breath in. When he lets it out again, his eyes move, focusing on something I cannot see.

I can feel the power, though, which is a testament to its strength. It lingers in the air, something ancient and heavy, not wholly unlike what I feel when Vasile is nearby. Kieran moves to walk past me, to get closer to the spot Adam is standing on, but I pin him with a look, and he pauses, frowning.

"Was it Tristan?" he asks.

"No." Sam answers before Adam can. "Too old for that."

Adam nods. "I've never… I've never felt power like this before." His worried eyes meet my own. "Maybe a vampire is visiting?"

He does not say what I know we are both thinking. A vampire this powerful—likely more powerful than Vasile himself—is someone we would know about. Their visit would be announced.

Kieran stares at the spot where Adam is standing. I watch as he lifts his head, following what would be the most obvious line of sight.

"They were looking into our flat."

Sam swears, wrapping his arms around himself. Neither he nor Kieran have jackets, but where he shivers, Kieran does not. "Fuck. Another one?"

"This could be unrelated to Tristan," I begin, but Sam scowls.

"You understand that that's worse, right?" He looks at Kieran. "What d'you want to do?"

"They didn't even try the wards, did they?"

Sam shakes his head. "I'd have felt it if they did."

"Even at that distance?"

"Yeah. No matter the distance. They didn't so much as brush against them."

Kieran nods. He is wearing a pinched expression now and pushes his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "Check the wards. And…" He looks at me and Adam.

Sam sighs. "Fine," he mutters. "C'mon."

The last part he says to Adam, who jumps in surprise but trots after Sam as he walks to where he has placed the wards. Kieran crosses to the spot where Adam stood. He shivers when he steps on it, but I think it is more because of the implication than him being able to sense anything.

"I will ask Vasile if a vampire is visiting. It could just be—"

"It's bad any which way, Lucien," Kieran says lowly. He is still looking up at the window to his living room. I know which one it is. Sometimes they do not close the curtains all the way and I see him enter, see him talk to Sam or wander off to get ready for bed. "Even if they're someone Vasile's allowed into the city, why are they here?"

Something close to panic claws at my throat. "You will be safe."

Kieran's smile, when he turns it on me, is tinged with sadness. "We both know you can't promise that."

Something in my chest twists painfully. A knot of feelings and tension, and I growl under my breath before I turn away, pulling my phone out of my pocket. I need to call Vasile. What if the vampire can cross the wards, but is waiting for them to be home? I would never forgive myself if—

"Lucien," Vasile says when he answers. "The hunts have still not proven fruitful."

My cheeks burn. "No, crai. There is another problem." More than one. I rub a hand over my forehead. Things are getting out of hand.

"What is it?"

"A vampire has been outside K—the human's building. An old vampire."

"There are a few old vampires in this city. I suspect they have all heard of him by now."

"No, it is not—I have never felt power like this before, Vasile. Whoever it is, they are old."

Vasile is silent for a moment. "How old?"

"I am not certain, but I think—"

"Lucien."

"I think they are older than you."

"Ah." He sighs. "Is that all?"

"No. I spoke with Alpha Deacon, and he is going to speak with Hunter Moreau, but he believes the wolves should assist us in our hunt for Tristan and the magic user."

"Come back to the clan house, Lucien." Vasile's voice is clipped. "We need to discuss this in person. Including why Adam was the one watching over the humans when Tristan attacked."

I grimace. When I turn, Kieran is watching me. "Yes, crai. I will be there soon."

"Half an hour, Lucien. I will be expecting you."

"Yes, crai."

I end the call and put the phone back in my pocket.

"Everything okay?" Kieran asks.

"Yes. Vasile was… understandably annoyed that Adam was the one made vulnerable tonight."

Kieran's gaze darts away. "Why didn't you come with us?"

"I—" My throat is dry. "I did not think it would be a good idea."

He frowns, but when he looks at me, his expression clears, a hint of pink colouring his cheekbones. "Oh."

I smile. "Yes. Oh."

Sam and Adam return, and Sam's expression is pinched with tiredness now. "Okay, I've amended the wards. If one of you is near the building, you can stay inside them. Without meeting this vampire, I can't be certain, but the wards should hold them out. Tristan and his mage, for sure."

"Thank you, Sam," I say.

Kieran seems to notice Sam's lack of energy and nods. "C'mon," he says, waving towards the building. "You two need to get back anyway, right?"

"Yes."

Kieran slings an arm around Sam's shoulders. "Be safe." His eyes spark when he looks me over. "See you tomorrow?"

I incline my head. "Of course."