Annis made a placating gesture with both hands. “Tempers are running hot right now,” she said. “Why don’t we all take a day? We can talk tomorrow night, when we’ve had a chance to cool down.”
“I won’t be here tomorrow,” Julian said. “Melly and I are leaving.”
“What?” said Marged. “You’ve been gone for several days already.” Julian hissed at her. Marged took another step back and muttered, “I recognize that wasn’t your fault.”
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” said Julian. “I’m taking a vacation. I’ll be gone for a year. Frankly, I don’t know if I’m coming back. Xavier will act as regent, and you will either finally commit to this demesne and work toward something bigger than yourselves, or you won’t. If you do, I might return. If you don’t, I’ll wash my hands of you, and you can each go to hell in your own way.”
The council erupted.
“You can’t just leave!”
“— an entire year? You’ve got to be kidding —”
“— some of us have businesses to run —”
Blah blah protest, blah blah, dismay, blah blah what about me?
Melly let it all wash over her while she watched Julian. Only Julian.
He turned to her and said telepathically, That’s our cue to leave.
Halle-fucking-lujah.
She wiggled out from behind Shane and kissed him on the cheek. Then she hugged Tess and Xavier quickly. She told Xavier, “Keep in touch.”
Wry amusement showed in Xavier’s gaze. “Oh, you know I will.”
Then she left them to walk to toward Julian, who held out his hand. The murderous fury in his expression had faded, to be replaced with a look that made her pulse pound and her heart sing.
The assembly hall fell silent as she reached him and took his hand. It remained silent as they walked out the door.
Julian set a fast pace. Melly passed down hallways without registering details, her mind in a daze. Part of her couldn’t believe what was happening.
But part of her could too.
Midnight had passed. They were starting a new day.
Outside, the night was crisp and clear, with a luminous canopy of stars overhead. A ghoul waited by the Harley. It was Herman. Giving them a mournful smile, he handed them jackets and a helmet. “We packed tings in dose saddlebags, just like you ordered, Mr. King.”
“You don’t have a helmet?” Melly asked Julian as she shrugged into her jacket and helmet.
“I don’t need one.” He zipped his jacket. His gaze met hers. “You don’t either. Yours is just to keep your hair from getting so tangled. I won’t let you crash.”
He wouldn’t either. Smiling, she buckled her helmet into place.
He straddled the Harley and started it. She climbed on behind and snuggled close, wrapping her arms around his waist. The growl of the machine vibrated between her legs as he pulled away. As they left the lights of Evenfall, the night wrapped them in its embrace.
Julian took the winding roads at a leisurely pace. Laying her head on his shoulder, Melly watched the countryside pass.
Are you tired? he asked.
No, she told him. She felt glorious. She never wanted this ride to end.
His head turned sideways. She caught a glimpse of his hard, sexy profile. So, we can ride for a while.
Yes, please. She laid a hand over his heart.
They came to the winding entrance that would take them onto the interstate. She asked, Where are we going first?
I don’t know. Are you okay with that?
Oh, hell yeah.
Briefly he covered her hand with his.
Then he punched the gas.
The Harley shot forward, like a thoroughbred bursting out of a gate.
Nineteen
Julian came indoors after spending a couple of hours fishing in the cold, quiet predawn. It felt delicious to relax in front of a roaring fire. Lazily, he watched the leaping flames in the fireplace while he listened to Melly move around in the kitchen.
A metallic clang ruptured the peace in the cabin, and she swore so colorfully, he had to chuckle.
“What happened?” he called out.
“I dropped the flour canister, and now there’s flour everywhere.” She appeared by the sofa and grumpily nudged him. He shifted so she could lie down and curl against his side. “Yes, I’m running away from the problem. I put the trout in the fridge. I can always cook it later.”
“I’ll help you clean it up in a bit.” Stretching, he wrapped his arms around her, and she laid her head on his shoulder and snuggled into him.
A month had passed since he had killed Dominic, Darius, and Justine and walked away from the Nightkind council. Every day, he felt like he was going to wake up from a dream. Even though Melly felt solid and real when he held her, he couldn’t internalize the beauty of her smile, or the peace he saw all around him when he took the boat out onto the lake.
It was going to take some time, she kept telling him. One month could not wipe out years of isolation or stress. He was okay with that. The one thing he had learned over his long life was that worthwhile things could take time.
Stirring, she turned away from him, curling on her side while resting her head on his arm. He turned with her, spooning her from behind. Together they looked out the picture window at the serene water.
While they called the property a “cabin,” the term was a bit of a misnomer. In actuality, it was a three-bedroom house tucked into a tiny cove, with a spacious family room, a living room with a picture window that covered an entire wall facing the lake, and three fireplaces. Through clever landscaping and the position of the building, they couldn’t see any other houses.
The house sat at the edge of the waterline, while below, instead of a basement there was a compact boathouse that held a rowboat, a small, sleek motorboat, and a variety of water toys, including Jet Skis and paddle boards.
They also had their own pier, and over the last four weeks, they had replaced all the older, outdated furniture with new, quality pieces, like the chaise lounge by the living room window where Melly loved to read, and the spacious couch that offered plenty of room for cuddling.
“We did a good job when we picked this place before,” she said. “I’m glad all the trees have survived and have grown to be so big. It’s nice to go through the day without direct sunlight coming in any of the windows.”
“Even if we do lose a tree to an ice storm, the shutters are installed if I need them,” he replied. “For now, I’m glad I don’t need them. It feels good to look out.”
They fell silent for a time and watched the sunrise together.
He and well-being…
They were beginning to know each other, just as he and happiness were getting acquainted.
What do you know. Sometimes an old dog really could learn new tricks.
“Do you miss it?” she asked finally. She twisted around to look into his eyes. “All the intrigue, politics and power. I could imagine they would be addicting.”
Various members of the council had begun to email Melly, asking after her well-being and attempting to solicit her help in persuading Julian to return. She told him about each email with great satisfaction, although he wouldn’t let her read them to him.
“Not at all,” he replied. Honesty forced him to add, “At least, not yet.” He played with her hair. It was one of his favorite pastimes. “Do you miss the fast pace of the movie set?”
She smiled. “Absolutely not. At least not just yet.”
He stroked down her body gently, taking his time so that he touched every hollow and curve. The clothes she wore at the cabin were soft and pretty — silks and sometimes fleeces, all in jewel tones that complemented her golden skin, green eyes and tawny curls. She left her hair loose, just the way he liked it.