“Not bad.” Sebastian nodded his approval. “You’re a feisty little youngling, aren’t you? No wonder Quesada chose you.”
“He’s trained a bunch of vampires,” Maya said. Suddenly feeling self-conscious, she adjusted her ponytail. “I’m not special.”
“I wasn’t talking about being a sentry, and believe me, my dear girl, you are most definitely special.” Sebastian winked. “We’ve known Shane for two hundred years, and through all of that time, I’ve never seen him with a woman. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I knew where his bread was buttered but—”
“What my dear brother is trying to say,” Diego interjected, “is that it’s quite clear why Shane chose you as his woman.”
“I’m not his woman.” Maya straightened her back, and guilt tugged at her when she saw the look on their faces. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’ve got more pressing matters to deal with. Can you direct me to the underground tunnels so that I can start heading back to New York? I’d like to cover some ground before sundown.”
“Of course,” Sebastian murmured. Linking his arm in hers, he guided her to the elevator. “But shouldn’t you wait for Quesada? I realize that he may not be at his best at the moment, but if memory serves, you are still a trainee, are you not?”
“Trainee?” Diego laughed and waved off Sebastian’s concerns. “The girl is packing enough silver in that coat to take down a stampede of vampires or werewolves. My nostrils are burning just from being near it.” He winked at Maya. “See? That’s why I could never be a sentry. I’d never get used to the constant stench of silver.”
“Speaking of Shane,” Maya said evenly as she cast a wide smile. “If he comes looking for me, please don’t tell him that I was here.” Sensing their apprehension, she added quickly, “Part of my final test to become a sentry is to handle a mission on my own. I’m sure you can understand how eager I am to reach the next level,” Maya said, praying they’d believe her lie.
“Of course.” Diego tilted his head in deference. “As you wish.”
“Thank you.” Maya smiled politely and stepped into the elevator with Diego’s comment lingering in the air. She hadn’t realized it until he mentioned it, but Maya barely even smelled the silver anymore.
Diego slammed the gate shut, and the gentle hum of the machine surrounded them. Maya kept her attention straight ahead, not wanting to give any hint that she shouldn’t be doing what she was doing. It was probably a foolish move to confront Horace on her own, but she had no intention of putting the people she cared about in harm’s way.
“I’m finished with training,” Maya murmured when the elevator came to a halt. “It’s game time.”
Shane awoke abruptly from the deep, healing slumber and instantly noticed the glaring absence of Maya’s soft, curvy body. He had slept alone for four hundred years—until he’d found Maya—and that was exactly the way he liked it. Solitary. Focused. However, being with her had turned everything upside down, and not having her with him felt wrong. He resented the hell out of it. He missed the scent of Ivory soap, the weight of her body against him, and the silky feel of her hair as it drifted over his shoulder.
Shane cursed under his breath, swung his feet over the side of the bed, and ran his fingers through his hair. Growling with frustration, he rested his elbows on his knees and put his head in his hands. This entire situation was his damn fault. If he hadn’t gotten close and allowed himself to feel something for her, then he wouldn’t be feeling so shitty now.
And he wouldn’t have hurt Maya.
He had hurt her. He knew he had, and that wounded look on her face would likely haunt him for the rest of his days. He shoved the guilt aside and kept reminding himself that it was for the best. How could he be with Maya when he was so obviously incapable of thinking clearly whenever he was near her?
Shane’s love for Maya blinded him, and that made him a liability. With all the changes that were happening in New York, with the arrival of Olivia and Doug’s child, the Presidium didn’t need an ineffective sentry in their midst. Neither did Maya. How could he protect her when she made him mad with worry?
After his egregious error with the wolves, Shane realized that loving Maya would mean letting her go. In the long run, she would be better off without him.
Rising to his feet, he stretched and moved his body, grateful to find all of his wounds had completely healed, although the werewolf bites left scars on both his leg and his shoulder. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and made a face of disgust. His clothes were bloody and torn, and he looked downright haggard. Shane pulled the bloodstained shirt off and tossed it aside before inspecting the scar that ran along his neck and shoulder. The scars would fade and eventually be barely noticeable, but at the moment they were still red.
Shane strode out of the room and crossed the hall to the door of Maya’s bedroom. He paused for moment before knocking and reached out with his senses to see if she was sleeping. Maya’s distinctive energy pattern was nowhere to be found. Frowning, he opened the door and was met with an unexpected sight. The drape had been pulled down and the window was wide open. Maya’s sentry uniform was gone, along with several throwing weapons, two guns, and most of the ammunition.
A feeling of dread crept up Shane’s back as he ran downstairs calling her name. He burst through the front door and shouted for her but was answered only by the bullfrogs in the bayou. Flying up to the roof, he scanned the entire property, but Maya was nowhere to be seen, heard, or felt.
Shane reached out to Maya with his mind, desperately needing to feel the intimate telepathic connection that only they shared. Maya? Maya, where are you? Answer me. Warmth flooded his body when their minds linked, but the connection was stopped swiftly and he knew she’d severed all communication. A deep, aching void filled him from the lack of her presence. Panic. Fear. Anger. All of it flooded him viciously when he realized that she really was gone.
“She ain’t here.” Lottie’s voice drifted up from the kitchen window. “Get off my roof before you fall through it.”
Shane jumped from the roof and landed silently in the backyard before running up the back steps into the kitchen. Lottie, who was dressed in her fortune-teller getup for work, looked at Shane with something resembling pity.
“Like I said.” Lottie sighed. “Maya ain’t here.”
“Where did she go?” Shane’s fists clenched and unclenched at his sides while an overwhelming sense of inadequacy filled him. “Please,” he said, softening his tone. “Do you know where she’s gone?”
“Beats the hell outta me. Don’t know why you’re so surprised that she took off.” Lottie grabbed her big leather bag and draped it over her chest. “I may be old, but I ain’t deaf, and conversations carry through this empty old house. I heard what you told that poor girl. Why didn’t you just rip her heart out and stomp on it? That probably would’ve hurt less.”
“I did what had to be done.” Shane’s mouth set in a tight line and he folded his arms over his chest, suddenly feeling defensive.
“Don’t gimme that shit. You’re scared.” Lottie wagged a finger at him. “You are a big, fat fraidy cat. You love that girl. I know you do. So why the hell are you doing your damnedest to lose her?”
“It’s better for everyone this way.”
“Bullshit,” Lottie shot back. “Better for who? You? I don’t think so, because you look like warmed-over alligator bait. You obviously love that girl, so I don’t know why you are pushing her away. The only reason I can come up with is good old-fashioned cowardice.”
“It’s complicated,” Shane said tightly.