Walking into the living room, she knew he followed despite the fact that his footsteps were as quiet as his brother’s. She started in surprise when she saw him sitting on the couch before she even neared it, however. Taking care to place the knife obviously in arm’s reach, she perched on the edge of the couch, resting her hands uneasily in her lap. “This is all very, um, new for me. I’m sure you understand my confusion.”
“Yes, of course. I will try to tell you what is happening, but I’m scared to tell you too much. You might get frightened away. Some of it is not…normal.” Tilting his head to the side with a somber expression, his gaze bore into hers so intensely she flinched and looked away. “Also, I am unaware of what Isaac has already told you.”
“How about if I ask the questions, and you answer them? No lying, though, or I kick you out and never let you in again,” she demanded. She waited for his nod of agreement, crossing her arms across her chest. “How old are you?”
He relaxed, an amused expression crossing his face. As he grinned, she saw a dimple flash her way. “Twenty-seven.”
“Hmm…and what year were you born? I’m bad at math,” she lied.
The amusement vanished and coldness took over his features again. “You really want to ask that one?” He spoke between clenched teeth. “I don’t think you do.”
“Actually, I do,” she insisted. “I certainly didn’t invite you here to discuss the weather.”
“Oh, and how has the weather been, Sabrina?”
“Stormy.” Her voice rose at his odd question. Who the hell cared what the weather had been like?
“I’ll bet,” he scoffed.
She studied him curiously. It sounded almost as if he had some hidden meaning behind his words, one she wasn’t privy to. She pushed aside her confusion at his derision and looked at him, making a great show of dragging her eyes from him to the door. “Now that we’ve discussed the weather, answer my question.”
“Sabrina,” he ground out. “I already did. Twenty-seven.”
“Did you come here to lie to me? To play games? Time for you to leave. Now.” She rose to her feet and glared at him. She was done. This whole situation seemed ridiculous. When he didn’t leave, she put her hands on her hips and leaned closer to him. “I said get out.”
He mumbled something, and she leaned in closer. “What did you say?
“I was born in eighteen-fifty-four!” he yelled. “Is that clear enough fo
r you, my lady?”
Shock filled her at his answer, and she collapsed back onto the couch. She’d been expecting something like this, but to hear it out loud still struck her like a blow. Things like this didn’t happen. Well, maybe it did in movies and novels, but not in real life.
Man up, Sabrina. No time for shock.
“What are you?”
“I won’t—can’t—say. It’s not possible. So, you might as well move onto the next question. You can threaten all you want, but I can’t answer you.”
She stared at him, trying to make sense of his words. He hadn’t said he wouldn’t tell her, but he couldn’t. Why? An order, a covenant, or did he just not know?
Interesting….
“Okay. Give me a second here….” She rested her head on her left hand, rubbing her temple as she racked her brain for her next question. She tried really hard not to dwell upon the one question he couldn’t answer. She had been sure what his answer would be, yet even in fiction she had never heard of a vampire not being able to admit his secret. Could she be wrong?
Was he something else?
Stop wasting time and get your answers.
“Why couldn’t you come inside until I invited you in? And why come into my dreams, instead of talking to me the normal way?”
“I can’t come in until you let me.”
“And once invited, can I kick you out?”
“No, once you invite me in, you can’t rescind it.” His smirk did nothing to hide his satisfaction at sharing the small detail with her.
“Well, that would have been some useful information. Don’t you think?”