Twice Bitten 3 by Neill Chloe

Author:Neill, Chloe [Neill, Chloe]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Vampires, Fantasy, Merit (Fictitious Character : Neill), Paranormal, Fiction, Chicago (Ill.), Werewolves, Horror, Occult Fiction, General, Occult & Supernatural
ISBN: 9780451230645
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2010-07-06T07:00:00+00:00

He was silent on the way to the car. That silence and the ensuing tension thickened the air in the car until we were well away from the Breckenridge property and on our way back to Hyde Park.

I’d seen his protectiveness twice now. His gestures had been powerful, but they also put uneasiness between us—as if the gestures were too powerful for a relationship as new and green as ours.

“My reaction was uncalled for,” he finally said.

“You thought he was going to hurt me.”

Ethan shook his head. “I’ve been critiquing Morgan. I’ve complained that he overreacts. That he allows his emotions to get in the way of the needs of his House.”

My stomach twisted, and I had the sickening feeling that I knew where this conversation was going. “Ethan,” I said, but he shook his head.

“If Morgan had pulled that stunt, I’d have taken him out. I’d have hauled him out of the room and reminded him of his obligations. Of his duties to his House and the rest of them. I’m frankly surprised Gabriel didn’t take action of his own.”

Gabriel hadn’t, I thought, because with a touch, Tonya had reminded Gabriel of the reason Ethan had acted—for me.

“You stepped in to protect me. It’s understandable.”

“It’s unacceptable,” he countered.

That word stung like a punch, and I turned my face to the passenger side window so he couldn’t see the tears that had begun to fill my eyes. However grand his gesture at the Breck house, Ethan was preparing his excuse.

“I could have mooted all of Gabriel’s overtures, destroyed all the good rapport he’s building between shifters and vampires, because of my reaction. Just like that,” he added, snapping his fingers.

Then he went quiet for a moment.

“It’s been a long time for me since I’ve cared for someone. Since I’ve allowed instinct to take over.” His voice softened, as if he’d forgotten I was in the car. “I should have seen it coming. I should have considered the possibility that I’d react in such a way.”

Was I supposed to appreciate the admission that he cared for me when he was drowning in regret about it?

“What if Gabriel did offer an alliance, friendship, because of what you’d done for Berna? If we continued our relationship, and our emotions became intertwined, entangled, and it came to the same end as yours and Morgan’s—what then? All the bitterness? The bad feelings?”

What was I supposed to say? Was I supposed to argue with him? Remind him of the physical bliss? Reassure him that he wasn’t Morgan, and that our relationship was different?

“If we form an allegiance with the Pack, we’ll have made history. We’ll have made an allegiance that’s unique in history. And now my reaction has put that allegiance at risk. If that’s how I’m going to react, then I’m not ready for this—maybe not capable of it. Not when it puts the safety and security of the House at risk.” He was quiet for a moment. “There are three hundred Cadogan vampires, Merit.”

And I’m one of those three hundred, I silently thought, and forced myself to ask the next question.

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