He rolled his eyes. “Yes, Mom.”

I pulled a thick bundle of cash from my pocket and placed it in his hand. His blue eyes widened. “Whoa, what’s this?”

“You need money for the trip home.”

He tried to hand it back to me. “This is your money from the diamonds.”

“I don’t need it.” He continued to shake his head, and I gave him a watery smile. “It’ll make me feel better if I know you’re staying in decent hotels instead of sleeping in the car. You and Peter can split the rest when you get home.”

Peter came over and snatched the money from Roland. “I need a car too, buddy.” He grinned as he stuffed the money in his coat pocket and turned to hug me. “You gonna stay out of trouble?”

“Yes,” Nikolas answered for me as he and Chris came out of the house. He walked over to stand beside me. “Watch yourselves out there and have a good trip home.”

“Thanks, we will.” Roland held out his hand and Nikolas shook it. He gave me another quick hug before he and Peter headed to the car. A lump formed in my throat as they climbed in and Roland started the car. He rolled down his window and they yelled, “See ya.” Then with a wave they pulled away.

I watched until the white car disappeared around a bend in the long driveway. When I turned toward the house, Nikolas put a hand on my arm. “You okay?”

“Yes,” I lied. “Are you going out?”

“Chris and I are headed next door for a few hours to help them set up. I’ll be back before dinner.” The increased vampire activity in California had prompted the Mohiri to set up a temporary command center in the large house they had rented next door. Two units were arriving today with a truckload of equipment and supplies.

The thought of how quiet this place would be without Roland and Peter almost made me ask Nikolas if I could help him. I kept quiet because I didn’t want to be in his way.

After Nikolas and Chris left, Jordan and I went into the huge house that suddenly felt very empty. I turned to the stairs, intending to mope in my room for the rest of the afternoon.

Jordan caught my arm and swung me around. “Oh no, you don’t. You and I finally have this place to ourselves, and you are not hiding out in your room. Heb is making us some yummy snacks, and we are going to watch movies and stuff our faces.”

I let her drag me to the home theater room. “I think I’m getting sick of movies.”

“You’re not sick of these. I picked them out just for you.” She started the first movie and I turned my head to stare at her.

“Jane Eyre?”

She shrugged and settled back in her seat. “You love that book and I wanted to know what the big deal was. I also got Pride and Prejudice and Emma since you seem to like that stuff.” She watched the opening credits. “I don’t suppose there is any action in this?”

I didn’t respond at first until she gave me a questioning look. “Thanks, Jordan.”

She scrunched her nose. “Ah shit, don’t get all weepy on me. I thought you were past that faerie puberty thing.”

Her expression pulled a laugh from me. “Not quite. Aine says the worst of it is over, but I might have mood swings for a few more weeks.”

“Great,” she muttered.

We watched the first movie and were halfway through the second before Jordan began to fidget. I had to give her credit for making it that far since romantic period movies weren’t her thing. We ended up stopping the movie and talking about where Roland and Peter were now and wondering how the new command center was coming along. Eventually the conversation came around to Nikolas and me.

“So,” she began with a determined gleam in her eyes. “You never told me what happened Christmas Eve night. We’re alone now and I need details.”

“That’s because there is nothing to tell. We talked and fell asleep.”

She nodded slowly. “In your bed. Right. That’s why Nate and Tristan looked ready to skewer him with the turkey fork at dinner.”

I blushed, thinking about waking up sprawled across Nikolas on Christmas morning. He had planned to leave after I’d fallen asleep, but he’d dozed off, too, and I’d spent the entire night in his arms. Best Christmas present ever.

It would have been perfect if Nate hadn’t come looking for me when neither of us showed up for breakfast. I’d thought it was awkward the morning Tristan had found me in Nikolas’s apartment, but that was nothing compared to Nate catching us lying in bed together. The fact that we were both clothed and Nikolas was on top of the covers did nothing to placate Nate, and it had taken a whole day for him to stop glaring at Nikolas.

Jordan propped her feet up on the back of the seat in front of her. “You know, you must be the only female on the planet who would share a room – correction, a bed – with Nikolas Danshov and just sleep. Nuns would forget their vows if that male looked at them the way he looks at you.”

“We’re taking it slow,” was all I could say. Since Christmas Eve Nikolas hadn’t come into my room. He would walk me to my door and say good night with a tender kiss. In a way it felt like he was courting me. I would be lying if I said I didn’t wish he would ask to stay again. The more time I spent with him, the more I wanted.

She let out a pained groan. “How the hell can I live vicariously through you if you’re not getting any action?”

“You want action? I start my Fae training tomorrow. That should be a blast.”