“ASH, SLOW DOWN,” Beth called after me. “Talk to me. I wanted to tell you . . . I did, but—”
“There’s no time for that,” I said as I plunged headfirst into the crowd in front of the New York Public Library. This was beyond hurt feelings. Beyond my pride. “He might know something about Rhys.”
“What are you going to do?” Beth asked as she struggled to keep up.
When I realized I had no plan, I stopped short, sending Beth crashing into me. Getting out the door and going to the library was as far as my brilliant strategizing had gotten me. The old Ash would’ve been on the ball—she would’ve scored tickets to the event, made an entrance—but no, here I was in jeans and a T-shirt, surrounded by paparazzi, people taking selfies, couples kissing. The whole scene made me want to gag.
“I’ll know what to do when I see him,” I said as I elbowed our way to the front of the barricade.
“Please don’t be reckless,” Beth said nervously as the limos began to arrive. “You don’t have anything sharp, do you?
“Why didn’t I think of that?” I teased. “All I have is this ribbon,” I said as I pulled it from my hair and secured it around my wrist. “I guess I can always use it to strangle him.”
The guy standing next to me—husky, middle-aged, with a Hello Kitty autograph book—looked at me with wide eyes.
“JK.” I flashed a saccharine smile.
He let out a nervous chuckle before returning to his sweating and catcalling.
“Ash, I’m serious.” Beth clung to my arm. “If you lose your temper, you could end up exposing him, exposing yourself as immortal. I know what he did was wrong, but Dane is my friend.”
I looked at her sharply. “Dane is gone.”
“You don’t really believe that or you wouldn’t be here. Dane saved my life—took care of me when no one else would. And he loved you.”
I stared straight ahead into the blur of flashing lights. It hurt to hear her speak of him that way . . . to speak of him at all. It hadn’t occurred to me how torn she must’ve felt. Beth was loyal to a fault. Loyal to Quivira. Loyal to Rhys. Loyal to me. And like it or not, loyal to Dane.
Maybe Beth was right to be nervous. I had no idea what seeing him would do to me. It was the ultimate test. Could I be in his presence without wanting to kiss him or tear his throat open?
A sleek black Jaguar pulled up. Cameras were flashing; girls were screaming. A dashing figure emerged and I knew it was him. The way he stood, the way he walked, the way he lowered his chin as if he were on the verge of blushing from all the attention. I thought he’d look odd in a tux, out of place, but he wore it with the same casual confidence as the homespun clothes he was wearing when we first met at the junkyard. Frantically, I searched for signs of Coronado’s presence, but all I saw was Dane. All I felt was Dane. The Dane I remembered; the Dane who broke my heart. Could it be possible that he was somehow able to gain control? “Is that really you?” I whispered.
As he turned to ascend the stairs, two gorgeous women trailed after him. I didn’t know if one was his date, or both, or if they were just handlers. But I didn’t like it. I couldn’t believe he was going to slip in and out of town like I was some girl he met at a bar once. I wanted to scream out, We’re blood bound, you asshole, but thought better of it.
With each step he took away from me, my heart receded deeper into my chest, as if it were crawling back into darkness.
But then Dane stopped, glancing over his shoulder.
I felt his gaze slip over my skin like warm, liquid fingers.
Ducking behind a group of photographers, I took in a shuddering breath.
Even in this strange place, a sea of concrete and flashing lights between us, my blood seemed to shimmer in my veins, as if it were reaching out for him.
Whether it was Dane or Coronado, I knew it would be hard seeing him in the flesh.
I knew it would open old wounds.
But I didn’t expect to want him all over again.
And that wrecked me more than anything.