“I have little doubt you’ll find what you need when you need to. Fate’s a bitch like that.”
Packing Skye in his arms, Ryan breezed in and grabbed Quinn. Sensing the change in atmosphere, Adair hoisted up her bag of clothes and walked to the garage. At the doorway, drawn to the heady scent of longing behind her, she glanced back to see the perfect little family embraced, Ryan and Quinn’s lips connected as if this kiss might be their last. The life of a demon hunter. Like warriors throughout time, they risked everything, running into the fray while others took the safer path.
Wishing she could ignore the words they whispered to each other, Adair shifted her attention. The windows of the SUV were now limousine-dark. There was a curtain pinned up between the front and rest of the seats.
Astrid rolled down the driver’s side window and waved her in. “Everything’s packed. Climb on in.”
Sliding into the backseat, Adair took the empty seat next to Bodie. He gave her a nod, then took her bag and turned to add it to the stack of supplies behind them.
The drive to the airport was quiet; Lana, Vann and Ryan turned off in their car toward the commercial flights, while they turned toward the private hangars. Bennett and Astrid chatted up front, joking about some past encounter with a group of vampires that had taken them for innocent college kids a few years back and had been unpleasantly surprised when their guests turned out to be demon hunters rather than rowdy co-eds ripe for the tasting.
They pulled into the private hangar and closed all the doors before letting a crack of light even touch her. She rolled her eyes as she climbed out into the shade. “A few minutes of sun won’t hurt me. Not saying I’d enjoy it, and I’ll look like I spent the week in Hawaii, but it’s not a big deal.”
The others smiled and shook their heads, unloading the SUV while Bennett stepped close and took her hands in his. “And it’s not a big deal to keep you safe.”
Tipping her head up, she bit her cheek. “I’m not human. Not a victim. I don’t need protection.”
“Don’t I know it.” Releasing her, he backed away, then moved to the rear of the SUV and unloaded his gear.
Once inside, Astrid made herself comfortable in the cockpit. Bodie leaned back and stretched out his legs in one of the cabin seats, his nose in a book. Fingers fidgeting in her pockets, Adair stood in between.
“Here.” Bodie shifted forward and pulled out a dusty leather-bound text. “May as well get researching.”
Sure, her eyes could handle the fine, aged script for hours, but somewhere over the Atlantic, she gave up. After setting a seventh useless book back in the box, she headed for the bedroom. Dropping onto the tidily made bed, its plush navy-blue comforter wrinkled underneath her.
The moment her head hit the pillow, the door eased open. “You okay?” Bennett’s smooth voice was gratingly kind.
“I’m fine.” She wrapped her arms around her middle and stared up at the ceiling.
“What’s up?”
“Just a long flight, that’s all.”
“It is, but that’s not what’s bothering you.” Rather than leaving her alone, he kicked off his shoes and laid on his back next to her.
And said nothing. Rubbing a hand over his face, he sighed, then rested his hands on his abdomen.
The texture of the taupe wallpapered walls created a natural feel in what should be a cold environment. Even the floors of the plane weren’t bad; deep-blue carpet and faux wood. The cognac leather seats of the cabin were soft as butter, and the bedroom was a cozy retreat. “How long have you had the jet?” Her voice cracked.
“Not long.”
“How long have you had your pilot’s license?”
“Few years.”
She released the last of her oxygen from her lungs. “Bennett?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry about last night.”
“I know.”
“Why aren’t you mad?” For the hundreds of years that she had been around humans, vampires and creatures that most people refused to believe existed, her knowledge of demon hunters was paltry. Or this one, apparently.
“Why would I be?”
“Why? Why wouldn’t you be? I’m doing it to you all over again.”
