[Victor]Once I was dressed, Echo accompanied me out of the bedroom. She went with me to the room where the man, Spencer, was resting. When we were dealing with vampire issues, Echo didn’t hang on me. She was always behind me just enough that she was still in my peripheral vision, but not where she was easy for anyone to take or attack. I loved the times when she would wrap herself around my arm and lean against me. There were times I wished she could do it while I worked, but confrontations with others meant I might need to fight. I couldn’t do that with Echo on my arm. She understood. As we entered the room, I saw Neil standing by the door. Another wolf was adjusting the bags that were attached to the pole next to the bed. He moved and I could see the man in the bed. He was looking much better. The wolf came over to me and stuck out his hand. I accepted it and shook it politely. Marius didn’t like shaking hands, but I had been raised in a culture and time where it was a common enough greeting. I only reacted like he did when I was trying to be more aloof and superior to the person I was dealing with. It was a very rare reaction for me.“I’m Dr. John Hastings. I assume you’re Master Nightshade,” “You assume correctly. Thank you for coming to take care of our guest. I truly appreciate your willingness to enter my home.” “There’s no place I wouldn’t go if I could help save a life. I appreciate your thanks, but they aren’t needed,” the doctor replied with a smile. “Please, update me on our guest. My wife told me a little, but I would like to know what has happened since he woke,” I told him.“We’ve given him a full transfusion. I have given him fluids and vitamins as well. I recommend some more rest, but he should be up and around within the next twenty-four hours. You only have to decide what you want to do with him.” “You could talk a little quieter,” the man in the bed said. I walked around the doctor and went to the man. He didn’t smell as if he were frightened. He looked at me, then over. I followed his gaze. He was looking at Echo.When he looked at her, there was a brief pained light in his eyes. That didn’t stop him from looking at her a little longer. Once he focused on me again, I put my hand out to him. “I’m Victor Nightshade. This is my home. I am very sorry if we disturbed your rest. Are you well enough to speak with me for a while, or should I come speak to you in the morning?” I asked. “They said you’re the master vampire around here. How long have you been in charge of them?” he asked while glaring at me. “I took over in April of last year. I am still working on getting my territory in order. Is there something I need to be aware of?” “They stopped forcing people to feed them in June. They still pay, which a lot of the homeless around here are grateful for. If you’re the reason they stopped, thanks. Not all of the people who live on the streets can defend themselves.” “I will speak to my people and make sure those who are buying blood from people on the street are paying them fairly. If you know of anyone who was brutalized by vampires and would like to report it, I would appreciate any information they could provide,” I told him. The man regarded me quietly. His gaze slipped back to Echo before he closed his eyes, ending the conversation. It appeared he didn’t want to discuss this further. I could wait to talk to him until the morning. Turning, I took Echo’s hand and led her out of the room. He hadn’t closed his eyes all the way. I could smell that he was affected by me taking Echo’s hand and leading her away. I could hear the increased speed of his heartbeat. “What’s wrong, Victor? You have a look on your face that I can’t read,” Echo said softly after the door closed. “I think you remind him of someone he lost, Echo. He was looking at you in a way that felt like he was connecting with something. I believe he lost several people a few years ago,” I replied. “Oh, do you think it hurt him to see me? I don’t want to hurt him.” “I think it would hurt him more if he didn’t see you again, Echo. Perhaps you can sit with him for a little while in the morning. Just remember, if he acts oddly or aggressively, I want you to leave as quickly as possible. Will you do that for me?” She nodded. “Of course, Victor. I promise to stay safe and keep the baby safe.” I embraced her before we headed downstairs. Grayson had just walked in and I knew he would want to see Echo. Whenever we had to leave her behind, whether for work or rest, we always wanted to see Echo as soon as possible. Echo let go of my hand halfway down the stairs and rushed to throw herself into Grayson’s arms. I smiled at them as he twirled her around in the entryway. He kissed her as if he hadn’t seen her in weeks, rather than hours. “I’m starving. Let me go get cleaned up, and then we can have dinner,” Grayson said to Echo, then he looked up at me. “How did it go with the human?” “He’s awake. Echo talked to him but didn’t try to heal him. It seems he doesn’t know anything about the creature that attacked him,” I replied. “That sucks. I’ll be back in about twenty minutes.” Grayson headed up the stairs. Echo sighed and wrapped herself around my arm again. I looked down at her and saw her smiling at me. She looked happy. I was glad that we were able to give her that. “Why are you smiling like that?” I chuckled. “Because both of you are home and awake. It’s the best part of any day.” I kissed her gently. Echo sighed with happiness as she melted into the kiss. She was sweet. We loved being with her as well. “Come, my love, let’s go check my messages before dinner. I hope you don’t mind me working instead of spending time with you and Grayson this evening.” Echo shook her head. “There’s something really bad happening. I always told you that your territory comes first. I know how important it is to you and I love how you take care of it.” Caressing her cheek, I smiled as I looked into her beautiful hazel eyes. “You are the best wife and Solus Amor a master vampire could hope for. I will get you any gift you desire as a reward.” “Victor, I don’t need a gift. All I want, all I need, is you and Gray. Maybe the next time there’s a three-day weekend you can take the whole weekend off and we can spend three whole nights without any interruptions.” She squeezed my arm to her body and rubbed her face against the hand I had on her cheek. My heart clenched as I thought of how much I loved her. “Well, isn’t this a darling scene,” a voice said from my left, the entry to the living room. I looked over and saw the warlock standing against the doorframe with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face. He was dressed in his signature leather long-coat and pants. Trent had told me that he might show up from time to time since I agreed to leave him to his own devices in my territory. Echo let go of me and glared at him. She rarely disliked someone upon meeting them. His smile got wider and he pushed off from the doorframe. “What could I have done to deserve that look?” he asked. “Rhett, as much as I appreciate your help with everything we’re working on, I would appreciate some warning when you are planning to visit,” I said. He waved his hand and I froze. I couldn’t move. It was as if something was holding me in place. Rhett moved closer.“I wasn’t talking to you, Mister Nightshade. Well? What did I do to deserve that look, little dhampyr?” Echo turned to me and saw that I was frozen. Her fists clenched and she turned back to the warlock. “What did you do?” “I asked a question. It’s rude to ignore a question.” Echo started moving toward him and he waved his hand again, but looked surprised when nothing happened. Echo pulled back her arm and slapped him across the face so hard it knocked him to the side. Rhett stumbled a few steps before regaining his balance. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, but the smirk never left his face. He licked his lips and straightened his coat.“Let him go right now,” she demanded. “I like you,” he said, his voice low and silky. “You’ve got spunk. Most people don't have the guts to hit me.”Echo bared her teeth at him. “I’m not most people,” she said through clenched teeth.Rhett chuckled and straightened up, brushing off his coat. “I can see that.” He turned his attention back to me and the spell holding me in place vanished. I stumbled forward, catching myself before I fell. Rhett’s eyes flickered with amusement as he watched me stumble, but he didn’t comment on it.I narrowed my eyes at him. Vampires didn’t stumble. He was insulting me by making me look foolish. “Apparently, I was incorrect in assuming the sibling with the least amount of werewolf blood would be less aggressive,” he laughed. “What do you want?” I asked. “I heard that you might be calling on me tonight. I figured I’d save you the trouble. How can I be of service?” When I’d woken up, I’d told Echo I was thinking of getting in contact with him about the root we had. I never said his name or indicated which warlock. I wondered how he knew. Echo raised her hand to hit him again. I rushed over and grabbed her arm, pulling her away from him. Something about him was making her violent. “Echo, my love, calm down. He didn’t hurt me. Everything is okay,” I murmured as I wrapped my arms around her. Turning her to me, I saw the angry expression melt off her face. She wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me tightly. I looked back up at Rhett. “It’s my darkness. The darkness inside her sees it as an enemy. Harmony was the same for the first two weeks we worked together. Echo’s is different from her sister’s. Harmony’s darkness manifests in magic. Echo’s is part of who she is as a future vampire. It’s fine if she hits me. I’m into that,” he told me with a wink. “I’m sure it didn’t help that you attacked her Solus Amor right in front of her after startling her. From now on, I would prefer if you rang the buzzer at the front of the property and waited to be admitted. It’s a simple sign of respect. I would respect you in the same way if you set that boundary.” His smirk gained a quirk of amusement. “Boundaries. How healthy of you to set boundaries. No one has tried that before. I’ll accept your request.” Rhett bowed slightly then disappeared.