"Who is 'we'? Safe from what?"
"You've always had this problem," he said, standing. "You're stubborn, suspicious of everyone, and you ask so many damn stupid questions."
"I have every justification to be suspicious of you, Jake," she reminded him.
"Here we go again. Maybe if you didn't suffocate me, I-"
"Suffocate? You sleaze ball! You couldn't keep your hands off-"
"You two know each other?" Han asked, lowering his book.
"Unfortunately," she snapped.
"Hey, now, I did bring you here and try to help you," Jake pointed out.
He was right, but she didn't want him to know she knew it. She'd long since forgiven him for cheating on her. They'd dated only for a couple of months, and she knew he wasn't right for her the first date. But he was so handsome, and she so amazed he wanted to go out with her, that she ignored the instincts warning her it would never last. As usual, they were right.
"You're a pain in the ass," he said with no heat.
"I'm sorry, Jake," she said. "I don't hold our past against you at all. I'm just … really frustrated right now."
"I'm a target of opportunity," he said. "I know. It's okay, really. I just wish you'd trust me. I'd never hurt you, Sofi, and I hope you know that and can trust me enough to know you need to be here."
"Our past," Han mulled. "Anyone care to share?"
Jake ignored him, and she shook her head. Her gaze turned to the curtain, where not even a lost sunbeam could enter the room. Struck by longing, she gave a soulful sigh.
"Can I ever go outside again during daylight?" she asked.
"Yeah, after the transformation is complete," Han responded.
"Transformation?" she asked.
Han opened his book again, jaw clenched.
"Han, what do you mean?" she prodded. "What am I transforming into?"
At their silence, another thought hit her.
"Jake, am I a vampire? Were you joking?"
"You're not a vampire," he assured her. "They're not intolerant to daylight like you are. We'd have to kill you if you were anyway." He was serious, and she gaped at him. "They are not cool. Right, Han?"
"Yep."
"Who can tell me what's going on?" she demanded.
"D," the two responded simultaneously.
Damn. The thought of him made her feel like a girl in junior high being asked to her first dance. Or a drugged rabbit wandering into a hungry bear's den. She wanted to see the mysterious D and couldn't repel his magnetic draw. Even now, her heart quickened and her thoughts raced to the image of him in tight black clothing.