“To find answers. Answers that you aren’t giving me.” Accusation rang in her tone. She pressed both her hands on her h*ps and stared up at him. Oddly, she’d forgotten how tall he was. He towered above her. She wasn’t accustomed to feeling small or feminine, but his presence did that.
He tucked his hands in his jean pockets and tipped back on his heels. “What answers?”
She raised her chin and studied him, trying not to note the bruise or worry what he’d done to get it. “Who sent you to check on me and Chan?”
For a flicker of a second, he hesitated, then spoke, “I did answer that. The Vampire Council.” But the sneaky vamp looked away as soon as the words left his mouth. And she knew he always did that when he lied.
“That’s bullshit,” she said. “You’re still keeping something from me.”
He glanced back at her. “It’s not a lie. I got my orders from the council.”
She studied him. This time he didn’t blink or turn away. Did that mean he spoke the truth?
No, she didn’t trust him. If he could learn to control his heartbeat when he lied—and he’d admitted he could do that—then he could learn to control his facial reactions. Surely by now he’d figured out why she constantly challenged his word.
“Did they also order you to let Chan die?” The moment the question left her lips, she felt her resolve strengthen. It didn’t matter that her strength came from her own guilt—she’d take it.
Chase inhaled and looked down at the ground, shifting the tip of his right boot into the wet earth. When he looked back up, she saw a flicker of emotion in his eyes.
“No. Letting Chan face the rebirth on his own was my decision. I told you, I didn’t think he would survive, and if I’d tried to save him, I wouldn’t have been able to save you.”
“Do you have any idea how that makes me feel?” Her throat tightened. To save her, he’d let Chan die.
His shoulders lowered half an inch. Refocusing on his gaze, she spotted empathy in his eyes.
She hated empathy. It ranked right up there with pity.
She turned to leave. He grabbed her. Gently.
His thumb moved in small circles over her elbow. “I’m sorry. But I’m not responsible for his death any more than you are. We didn’t make this happen. And I did what I thought was right. It wasn’t easy for me, either. I liked Chan. But he was just too weak.”
Her skin tingled where the tips of his fingers moved. Remembering her no-touch rule, she shook off his hand. “Which is exactly why you should have helped him. If two people are in a river, you save the one who can’t swim.”
“And let you drown?” he asked.
“I might have made it through the rebirth. Burnett did.” The second the words left her mouth, she worried Chase didn’t know Burnett was a Reborn, but his lack of surprise put her at ease.
A frown tightened the corners of Chase’s eyes. “Burnett’s an exception. Less than three percent of Reborns live. The odds weren’t in your favor.”
“I would have taken those odds if I’d been given a choice. But I wasn’t. You didn’t even tell me Chan was dead and you knew. You kept this whole Reborn thing and your being here to help me to yourself. And why? Because you knew I’d be opposed to it.”
He kicked at a rock on the ground. The pebble soared through the air and hit a tree with a dead thump. “So I’m the bad guy for wanting to save your life?”
She leaned in. “You’re the bad guy for not being up-front. And you’re still doing it.”
His mouth tightened, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “Okay. I didn’t tell you everything. Be mad at me for that. But you can’t just ignore me or the fact that we’re bonded. You feel it. I feel it. You can’t deny it.”
“Watch me. I’m good at denying shit!” She seethed and darted around him to start back.
“God, you’re stubborn!” he called out, then again appeared in front of her.
She came to an abrupt stop, slamming her hands on his chest to stop from falling face forward. He caught her by the waist. Gently. His touch sent her heart racing this time.
“Either tell me the truth or leave,” she said, stepping out of his embrace. It was her last ultimatum. “Who are you working with besides the Vampire Council, and don’t tell me no one, because my bullshit detector goes off every time you tell me that.”
Chapter Two
Chase stood there, staring at her. She wished she could read his mind.
Della’s patience finally snapped. “Leave! If Burnett finds you, he’ll…” Then it occurred to her that Burnett should have already found him. The alarm would have gone off. Why wasn’t the camp leader already here giving Chase hell and interrogating him? Something was up.
Chase’s expression of confidence confirmed it. “He knows I’m here. I had a meeting with him.” Honesty deepened Chase’s voice.
She tried not to let her disappointment show, but her expression tightened. Was Burnett in cahoots with Chase again? Hadn’t he been just as pissed as she was when he’d packed up his shit and disappeared?
“When we were done, I asked to come to the falls. I told him I kept hearing it.” Chase shrugged. “Burnett’s only rule was to not go near your cabin, and I didn’t.” He shrugged, almost guiltily. “Not yet, anyway. But I probably would have before I left. I needed to see you. He can get furious at me if he wants.”