Lust exploded through him in a potent rush, hardening his c**k and goading him to grip her hair in his fist, holding her still so he could ravish her tender mouth.

He was nearing the point of no return when he heard her voice whisper across his mind— I’m sorry. I have to take your memories.

Then the room spun and went black.

Chapter 8

“Why now?” Malachai grumbled, staring down at where Trevor lay unconscious on the couch. “After we went through all the trouble of setting this sting up?”

Siobhán studiously avoided looking at Trevor. Whenever she did, her heart rate kicked up and her breath shortened. She should’ve known better than to keep him around a moment longer than necessary. Every second she spent with him made her more vulnerable.

When he’d looked at her with heat in his eyes, his stunning face made hard by a mortal’s raw desire to mate, she’d felt a quickening in her blood and a terrible yearning for his touch. The soft glide of his tongue and the grip of his hand in her hair had stirred something frightening inside her—the need to submit and surrender, to forsake everything for him.

She cleared her throat. “He was becoming too attached to me.”

Carriden rubbed his hand over his jaw, studying her. “It doesn’t matter, Malachai,” he said. “It’s done. Should I take him to the archangel, Siobhán? Or would you rather do it?”

Gratitude flooded her for his intervention. As far as she was concerned, there was no point in discussing any of this further. She couldn’t change the choices she’d made or how she reacted to them. She could only move forward.

“If you would, please, Carriden. Thank you. I’ve already cal ed Raguel and discussed it with him. He’s in Las Vegas, but he’s made arrangements for Trevor to be received at his offices in Anaheim. Malachai and I Will stay here with Daniela to see if Trevor’s scent stirred anything up.”

“Al right.” The red-haired angel bent down and col ected Trevor’s lax body, tossing the mortal over his shoulder. “I’l cal you once I drop him off and see if you want me to come back here or return to Ontario.”

Reaching out, she touched Carriden’s arm. Could you double-check and make sure I didn’t miss anything in his mind?

Carriden met her gaze, his own fil ing with compassion. He nodded. “I’l talk to you soon.”

Siobhán knew her request betrayed her. If she hadn’t been compromised, she wouldn’t fear leaving a piece of herself behind in Trevor’s memories. As it was, she couldn’t be sure she hadn’t and she needed the certainty of knowing that every single recol ection and impression of her was wiped completely away. He needed a fresh start, without any possibility that she might inadvertently hold him back.

When the front door shut behind Carriden, she looked at Malachai. “Where’s Daniela?”

“Fueling up the van. She should be back soon.”

“We’ll go out when she returns.”

Malachai crossed his arms, his chin lifting stubbornly. “Are you okay, Siobhán?”

“What if I’m not?” she shot back, tired of his poking and prodding. “If you want to cal Adrian about me, just do it.”

“Don’t get pissy. I’m just worried about you.”

“What does that accomplish? It’s over. I just want to forget about it.”

He exhaled audibly. “My understanding is that it’s not so easy to get over having feelings. Adrian’s never recovered.”

“But he’s still effective, isn’t he? He still does what needs to be done. His dedication has never lagged, and neither Will mine.”

“Okay, okay.” Malachai lifted his hands in surrender. “I’m here for you if you need to talk about it. Actual y, I wish you would. I’m curious.”

Siobhán arched a brow at him. “Don’t they say curiosity kil ed the cat?”

“I’m not a cat.”

“No, you’re a pain in my ass.” She turned toward the door as it opened and Daniela walked in. “Let’s go. I need to hunt.”

* * *

Aurelia climbed onto a stool beside Siobhán and muttered, “Who knew the lycans were so much better at hunting than we are?”

She looked up from the slide of lycan blood she was studying to meet her fellow Sentinel’s discouraged gaze. “Stil no luck?”

“Three days and Malachai, Carriden, and Daniela have nothing to show for it.” Aurelia’s gaze roamed over the lab. “Did you see my suggestions for how we might keep some of the subjects alive while conscious?”

“I did, yes. You pointed out some chal enges I hadn’t thought of. Thank you.”

“You’ve been distracted.” Aurelia’s fingers rubbed absently into the aluminum tabletop. “Do you miss him?”

“Who?” But she knew, and she looked back into the microscope to hide her face.

Yes, she missed Trevor. Missed him in the infirmary, where he’d helped her draw blood and replenish intravenous fluids. Missed him in the lab, where his comments and questions about the samples had sparked theories and ideas. Missed him in her room, where he’d been a great sounding board for her and something very pretty to look at . . . So little time and yet they’d shared so much.

“You know who. The mortal. Trevor.”

“I hope he’s doing well ,” she murmured, her gaze unfocused as a now-familiar loneliness weighed heavily on her mood. She’d never felt alone in all of her existence until now. She couldn’t understand how it was possible to feel that way when she was so often in the company of her fellow Sentinels. “He certainly deserves it.”

“I’d like to save someone like that. all the way through. You know, from the time I find them until the time they’re ready to go back to living their mortal lives.”

She looked up again. The difference between her and Aurelia in that moment was so pronounced Siobhán was shaken by it. Aurelia was still pure of purpose, almost childlike in her inability to perceive or empathize with emotions. That brought home just how much Siobhán had changed and how long that gradual alteration must have been occurring.

The cracks must have been forming for ages. Trevor had simply slid into one with the precision of a honed blade, widening those cracks and making her even more susceptible to his potent affect on her.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Aurelia asked.

“I’m sorry. My mind wandered.”

Aurelia’s frown cleared. “I just think it’s great that you know you helped a mortal, because you did it directly. I’ve spent a lot of time wondering if we’re making any difference at all .”

Siobhán’s cel phone started ringing and she pul ed it out of the cargo pocket of her pants. She saw the name on the display and answered, “Hey, Damien. How are you?”

“As good as can be expected under the circumstances.” Damien’s voice was confident and smooth. It was one of the things she’d always admired about Adrian’s second-in-command—he never got ruffled. “Are you still looking for uninfected vampires?”

“Yes. Who knew they’d be so hard to find?”

“That’s the question I’ve been asking recently. It’s been very quiet since the lycans revolted.”