“Waiting for you in your office,” Haven announced, casting a quick glance at Faye.

Cain turned to her and took a step closer. He lowered his voice. “We’ll talk about this later. Don’t make any hasty decisions.”

When she didn’t answer, he turned to Haven.

“Let’s go.”

21

Putting aside Faye’s odd statement about another woman, Cain stormed into his office. John stood near the fireplace, while Thomas leaned against the backrest of the sofa, watching him.

Behind Cain, Haven closed the door and remained standing there.

Jaw tight, Cain walked up to John. “Where the fuck were you?”

“I apologize, but I had to attend to an emergency,” John responded, his face unreadable.

“You left me on my own in those tunnels! And we had to come here without the benefit of your guidance. This had better be some fucking big emergency. You should have told me!” Cain ground out.

John dropped his head. “I couldn’t. You wouldn’t have approved.”

“Explain yourself!”

“I have a human lover. In the French Quarter.”

“What’s that got to do with what I approve or don’t approve?”

“The leader of the king’s personal guard isn’t supposed to have a private life, let alone be involved with a human. You never approved of vampire-human relationships.”

“And how the fuck would I have known that?” Cain stabbed his finger into John’s chest. “Amnesia, remember?”

“I’m sorry, I just assumed that your feelings and preferences would still be the same, no matter whether you remembered anything about your past life or not. It’s part of your character.”

“Well, guess what: I don’t care who you sleep with! But I do care about you doing a disappearing act on me without an explanation!”

John gave him a stunned look, as if he couldn’t believe his ears. “You have changed.”

“Don’t stall! Why did you leave?”

“My lover was in trouble.”

Cain narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “What kind of trouble?”

“She was attacked by several thugs and injured. She needed my blood to heal.”

Cain contemplated John’s words. “Why didn’t she go to a hospital?”

“They stabbed her in the womb. She was scared that the doctors wouldn’t be able to save her.” He looked down at his feet. “She wants children. Giving her my blood guaranteed that she healed completely. At the hospital she would have had only a fifty-fifty chance. I couldn’t risk them performing a hysterectomy.”

Stunned by his confession, Cain blew out a breath. “Are you blood-bonded?”

John shook his head. “No, but I was planning to once Abel was on the throne and I had passed on my knowledge to him. I knew he had another man in mind to become the leader of his personal guard. It would have freed me from my duties. I could have taken a wife then.”

“And now that I’m back?” Cain asked, calmer now.

John looked straight at him. “I’ll remain in your service. Nothing will change.”

“And the woman?”

“She’s healed.”

Cain shook his head. “No, I meant, what will happen between you and her?”

“I will have to end it with her.”

“Why did I not want the leader of the king’s guard to have a wife?”

“You weren’t the one to make this rule. The kings before you established this restriction. They wanted to make sure that your personal guard has no divided loyalties.”

“A little old fashioned, don’t you think?” Cain asked and motioned to Thomas and Haven. “Both of my friends here are blood-bonded. And it hasn’t diminished their capacity to execute their duties.”

“You mean you would consider changing the rule?” John stared at him in disbelief.

“Consider it abolished. Every man has a right to happiness.”

John’s chest lifted, and he tried to say something, but seemed to stumble over his own words. “I don’t know what to say,” he finally uttered. “Had I known . . .”

“Well, then we’re in agreement. And the next time there’s an emergency, I need to know immediately, no matter what you might assume my reaction may be. And I’d like to meet the woman. What’s her name?”

“Nicolette.”

“Good, now about my welcome home celebration.”

John’s forehead furrowed. “What celebration?”