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Dylan pulled me into his arms. “It’s okay. You’re safe now. Please don’t cry,” he murmured close to my ear, and he held me fast, stroking my hair. His breathing was labored, and beneath my fingertips, his heart was thundering. “Hush now, hush,” he said, his words as soft as a sigh, but I didn’t know if he was talking to me or to himself.

I welcomed his clean, fresh-laundered scent, his warmth and his comfort. He was home, and the only living person I had in the world.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered over and over into my hair, but in spite of his tenderness, I continued to shake, my body responding to my fear. “I should never have gone out,” he said under his breath.

As I stood in his embrace, my tears dried, and his breathing and heart rate slowed as he recovered his equilibrium. When I laid my cheek against Dylan’s chest, I saw Tristan’s grimace as he watched us. Dylan released me and ran his hands over my head, down my arms, checking me over. When he was satisfied that I wasn’t injured, he took off his jacket and wrapped it around me. I hugged it tight and was soothed by his lingering warmth and the clean, fresh scent that emanated from the fabric.

I glanced at Tristan, who stood immobile, his envy evident in his harrowed green gaze. As our eyes met, he looked away to the sorry, crumpled mess that was Webster, but I’d seen his distress.

No. Tristan. Look at me. You saved me. Don’t look away.

The doorbell rang. “That’ll be the police. Emily, come with me.” He took my hand, and we headed toward the door.

“Thank you,” I mouthed to Tristan, who gave me a weak, sad smile that cut me to the quick.

“Just a few more checks,” Dave said.

Crouched in front of me, he shone a light in one eye then the other while I sat on one of the chairs in the kitchen, huddled in a blanket. He’d returned, at Dylan’s request. I guessed Doctor Dyl was reluctant to play doctor with me. He was busy giving his statement to a young police officer but giving me an occasional, anxious glance.

Tristan stood on the other side of the island, a dark sentinel once more. He also couldn’t take his eyes off me. It was unnerving, both of them watching me, so I concentrated on Dave’s kind face and his soothing deep voice.

Webster had been taken away in handcuffs, cursing and swearing and shouting about ghosts, black magic, and being assaulted. I shuddered at the memory. Both police officers seemed convinced that Webster was unhinged.

“He’s known to us, Dr. Knightley,” PC Matthews said. “We’ll take Miss Beauchamp’s statement in a couple of days, when she’s over the shock.”

“Thank you, officer. She starts school the day after tomorrow. I don’t want anything interfering with that.”

“I’ll make a note, sir.”

Ugh! School.

Another tremor swept through me—an aftershock—as they had been doing every minute or so. “That’s just the adrenaline making its way out of your system,” said Dave. “You’ve had quite a shock.” He glanced at Dylan. “You both have, but all in all you’re good. Just take it easy for the rest of the evening.”

I nodded, and he rose to his feet. “She’s okay, Dyl,” he added.

Dylan’s shoulders fell as he exhaled with relief. “Good. Thanks again for coming.”

“No problem. Just keep her warm, hydrated, and make her eat something. But you know all this.”

“Yeah, thanks.” Dylan shook his hand, then saw him and the police officers to the front door.

“Thank you,” I said to Tristan when Dylan was out of earshot.

Tristan shrugged. “I wanted to kill him.”

“I know. He didn’t hurt me. Just frightened me,” I whispered. “But… if you hadn’t appeared—” I stopped the thought. It was too chilling to contemplate, and I began to tremble again. Tristan may have saved my life.

Again.

“Hey.” His voice was nearer, beside me. I looked into intense green eyes filled with concern and something else—fear. “You’re okay. You’re good. You survived. Beauchamp, you’re a warrior. I’m glad I was there. If anything happened to you,” he whispered, “it would end me. In every way.”

I gasped at the awful thought of no Tristan. “No.”

“You’ve become my life. I’m here because of you. And I stay because of you.”

“Tristan, I—”

Dylan returned to the kitchen. I sat back in my chair, and Tristan stood up.