She needed to do this quickly. If she waited any longer, she wouldn’t have the nerve. Then she would stay close to him, trying to build up the courage to face him, putting him in more danger. She didn’t think Lawrence was good enough at distinguishing energies to recognize Michael’s after so much time. The only way he or Zenas could find Michael was through her. It was pointless to think about any of this. The decision was Michael’s, and there was no sense speculating until she had heard his thoughts.
The sounds of the city entered her consciousness. People shouting, horses neighing, carriage wheels creaking and clacking. The sounds of humans. After being so long away from large groups of mortals, her skin prickled at the thought of being among so many of them. Ever since she’d run away, she had only picked off lone humans in the countryside.
Michael’s energy led her to a basement apartment in Uppsala, Sweden. Hopefully, the language hadn’t changed too much since she’d last had cause to speak it. She wished he lived somewhere more rural. There was a chance he would cause a scene when he saw her. The circumstances had prevented her from watching him as she normally did before approaching. For all she knew, he was happily married or engaged.
The thought chilled her. She fervently hoped it wasn’t true. What she had told him before had been foolish. She was too selfish. She needed him. Michael had never listened to her before. Hopefully he hadn’t chosen this life to break the trend.
A lion’s head clutching a door knocker in his mouth decorated the door before her. It was oddly out of place on the door of what appeared to be a more modest home: the last vestige of a time when this had been an upper-class neighborhood. Amaia drew in an unneeded breath, lifted her hand, and clasped the knocker. This was it. Soon she would see Michael again. His gray eyes would examine her from an unfamiliar face.
She rapped the knocker against the door and stepped back.
Footsteps sounded inside, and she felt his energy drawing closer. Her skin nearly buzzed with it. The door opened, and she locked eyes with Michael, ignoring his gasp. She needed to see his feelings play out, and the only way she would be able to do that was to watch his eyes. They widened for a second, then his brow furrowed slightly as he squinted at her before clearing and lighting up as he took her in his arms.
“Amaia. My God.” His words were drowned out as he turned his head into her hair. It took a moment for her to comprehend what was happening. When she did, she lifted her arms and returned his embrace.
“No, I’m not your god, just a woman who can’t stay away.”
Michael chuckled. “It’s so good to see you.” His hands held her face, brushing her hair away. “Come inside.” He ushered her through the door, keeping a hand on her back. There wasn’t much to the home: a simple room that opened into a kitchen at the back and a door leading to a bedroom. Michael sat beside her on a worn sofa, clasping her hand in his. The physical contact reassured her.
“I wasn’t sure you would come after the way we left things last time.” His left hand twirled a piece of her hair as he explored her face with his eyes, as if reassuring himself that she looked exactly the same.
He was tall and lean in this life, with blond hair so light it practically shone. His smile was large, exposing a mouthful of impressively even teeth. Amaia wondered if he always smiled so wide, or if it was just for her.
His smile wilted slightly, and the spark in his eyes dimmed a little. “Are you all right, Amaia? What’s wrong?”
Amaia shook herself from her appraisal of him. “Why?”
“You haven’t said anything.”
“Oh. Well, there’s so much to be said. I guess I don’t know where to start. I kind of like looking at you in silence.”
Michael quirked a half smile in acknowledgement, but didn’t let that derail him. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry I left you the way I did. It was selfish of me, though I didn’t see it that way at the time. I’ve only ever wanted what’s best for you, but I stripped you of your choices just like Lawrence stripped me of mine.”
“I appreciate your apology, but I forgave you a long time ago. I won’t deny it hurt, but I’ve held out hope that you’d come to your senses. I’m a patient man. I knew that wouldn’t be our last chance. The only thing that matters is that you’re here now.”
The love radiating from Michael warmed her. She still didn’t understand how he could possibly want her, but she’d promised herself that she’d let him decide. “I want you to come away with me. If you’ll have me, that is.”
“Is that all? You’re asking me to fulfill the dream of several lifetimes? I don’t even need to pack for that.” His grin beckoned her. She could just leave it there, and they could be off, starting a new life together.
But that wasn’t fair. “That’s not everything, Michael. You need to know exactly what you’re getting into by coming with me.”
“What do you mean? I already know you’re a vampire. What more could there be?”
“Plenty. It’s going to have to be different this time. If you decide you want to be with me, it’s going to have to be on the run. A lot’s happened since you last died. My sire knows that you’re aware of the truth.”