Dana eyed Seth with dread. This man would one day try to kill Aidan. She had seen as much in her vision and was not comfortable having him in her home.
Seth offered her a smile that was startlingly kind. “Hello, Dana. I’m Seth, leader of the Immortal Guardians.” He spoke with an accent that sounded almost British but had a hint of something else in there, too. “I’m sorry we keep meeting under such unpleasant circumstances. I’m sorry, too, that your entrance into our world has been fraught with violence. The difficulties we immortals and our colleagues are currently facing are unprecedented. And it appears you’ve been caught in the middle of it.”
Dana didn’t know how to respond to that, so she opted to remain silent.
Aidan sidestepped Seth and crossed to stand beside her. Giving her a reassuring smile, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
Dana curled an arm around his waist and leaned into his side.
Ethan moved to stand beside Heather.
Seth kept his gaze on Dana. “We’re still trying to understand the most recent problems that have arisen. Until we have sorted things out, I would like you and Aidan to stay with Ethan and Heather.”
Dana straightened. “What?”
Seth motioned to the disintegrating vampires in the hallway. “These vampires targeted you for a reason. Until we determine what that reason may be and eliminate the threat, we must operate on the assumption that more attacks will follow. You and Aidan will not be safe on your own. Your vision showed you as much. Had Ethan and Heather not aided you tonight, you both would’ve been slain. So I’ve asked them to serve as your guard until all is resolved.”
They wanted her to leave her home? Her business?
Dana glanced around. Both were currently riddled with carnage and might have sustained structural damage. Still… “I really have to leave?”
“You don’t have to,” Aidan said gently. “But it would be best if you did. You’ll be safer if we stay with Ethan and Heather.” He brushed her disheveled hair back from her face. “And I need you to be safe, Dana.”
She didn’t doubt his concern for her.
“Please, sweetheart,” he continued. “It’s just temporary until we can defeat the one stirring up all this trouble.”
Nodding slowly, she turned back to Seth. “All right.”
He smiled. “Thank you.”
It was weird. Seth seemed almost nice. Trustworthy. Not at all like someone who would one day try to kill Aidan. She would have to keep her guard up around him.
Then another thought occurred. “Oh crap,” she blurted.
Aidan frowned. “What?”
Heat crept into her cheeks. “I just realized I’m standing here in front of all of you, practically naked.”
Seth and Ethan dropped their gazes to her thin tank top that revealed a lot of cleavage and molded itself to hardened nipples, her short shorts, then hastily looked up at the ceiling.
Aidan stepped in front of her, blocking their view. “Heather, would you grab her something to wear, please?”
Heather dashed over to Dana’s closet, then returned with a button-down shirt and a pair of jeans.
Once Dana finished donning them, she stepped to Aidan’s side and took his hand.
Seth motioned to the broken glass, splintered furniture, and damage around them. “The network of humans who aid us will clean this up and restore your home and business to their original state while you’re away. The network will also compensate you for whatever financial losses you will face by not being able to conduct business until you can return. Whatever you expect to earn during that time, we will pay you tenfold to make up for the inconvenience and for any difficulties you may face in pacifying your customers.”
Dana stared at him. “Seriously?”
He nodded.
Skillet’s “Monster” suddenly began to play. Seth dug a cell phone out of his pocket and raised it to his ear. Dana didn’t recognize the language he spoke before he tucked the phone away again.
“I have to go,” he said, striding forward. “I’m needed in Zimbabwe.”
Dana tightened her hold on Aidan’s hand, still not trusting Seth.
“You’ll have to release him for a moment,” Seth informed her gently.
When Aidan nodded for her to let him go, she did so with great reluctance.
Seth rested a hand on Aidan’s chest.
Aidan hissed in a breath.
Dana frowned as the moment stretched.
Then Seth withdrew his touch and stepped back.
“Thank you,” Aidan said.
Seth nodded with a faint smile. “Don’t drive to Ethan and Heather’s place. Teleport. And do so as soon as Dana finishes packing a bag.”
“We will.”
Seth vanished.
Dana gasped.
“I so wish I could do that,” Heather proclaimed with a broad grin.
Ethan smiled. “Me, too.”
Dana turned to Aidan. “What did he do to you when he put his hand on you?”
“He healed my wounds and infused me with energy so I’ll be able to teleport you all to Ethan’s without difficulty.”
“So your wounds are gone now?”
“Yes.”
She eyed him curiously and noted the gash along his jawline had disappeared. “What does the energy part feel like?”
Aidan looked thoughtful for a moment. “I suppose it’s similar to a mortal downing a hell of a lot of caffeine.”
Unbelievably, amusement trickled through her. “So you’re going to start bouncing off the walls now?” She glanced around and grimaced. “Or what’s left of them.”
“I’m sorry, Dana.”
She shook her head, not liking the remorse that haunted his features. “It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t tell them to attack. And you saved my life.” She glanced at the others. “You all did. Thank you.”
Heather smiled. “Why don’t I help you get some things together to take to our place?”
Dana liked Heather and was a little surprised that the woman being an immortal didn’t bother her anymore. She just seemed so normal. Except for the killing-vampires thing. “Thank you. I’d appreciate that. My mind is all over the place right now, so I’ll probably forget something if I pack alone.”
Aidan touched her arm. “Don’t forget your computer or whatever you store your client information and schedule on. You’ll have to cancel all your upcoming appointments and reschedule them later.”
Great. “I should call Marietta, too.”
“Your neighbor?”
“Yes. She’s going to freak out when she gets back and sees the damage done over here. I was actually supposed to be watching her place.” Eyes widening, she looked up at Aidan. “Oh crap. Did the vampires trash her place, too?”
“No. Just yours. But don’t worry. Everything will be repaired by week’s end and I’ll have the network guards watch both places for you.”
“Thank you.”
It didn’t take long for Dana and Heather to pack a bag. The immortals seemed to harbor some doubt that all this would be resolved swiftly. So Dana packed a week’s worth of clothes, her laptop, cell phone, iPad, iPod, toothbrush, hairbrush, and comb.
“I don’t know what else to take,” she admitted. “I’m not sure what I’ll be doing there.”
Heather smiled and motioned to the bag. “This is fine. If you need anything we don’t have at our place, Ed can get it for you.” She turned to Aidan. “Will Brodie be joining us?”