Carpathian 09 - Dark Guardian

was to keep a low profile . She was deliberately impudent, trying to hide the fact that she was happy he was so very real.
    Hiding out in the open is always the best way. And living for centuries gives one the ability to amass a fortune. It is relatively easy. The more money one has, the more one has the ability to hide his true identity. People expect a certain amount of eccentricity in those with money. Thus, it is merely another tool I use.
    You cannot be a billionaire on top of everything else. You're making me completely crazy. You know that, don't you?
    "Jaxx!" Barry Radcliff was in her doorway, his large frame leaning against the jamb, a huge grin of relief spreading across his face. "Thank God. They kept telling me you were getting better, but for some reason or other, I could never actually lay eyes on you. They've been feeding me all kinds of crap about some fiance. I keep telling them you don't have one, but no one listens to me, not even the captain. He claims he met the guy, some foreign billionaire, and that the rumors are true. I thought maybe that bullet in the head put me in another world."
    The nurse left to give them privacy.
    "At least you have an excuse." Jaxon was so relieved to see someone normal, she felt like crying again.
    "And why didn't you keep your butt out of that warehouse, like I told you? Do you have a hero complex, too, Barry?"
    He walked slowly, carefully, across the room as if his legs were shaky and managed an awkward, one-armed hug.
    I forgot to mention I am a very jealous man, honey. Do not go too far with being happy to see this male . The texture of Lucian's voice in her head was the same, yet not. It was softer than ever, velvet over iron. A subtle warning.
    Get over it. He's my partner . Deliberately Jaxon hugged Barry back when normally she never would have done so.
    You hide your own feelings from yourself. You regard this one with great affection.

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    If that's so, it was pretty dumb of you to clue me in on my true feelings, now, wasn't it ? she asked sweetly, allowing Barry to retain possession of her hand as he sat at the end of her bed. "Do you remember what happened, Barry? Because I don't remember anything but getting shot." She was curious. She didn't have a clue how either of them had gotten out of the warehouse when they were both seriously wounded.
    Confusion clouded Barry's gray eyes. "You know, I have nightmares about it. I don't know either. In my nightmare a huge wolf kills all the bad guys like some avenging angel, then turns into a man, drags my butt out of there, and then carries you off. Don't tell the boss, though—he's already got some psychiatrist hanging around my door," Barry rubbed a hand over his face. "I can't remember the man, only the wolf, the eyes. The way it looked at me. But I'd swear a man appeared out of nowhere to rescue us."
    It was you. You saved us. I should have known . She had known. Deep down inside was a memory—Lucian's or her own, she wasn't certain—but she had touched upon it and rejected it. There was blood and death and something so erotic and altogether wrong—some kind of bizarre healing ritual perhaps?—that Jaxon never wanted to touch on it again.
    I was not about to allow you to escape me even through death, Jaxon. I enjoy your sense of humor so much . There was that gentleness that turned her heart over, that told her he knew she was frightened and alone and utterly confused.
    Jaxon had the feeling that he was much closer this time, his presence stronger in her mind, not a mere shadow. Involuntarily she glanced nervously at the door. "Don't worry, Barry, I think both of us need to stay as far from a psychiatrist as possible. They'd probably commit me. I'm having a few nightmares of my own."
    Barry shifted toward her, leaning close. He lowered his voice. "Since we're alone here, I might as well tell you this isn't the first weird experience I've had. Do you remember that serial killer who was terrorizing the city a few months back? Of course you do. I was first on the scene after the third murder.
    I was off duty and in the area. I swear I saw a wolf there. He turned his head and looked at me, and I saw intelligence in his eyes. Real intelligence. It was eerie. He looked at me as if he was measuring my worth or something, deciding whether or not to kill me. Just like in the warehouse. But then it wasn't a wolf anymore; it was a man, and