Demon Night

something . And maybe, with time, he would let it become more.
    They had time. She knew Ethan would stay as long as she needed him, and she’d always need to feed. They already had a strong connection in and out of bed; surely that would deepen, until he wasn’t staying because of her need, and it wasn’t just liking and lust.
    And coming from Ethan, liking and lust were more than just something; they meant more than she could possibly say.
    Still, the ache in her chest didn’t immediately go away, and she only trusted herself to lower her head and press a kiss against his hand, before patting his forearm and making a move toward the edge of the bed.
    She desperately needed to talk to Jane.
    Awkwardly, she stood, tugging the tiny nightgown into place. Ethan was frowning down at his hand, braced with his fingers spread against the mattress, his jaw set.
    “Do you mind if I call Jane by myself tonight?”
    He didn’t look up. “That’s just fine, Miss Charlie.”
    “I won’t mention anything about the spell or the blood—”
    She blinked; Ethan was standing now. He’d gotten off the bed so swiftly, she hadn’t seen his movement.
    “I didn’t figure you would.” He slid his thumbs into his suspenders, cocked his head toward the door. “We’ve got a game set up, and I’ll be there until Castleford and Lilith come back around ten. So if you need anything—” He broke off, and his gaze searched her face before he said slowly, “But you won’t, will you?”
    She held her hands still at her sides, tried not to fidget as she studied him. His voice had that hollow note she’d heard once before, but his expression was firm, his eyes were as intense as ever. Everything about him looked just as strong.
    And she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being slow, not getting something—but she had no idea what. “I should be okay. Are you?”
    He nodded as he turned toward the door. “I’m right dandy, Miss Charlie.”

    She was okay, but Charlie thought she was on the shitty side of it as she walked though the common area, heading for the stairs and the communications room.
    Her gaze searched out Ethan at the poker table; his face was as blank as it had been in her room, but an uneven smile flashed across his lips when he glanced up, met her eyes.
    Then his brows lowered in a severe frown, and he tossed his cards to the table, shaking his head. Across the table from him, Jake leaned forward and scraped a huge pile of poker chips back to his side, laughing hard and in a tone that suggested his humor was at Ethan’s expense.
    “You distracted me, Miss Charlie,” Ethan called out as cards whizzed across the table, Pim dealing them almost faster than Charlie could follow. “I had them going until you showed up looking so damn pretty.”
    That pulled a smile from her, but she had no idea what to say in response. And though she’d intended to go straight downstairs, she found herself walking to his side instead.
    He rose to his feet. “You planning to stay a minute?”
    “A few seconds, maybe,” she said, her eyes widening as she took in the action around the table. This wasn’t anything like the slow play he’d taught her in his truck. Cards were flying from Pim’s hands, the players were turning them over against the felt, the pile of chips in the center of the table was growing, all at an incredible rate—and no one was speaking a word.
    But it wasn’t silent. A heavy psychic hum surrounded the table; now and then Charlie heard a note flutter up. And their hands were constantly moving—on their cards, but also what must have been a sign language.
    A chair appeared behind Charlie’s legs, and she sank into it.
    “I’m out this one,” Ethan said before turning to her. “Now, you’re throwing everyone off, wondering so hard what in blazes we’re doing.” He shook his head when she began to apologize. “Far as I’m concerned, it’s good for them. They need a psychic distraction now and then.”
    She watched for another second, feeling dizzy. “I can barely keep up.”
    “Mackenzie and Savi said the same thing, first day. You’ll get it, eventually.” He caught her gaze. “You’re all vampires—Savi’s faster, but even she ain’t as fast as a Guardian.”
    Jake snorted. “That’s why she cheats.”
    “The aim of this game is cheating.” Ethan glanced over at Jake, then back at Charlie. “He’s sore she took him for a bundle by counting cards. When we’re playing