Selene slams the door to Vicky's room shut./p

Shoving her car keys and her phone into her pajama pants pocket, she says "That was a waste."

"You knew your aunt would be upset we've been gone, I don't know why you expected her to be reasonable."

Selene shrugs. "I agreed to let her put a spell on me to ease the memories of my mother's death, not to put some block on my mind against Carpathians."

"I thought she didn't admit it."

"She didn't have to. I know she did. I could tell from her voice. I just don't know why. And she's not going to tell me anything until we get back."

"She said that?" Selene nods. "So we're going back, then."

"Not yet. I still have the simple manner of an unconscious Carpathian in my bed."

"You keep using that word. Carpathian."

"That's what he is. I'll find a way to give you the full details later, once I get my aunt to take the block off my mind."

"Is your head hurting you?"

"Not as bad as earlier. I'm trying to think less about it. Regardless, Damian is next door and nothing can be done until sundown."

"Speaking of Damian..." Vicky trails off.

"What?"

Vicky tilts her head in the direction of Selene's room. "Can I see him?"

"You want to see him? What for?"

"You said he's unconscious, right?" The corners of her mouth tug into a smirk. "Oh, don't look at me like that. I'm curious."

Selene rolls her eyes. "I guess it wouldn't hurt."

Selene leads the way back into her own room, sealing them both in with her wards.

Vicky approaches the bed slowly.

"Don't worry. You can't wake him." Vicky arches her brow as she glances over at her friend. "He won't wake until sundown."

"He's not so scary when he looks likes this."

Selene scoffs. Moving around Vicky, she sits on the edge of the bed next to Damian's body. Vicky stands just behind her, peering over her shoulder.

"Was he always shirtless?" Vicky asks with a tilt of her head.

"That was my doing. I got curious."

Vicky shakes her head. "Of course you did. That's what you do. You get curious and then you get bored."

"I do not!" Selene turns back to her friend.

"Oh, really. Remind me again what happened with Tom?"

She rolls her eyes. "My aunt set us up."

"Yeah, but you were interested in the beginning and then you got bored."

"We went on three dates. It took three dates to realize he's just like his father. Why would I want to get involved with that?"

"His father is the High Priest of the coven."

"And that's exactly why I'm glad I 'got bored' so quickly." She turns back to look at Damian. "I don't see myself getting bored anytime soon."

"How could you? He looks like a god."

"I don't know why I let you in here."

"It's because I'm relentless."

"As much fun as this has been, you should go. The sun will be setting soon and I don't know what to expect."

"Sel, I'm not leaving you alone when this guy wakes up."

She peels her gaze from Damian. "I made my choice when I let him back in here. I'm not putting you in danger. I've made my bed and now I have to sleep in it."

"And that's exactly why I'm not going. What if he tries something?"

"Our magic works on their kind. I can protect myself."

"The silence stretches out between them.

"Selene peers at the clock on the bedside table.

"You really should go."
Vicky releases a long breath. "I'll be on the other side of that wall."

"You know I'll call if I need you."

"You better." She turns on her heels and flees the room.

Selene places double the wards on her room just in case.