"Why?" His voice cracked, a raw whisper, "Why would you stay near a monster?"

"Because you’re not a monster. You’re Elijah. My Elijah," Rhiannon's hand slipped away as she walked around to face him.

He refused to meet her eye, keeping them shadowed like before.

Her hand rose slowly, giving him every chance to pull away, but he didn't. Her fingers brushed his jaw, warm against the coolness of his skin, "The man who stood between me and danger. The man who would rather die than let his pack ...