His smile held little humor, more an appreciation of her ability to reason things out. “You are far more adept than you realize, honey. Merging my mind with yours gave you more information than I had planned.”
“Just tell me.” She was almost holding her breath for his answer, but, just as she always knew when there was danger, she knew the truth.
Lucian sighed. “I know what you are thinking, Jaxon, but it is more complex than that. You are unique among your kind, a true psychic. Our species can convert only a true psychic from the human race; all others become deranged if conversion is tried. It is necessary for our males to find their lifemates. I have explained that to you. Vampires—those Carpathians who have chosen to lose their souls and cannot be redeemed—still seek to try. Still seek a lifemate, though it is too late for them. Your presence would draw them.”
She closed her eyes. “The serial killer. That was a vampire?”
He nodded. “I found his kill just as your partner arrived. I was not certain who the killer was at the time. Vampires often use evil men in a variety of ways. Like Carpathians, the vampire cannot stand the light of day. Humans can accomplish certain tasks that vampires cannot, so they use them as puppets.”
“They can force people to kill others? Is that what you mean?”
He nodded slowly, watching her carefully. She looked as if she might bolt at any moment. “Among other things, yes, they can program one of their puppets to kill.” If it was possible for her to become any paler, she managed it.
Jaxon shook her head. “This is insanity. You know that, don’t you? I can’t believe I’m buying into all this. I don’t even want to know any of it.”
“You are doing fine, angel. I do not expect you to handle every detail at once. I have the permission of your doctors to take you home with me. I do not want to raise suspicion by waiting too long.”
“I want to go to my home,” she said stubbornly.
“You want to protect me.”
“I want to get away from you.” She avoided his eyes. She desperately needed to think. She needed to be away from him, away from the lure of his presence.
Lucian moved without seeming to do so, covering the distance between them in the blink of an eye. “No, you do not, Jaxon. I can read your mind. It is too late. He is going to come after me. And you still want to protect me.”
“Yes, he is coming after you,” she burst out, “and I’m not going to walk into a room and find you dead on the floor, your body mangled and bloodied. I can’t go through that again. I won’t. I mean it, Lucian.”
His arms snaked around her easily, drawing her back into his embrace, calming her with a touch. “You are so beautiful, Jaxon. You amaze me the way you are so determined to give up your life for others. Come home with me where you will be safe and where we can get to know each other. Look at it this way: If Drake comes after me, at least you will be there to warn me.”
She was falling under the enchantment of his sorcerer’s black-velvet voice. Drowning in the depths of black sexy eyes. Mesmerized by the curve of his sensual mouth. “I have things at my apartment that really matter to me.”
“Your mother’s things.” He said it softly. “I had them moved from your apartment. They are safe in your room in my home.”
Her eyes flashed fire at him. “You had no right.”
“I had every right. You are my lifemate, always in my care. I can do no other than see to your happiness. You are under my protection at all times. The things that are important to you are important to me.”
“If that’s true, why in the world did you provoke Drake?” Her fingers were twisting the material of his immaculate shirt nervously.
His hand covered hers, holding her palm flat against his heart. “I cannot leave such a man out there threatening your life. You would not leave such a threat to my life.”