Vincent's grandfather insisted on staying after the other magisters returned home, making himself comfortable in Vincent's living room and putting everyone to task. When the other Valentinos finally escaped, Colin was the last holdout. A chess board sat between him and Boris, and the two were locked in a battle of egos when Vincent tugged on my arm.

"C'mon, Reese. Let's take a nap." Vincent made sure his grandfather heard the announcement before he ushered me into his bedroom and closed the door. "Arms up," he said as he grabbed the hem of my cashmere turtle neck and pulled it over my head. "Is that better? You looked uncomfortable."

"The cashmere makes it tolerable, but topless is fine too."

We arranged ourselves on the bed, and I snuggled my black lace breasts against him, provoking a contended moan from his throat. "Did you ask Colin to stay and keep your grandfather company?" I asked.

"Yes. Boris has business in town tomorrow, and he insisted I be the one to accommodate him until then. He's doing it to make some self-satisfying point, but he doesn't realize the risk he runs. If he insults you one more time, he'll be feeling both sides of a blade across his throat."

I gasped at his savage remark, although I knew he didn't mean it. "Vincent, you shouldn't talk about your own flesh and blood that way. He may be a brute, but he's still family."

"Your acceptance and compassion is inspiring," he said as he pressed a kiss to my forehead. "We just need to find a way to keep those redeeming qualities from getting you killed. Sleep now, baby. The worst is over."

I wanted to believe him. I really did, but there were too many warning signs to ignore, and when I closed my eyes, my mind tried like hell to do the opposite of sleep. Sometime later, my phone rang, so I managed to doze, and Vincent fumbled for it in a semi-coherent state, handing it over before rolling onto his stomach. When I read Sylvie's name on the caller ID and noticed the late hour, my worried mind took over again.

"Sylvie? Are you okay? It's after one in the morning."

"Of course, I'm okay. I just moved into a new apartment and I'm still unpacking. Did I wake you up? I know you keep strange hours now."

"I'm up," I said as I kissed Vincent on the cheek and slipped off the bed. "Is everything working in the apartment? I thought Colin checked the appliances and the thermostat."

"He did, and everything is working great. I just called because I feel a little lonely. I've been texting with Colin about our sleepover, but he says he's busy beating his grandfather at chess."

As I listened to Sylvie, I slipped on one of Vincent's sweatshirts and walked out of the bedroom, following the wall to the balcony door and keeping out of visual range of Boris. Colin caught me sneaking outside, and acknowledged me with a chin jut when I pointed to my phone. The cold caught me a little unprepared, but it was fine once I hugged myself and stood against the protective cover of the balcony wall.

"I'm sorry you feel lonely, Sylvie. That's my fault. You just moved here and I'm on the other side of town."

"My loneliness is not your problem, chica. I understand why you can't be here. I assume you've been given permission to sleep in your boyfriend's bed again?"

"Yes, on a pro tem basis, but I'll see you tomorrow for sure. I want to hear all about your first day at Harper and Smythe. Let's plan to have dinner here, just the four of us."

"I'd like that."

I heard the balcony door slide open behind me, and I turned to find Boris walking outside.

Ugh.

"Hey Sylvie, I gotta go," I whispered into the phone. "Vincent's grandfather is still here. You going to be okay tonight?"

"Sure. Colin promised to take me to work, so I have that to look forward to."

"Alright, girlfriend. I'll see you tomorrow."

I hung up and barely had time to stash my phone before Boris invaded my space with his cigar-scented trench coat.

"Did you have a nice nap?" he asked.

Based on the way he raked me over, I didn't think he cared much about my sleeping habits, and I felt like shrinking away when his predatory gaze landed on the puncture wounds at my exposed neck.

"Yes. Did you and Colin finish your chess game?"

"Not yet. I'm letting him take a break before I crush him." He said this with a satisfied grin before adding. "Do you play chess?"

"Not very well."

He nodded as if he already knew what my answer would be. "And what about flying? Do you know how to fly?"

"Again, not very well."

"Why haven't you learned to fly yet? You're well above the age gollums master this rudimentary skill."

"I just started making the change. My wings came in only a week ago."

"And what have you been doing over the past week, if not learning to fly? Oh, right. You were visiting your friends in the demon hive and screwing my grandson."

I didn't dignify his spiteful jab with a reply and turned my attention to the inside of the apartment, where Colin was standing at the kitchen counter texting someone on his phone, probably Sylvie.

"When I was a young, rambunctious youth, I battled a demon from the highest point of the Sears Tower," Boris said as he made a show of looking out at the cityscape. "At that age, we thought we were indestructible, and we dared each other to carry out the fight in our human form. About three minutes into the battle, we both lost our footing and fell off the roof. Neither of us had attempted a midflight change, but we did our damnedest to accomplish it as we plummeted toward the ground. I changed first and made an exemplary landing on a nearby rooftop. My sparring partner didn't do so well. He changed in time to slow his descent, but he broke a few bones on impact."

When Boris finished his story, he puffed up his chest, looking at me like I was supposed to applaud.

"That's some story," was all I could manage.

"The adrenaline rush is like nothing else," he went on, widening his stance so that one of his legs had me trapped at the edge of the balcony. That's when I got a good whiff of his gollum scent. He reeked of adrenaline-induced pheromones. "It's the rush you get when you don't know if you're going to live or die. Have you ever felt that rush, Reese?"

Before I could come up with an answer, he picked me up and set my butt on the balcony wall. "Whoa! I'm not a fan of heights," I said as I wiggled my legs toward the floor.

Boris' chest shook as he laughed, and he grabbed both my hands, putting me completely at his mercy. Through the glass door, I saw Vincent round the corner of the hallway.

"There's nothing supernatural about you, is there?" Boris said. "You're polluting my grandson's mind with your demon seduction. If you have any value at all, prove it!"

Boris shoved me backwards and I tumbled off the wall, catching a glimpse of Vincent's panicked expression as he threw open the balcony door.

"Reese!"

Vincent's shout receded above me as I squeezed my eyes tight, refusing to open them while ice cold air rushed past my ears with hurricane force. I pictured my death as a swan-dive onto someone's balcony, painting the tile with my blood, and I expected to feel the impact any second as I calculated the time to my death. Nine point eight meters per second squared. If the building stood over seven hundred feet, that would give me... Oh, hell. I couldn't think with my stomach doing a nose dive and the grim reaper waiting on a nearby roof.

Did Boris expect me to make the change in midair like he and his sparring partner? Was the story a lead-up to his crime, or had the thought come to him on a whim? Could I sprout wings inside Vincent's bulky sweatshirt? Damn. How much time did I have now?

"I've got you, Reese!"

My body's forward progress stopped abruptly as a pair of strong arms snatched me from its plummet. Funny thing was, the voice I heard did not belong to Vincent, and I blinked my eyes open to find Christoph holding me, his wings beating furiously as he struggled to gain altitude. 

"Christoph! What are you doing?" This time Vincent's voice punctuated the air as he swooped-in beside us, and the two of them volleyed to occupy the same space.

"I'm saving your mate's life."

"I was nearly there when you..."

"Finish your story on that rooftop." Christoph gestured to the building next door, and Vincent scowled before relenting with a nod.

On our way to sanctuary and a firm place to puke, Christoph took the opportunity to talk to me. "Are you alright?"

"For the moment."

"I can't believe you didn't scream. That's a true sign of bravery among demons."

"I think you're confusing bravery with shock. I'm surprised I didn't pass out."

"You wouldn't have passed out. You're not human."

"So, if you hadn't snatched me, I would have had the pleasure of being awake for my death? That's reassuring."

As soon as my feet touched solid concrete, I relaxed against Christoph, letting his strength hold me up as I struggled not to hurl. Just as I felt his wings come around me, Vincent pulled me into his chest. His heart thrummed beneath his ribs, and I knew physical exertion was not the only cause. He sealed his lips over mine, giving no regard to Christoph, or maybe because of him, and I let his kiss distract me from everything else my body was doing.

"What happened, Reese?" Christoph interrupted, but the silence grew as Vincent ignored him long enough to make his point.

"I was pushed off the balcony by Vincent's grandfather," I said as I caught my breath. "He doesn't approve of Vincent dating a hybrid."

"But, you're more gollum than demon," Christoph said. "I thought gollums were more tolerant than that." 

"Apparently, this gollum is a narrow-minded asshole," I offered unapologetically.

"Speaking of narrow-minded assholes..." Vincent cut in. "We need to get back so I can ram my fist down his throat."

Christoph didn't appear to hear Vincent. He was busy squinting at me. "What happened to your neck, Reese? Is that a bite wound?"

I tugged my hair across my throat, but that only drew attention to it, and I watched Christoph's body language make the subtle switch to a battle stance. Vincent tightened his grip around my shoulders as I felt him do the same.

"It's the byproduct of pheromones and reckless love," I said, blurting it out before testosterone took over. "And it will heal in a couple of days. Thank you for catching me as I fell to my death, Christoph."

My thanks had Christoph relaxing, but only enough not to appear intimidating when he looked at me. "You're welcome."

Vincent drew in a strangled breath, like his composure was nearly spent, and he eyed Christoph speculatively. "Your proximity to Reese tonight was fortuitous. As long as boundaries are respected, don't bother changing your location on my account."

The two goliaths exchanged stiff head juts, and a moment later, Vincent had us in the air with me on lockdown inside his arms. Despite the very real chance I would lose my dinner, and my dread about the eminent throw down between Vincent and his grandfather, I had to count my near-death experience as a win for Christoph. His valiant efforts to save my life could not be denied by anyone, especially Vincent.