adolescent into a beautiful young woman. Why do you think you suddenly stopped?”
“I’m thinking maybe it was death.”
He frowned.
“Stiles killed me several times while he held me. You know that. I don’t think I’ve aged a day since.” She shrugged.
“It’s a solid theory.”
“It’s the only one I have right now.”
He nodded, crunched a few more bites of cereal and finally pushed the bowl away. “So tell me about Edge.”
She almost choked on a banana slice. Will leaned back in his chair, smiling, arms crossed over his chest, waiting for her to come up with an answer.
She got up, stumbled to the fridge for some orange juice, poured two tiny glasses and took a drink from one of them.
“You’re stalling for time, right?”
She put the juice back, carried the glasses to the table. “You’re too sharp for me.” Sitting down, she added, “It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, just that I’m not sure yet what there is to tell.”
“'Fina said you hit him with your car.”
“Yeah, only I’m sure it was no accident. I got out to see if he was all right, and he said he was on his way to Salem. So I offered him a ride.”
He nodded slowly. “You think that part was a coincidence? That you were both going to the same place?”
She shrugged. “I suppose it’s not impossible. Last night I got him to admit that he deliberately bounced himself off my bumper, hoping to guilt me into a ride. Said his car had broken down and he wasn’t looking forward to the walk.”
“At least he was honest with you, then.”
She licked her lips. “I have the feeling there’s more.”
“You think he’s dangerous to you?”
“Yeah, but not in the way you mean.”
He stared at her blankly for a moment, then his brows went up. “Oh.”
She had to avert her eyes.
“So you like him, huh?”
“Hell, Willem, I don’t even know him.”
“But you’re attracted to him.”
She nodded, not meeting his eyes. “Big time.”
“And it’s mutual?”
She shrugged. “Either it’s mutual or he’s faking it because he’s up to something, and I’m having trouble figuring out which.”
“You want me to kick his ass for you?”
She laughed at that, and Will made a wounded expression. “What, you think I’m not up to it?”
“I’m sure you’d manage, Willem. You’re not untalented in that area, for a mortal. I was just thinking you’d have to stand in line behind your bride, my parents and Aunt Rhiannon.”
He nodded in agreement. “I doubt they’d leave me any scraps.”
“Pandora has dibs on the scraps. But frankly, I’d rather give Edge a chance to show his true colors.”
He nodded slowly. “That makes sense. So what’s the plan?”
“He seems to want to see me. Keep me around. I can’t imagine what he wants from me, but—” She ignored the quick look he sent her. “But I think I’ll figure it out, given time. And as long as he’s here on the Rock, and I’m here, I may as well spend some time with him, see what I can find out.”
He licked his lips, saying nothing.
She met his eyes. “What?”
He seemed uncomfortable, shifting in his seat. Then he said, “Dammit, Amber, it’s not my place. This is out of my field, you know. But … well, given what I know about your parents and your upbringing, I would guess you’re not altogether … experienced. With the opposite sex, I mean.”
She shrugged. “I’m psychic. I’m powerful. I’m strong. I’ve fought at my father’s side more than once.”
“But you’ve never had a boyfriend.”
She licked her lips, averted her eyes. “Well, there was Jimmy in high school. But the most we ever did was—” He held up a hand, and she broke off there, then nodded. “Okay, suffice it to say you’re right. I’m not experienced in that area. But I can handle myself.”
“You think so?”
She nodded. “I … think so. Besides, I think … I have to.”
Willem frowned. “Have to?”
She turned her attention back to her cereal, but Will’s hand came across the table and encircled her wrist, stopping its progress. The spoonful of bran flakes quivered in her hand.
“What aren’t you telling me, Amber?”
She swallowed hard, blinked twice and finally met his eyes. “I’ve been having … dreams.”
“About?”
“About him. About Edge.”
He sighed. “Hon, it’s normal. Don’t let that worry you. When there’s an attraction, the subconscious sometimes—”
“I’ve been having them for a year, Willem. I met Edge for the first time on my way here, when I hit him with my car. But I’ve been seeing him in vivid, recurring dreams for months and months. And I don’t know why. I don’t know what it means. But I think … I think it has to mean something.”
He blinked slowly, licked his lips, his gaze turning inward, no doubt remembering dreams of his own. “You’re right,” he said softly. “You have to find out what it means.”
She nodded, glancing at the clock. “There’s still an hour of daylight left. I thought I might go out to his place, rifle through his things and see what I can find.”
“You want company?”
She shook her head. “No. I think I need to handle this on my own.”
“Just let me know if you need any help, Amber. And be careful. Where is he staying, by the way?”
She looked at him with her brows raised.
“Just in case you fail to come home one night, I’ll know where to look.”
“Oh. Uh, there’s an abandoned church a mile up the beach.”
“I know it.”
She tipped her bowl to her lips to drink the remaining soy milk from the bottom, then put it on the table. “Guess I’ll get dressed, then.” She got to her feet.
Will did, too. He came around the table, put his hands on her shoulders. “Your father wouldn’t like this.”
“My father still thinks of me as a little girl. But you know I’m not.”
“I know,” he said. “Just … don’t let this Edge character get the best of you. No matter what you decide to do or not to do, make sure it’s what you want. Your decision, Amber. For your reasons. Remember what you know about him and be mindful of what you don’t.”
She nodded, thinking there was a lot more she didn’t know about Edge than that she did.
“If he hurts you, I’ll take him out,” he added, as if for good measure.
She smiled. “I’m counting on it.” Leaning up, she kissed Will’s cheek. “I love you, you know.”
“Love you, too, Amber. Be careful.”
“I