“No.” Boaz pushed to his feet. “Just… let it go. I’m not going to repeat yesterday’s mistake.”
“You’re leaving?” Hansel asked, watching him.
“Yeah,” Boaz said, running a hand over the back of his neck. “I’m tired.”
“You barely ate,” Hansel said. “You worked all day. You have to be starving.”
“I’m not,” Boaz replied already heading for the door. “Goodnight, Hansel.”
He stepped out of the barn, leaving the laughter and warmth behind him, and made his way toward his favorite place in the world. The meadow. Out there, away from everyone and everything, it was the only place where things felt… right.
Boaz let out a slow breath and dropped onto the grass, stretching out as he stared up at the sky. The moon was brighter than usual, its light spilling over the meadow and bathing everything in a soft glow.
Boaz could feel it on his skin. His wolf stirred, responding to it.
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the tension ease out of his body as he lay there, soaking in the light.
Then a shadow passed over him. His eyes snapped open.
Alexander stood above him.
The vampire was looking down at him, his blue eyes glowing faintly in the dark.
At least they weren’t red, Boaz thought.
Those red eyes did something to him. They reminded him too much of his dreams and the first time he bit him.
“What are you doing here?” Boaz asked, clearing his throat. He looked away, breaking the stare before it pulled him in. “I thought you and Lyla had plans.”
“She looked tired.” Alexander shrugged. “I walked her home so she could rest.”
Boaz frowned. “I’ll ask again. What are you doing here?”
“I came to see the meadow,” Alexander said simply.
Boaz pushed himself up into a sitting position. “Out of all the places in the meadow… you came here?”
“It’s the best spot,” Alexander replied, like it was obvious. He lowered himself to the ground beside Boaz, close enough that their shoulders brushed.
Boaz froze as Alexander’s scent filled his lungs. His thoughts scattered, the words he’d been about to say dying in his throat.
Alexander shifted slightly, getting comfortable, his shoulder brushing against Boaz again.
What the hell was he doing?
Boaz bit back a moan and quickly scooted away, putting space between them. His heart was already thundering in his chest. It was happening again.
And the worst part?
The vampire didn’t even seem to notice. Alexander lay back, staring up at the sky like Boaz wasn’t even there.
“Is it always like this every night?” he asked.
“Most nights,” Boaz said, glad to have something to focus on other than the lingering tingling crawling along his skin. “The summers are long here. It gets hot during the day, but at night it cools down. The lake brings in this mist…” He exhaled softly, glancing up at the sky, goosebumps rising along his arms as the moonlight settled over him. “And when the moon is full like tonight… it just feels different. Almost… magical.”
As if he was dreaming, he felt fingers brush against his arm.
Boaz sucked in a sharp breath.