“Good God no!” he cried, laughter bursting from him once more. “That would be like being in love with my sister.” He managed to gasp out between bouts of laughter. “You really thought that I was in love with her!?”

Devon’s fierce scowl only caused him to laugh harder. Chris nearly toppled from his chair as he rocked backward, holding his belly. Slowly he began to regain control of himself, chuckling softly as he leaned forward in his chair again. “You acted like it, in the beginning,” Devon amended.

Chris brushed back a strand of unruly sandy blond hair from his eye. “I was worried about her; I was frightened that she would be hurt by you. Until you arrived Cassie had never felt anything for anyone, and I wanted her to go slow, and take it easy. I just didn’t want her to rush into something, when she had no idea what she was getting into.” Chris snorted as he ran a hand through his disheveled hair. His eyes were mischievous when he turned his attention back to Devon. “Hell, none of us knew what we were getting into with you.”

Devon shook his head at him. “Thanks,” he muttered.

“No problem.” Chris grew silent for a few moments, his foot tapped lightly on the wooden boards. “I have never felt anything at all romantic for Cassie, and I never will. What you two feel for each other is something so good and true that it has to be able to beat what she is going through. It has to be able to push past her walls and save her, again. In fact, I know that it can, and it will.”

Devon slowly digested this information as he leaned back in his chair. Chris did not love her. It was a strange thing to realize, it was even stranger to realize that he had long ago come to accept the thought that Chris was in love with her. It had not bothered him, he had not been jealous. Cassie had been his, then. He had known that her heart belonged to him, that he was all she would ever want.

Things were different now. She was no longer his, and he was relieved that Chris did not love her. Devon didn’t need the competition now, and he was surprised to realize that he didn’t want their odd friendship to be affected by it.

Slowly, he turned his attention to Cassie’s window again. With his mind he reached out to her, making sure that she was still present and accounted for. He brushed briefly against her mind, coming up against a wall of fury that was stunning in its intensity. The fact that Chris said it was directed at herself was enough to make his stomach turn. He would have much preferred that it be directed at Julian, or even himself. It broke his heart.

His head bowed, he took a deep breath as the weight of the world seemed to rest upon his shoulders. “There has to be something that we can do,” he whispered.

“Time,” Chris answered. “I think time is the only answer. She needs time to come to terms with everything, time for her to realize that she is not to blame.”

“What if there isn’t enough time?”

Chris bit his bottom lip nervously as he shook his head. “We’re going to have to make sure that there is.”

Devon leaned back in his chair, folding his arms on his stomach as he glanced at Chris again. He was surprised to realize that Chris was perhaps the first true friend he had ever had. It was a weird thing to realize. It was a weird thing to have. But Chris was on his side. Devon didn’t fool himself into thinking that Chris would choose him over Cassie, but Chris would fight for him, and he would not turn against him. It was a good thing to know. And it was something that he was exceptionally grateful for.

“Thank you,” he said softly.

Chris flashed him a smile. “Don’t go getting all sentimental on me you big bad vamp.” Devon chuckled softly, propping his feet up beside Chris’s. Though he would have preferred to have been in Cassie’s bed, curled up next to her, this was far better than standing outside in the cold. At least he wasn’t alone here. “You know, before all this happened, I had thought that she would end up joining you.”

Devon started in surprise, nearly toppling out of the chair as his sudden movement jolted it sharply. “What!?”

Chris grinned at him as he shrugged absently. “I thought that she would join you in the end. I’m not a fool, I see what goes on between you two, and no matter how hard I try to keep the emotions blocked out, some things slip through. I know how hard it is for you to be around her. I know you fear you will hurt her.”

Devon stared unblinkingly at him, unsure what to say, unable to believe what Chris was saying to him. “You don’t think I would hurt her?”

Chris shook his head, messing his shaggy hair up even more. “Not at all. I think you love her more than even you realize. You wouldn’t hurt her.”

Devon couldn’t move as shock held him riveted. “And it wouldn’t have bothered you if she decided to join me?”

Chris smiled wryly at him. “Before I met you I would have destroyed her myself, if such a thing had happened to her. Even though it would have killed me to do so. But now I know you, and I know that she will not be a monster. All I want is for her to be happy, and you make her happy.”

“Not anymore,” Devon mumbled.

Chris shrugged absently. “It will work out.”

Devon wished that he could believe him, but he wasn’t too sure himself. “She didn’t want to join me.”

Chris’s frown intensified. “You talked about it?”

Devon nodded, leaning forward he clasped his hands before him, trying hard not to recall the horrified look on Cassie’s face when he had broached the subject with her. “Yes.”

Chris started in surprise, his eyebrows drew sharply together. “She never mentioned it.”

“She had made up her mind not to join me. She probably felt there was no need to mention it.”

Chris was silent for a minute, his eyes distant as he thought over Devon’s words. “She will come around.”

Devon chuckled softly as he turned to him. “Are you always this optimistic?”

Chris grinned back at him. “No, I just know how she feels about you…”

“Felt.”

Chris’s eyes narrowed upon him. “No, it is how she still feels; it’s just buried beneath self hatred and grief right now. She just needs time to work it all out. I know Cassie as well as I know myself. I know she’s still in there somewhere and that she will come back. She has to come back.”

“And if she doesn’t?”

“Are you always so pessimistic?” Devon couldn’t help but smile at him as he shook his head. “I can’t let myself think like that. I just can’t. It means that I’ve lost her too, and right now I can’t deal with that. So yes, I have to believe that Cassie will come back to us, you should too.”

Devon ran his hand through his hair, nodding slowly as he mulled over Chris’s words. He was right; Chris had to have hope that Cassie would come back to him. However, Devon knew it was better if he didn’t. He could not allow himself to have such hope, not when he knew that Cassie’s decision was probably for the best. In the long run they could not be together, and there was a good possibility that he would end up hurting her, no matter what Chris believed. No, Chris needed his hope, but Devon couldn’t share it. He couldn’t crush it either.

“Why didn’t she want to join you?” Chris asked softly.

Devon shrugged absently. “Her parents, and now her grandmother, have all been killed by vampires. She was bred to hate what we are. You were all created to destroy my kind.”

“Yes, but she doesn’t have to be a murderer like them.”

“I know that, and so does she, but it’s still frightening to her. Plus, she would also have to give up the sunlight, the warmth and wonder of its rays.”

Chris was silent for a moment. “Eventually she could return to it though.”

“Maybe, but she would have to spend hundreds of years in the dark with no guarantee that she could ever go back into the light. Just because two of us have been able to do it does not mean that others will be successful.”

Chris nodded as he placed his coffee cup down. “That would be awful for her, but I’m sure she would adjust.”

“There will be no need for her too.”

Chris smirked at him as he shook his head. “Man you’re depressing.”

Devon grinned back at him. “There’s nothing more depressing then being dead, which I am.”

Chris laughed as he nodded his agreement. The soft patter of footsteps turned both their heads toward the door. Chris’s mother was shuffling through it, her hand rested on the doorframe as she steadied herself, the ice in her glass of scotch rattled as she moved. “Christopher, what are you doing here? I thought you would be staying with Cassie, and your people.”

Chris stiffened; his feet plopped loudly on the floor. “Luther and Melissa are with her. I thought it best if I returned home.”

“Oh, this is your home now. You never act like it. In fact it’s more like a stopping ground where you keep your clothes.”

“Mom…”

“I have company,” she interrupted sharply.

“Of course you do,” Chris mumbled.

“What did you just say!?” she demanded, her voice taking on a near hysterical edge.

“Nothing mom.”

“Don’t you talk to me like that! I gave you life, I created you! I took care of you even after I discovered what abominations you and your bastard of a father were!”

Devon sat in stunned silence. Chris’s face colored in shame, his eyes darted briefly to Devon as his head bowed down. His look in Devon’s direction caught his mother’s attention as she finally realized that Chris was not alone. She turned toward Devon, her eyes widened in surprise as the furious, alcohol induced glaze slipped swiftly from them. Disgust twisted through Devon as lust bloomed heavily from her.

“You didn’t tell me you had a friend here,” she hissed to Chris.

Chris’s jaw locked tight, his eyes narrowed as his nostrils flared slightly. She might well be one of the most repulsive women Devon had ever come across as she sauntered slightly forward, swaying her hips invitingly. “You didn’t give me a chance,” Chris said softly.

She chose to ignore him as her gaze remained pinned on Devon. “What’s your friend’s name?”

Chris glanced apologetically back at him, shame colored his fair cheeks. “This is Devon.”

“Hello Devon,” she purred, thrusting her hand out. He chose to ignore it.

“Cassie’s boyfriend,” Chris added pointedly.

Her eyes widened slightly, she licked her lips as her eyes raked over Devon once more. “Whoever would have thought it from little Cassie.” Devon’s ire spiked up a level, his hands clenched the arms of the chair. “I’m sure you’ve taught her a thing or two. I could teach you more.”

Revulsion and anger curdled through Devon’s stomach. Chris launched to his feet, his chair skidded back a few feet. “That’s enough!” he snapped. “Don’t you have a stranger to entertain?”

Her sapphire eyes narrowed fiercely. Devon rose slowly, stepping forward he rested his hand lightly on Chris’s shoulder. Chris fairly vibrated with anger, his shoulders were set, his jaw locked as he glared at his mother. His eyes smoldered with ire and humiliation. “I assure you that I am a far worse abomination than your son,” Devon informed her quietly.

Her eyes flickered, her eyebrows drew sharply together. She looked confused for a moment, and then his words finally pierced her alcoholic stupor. She took a step back, fear blazed off of her. “What do you mean?” she whispered. She glanced wildly at Chris, her heart thumped loudly; her terror was nearly palpable in the enclosed porch. Chris gave her a brief nod, confirming the fears and doubts rolling through her.

“Why don’t you go back inside now.” Devon’s voice was low, urging. Though he didn’t use his power of mind control, the tone was compelling enough to make her step further away. Nodding rapidly, she spun ungracefully and hurried inside, glancing briefly over her shoulder before disappearing in the house.

Chris’s shoulders slumped; he ran a hand wearily through his hair. “Sorry bout that,” he muttered, looking defeated and beat.

Devon shook his head, squeezing Chris’s shoulder briefly before releasing him. He turned back toward Cassie’s house. No wonder Chris had spent most of his nights there, escaping from the woman that was supposed to be his mother. “Lily’s death really hurt you too.”

Chris glanced at him, shrugging his broad shoulders. “She was a wonderful person.”

Devon shoved his hands in his pockets. “Yes.”

“Not to mention you and Cassie are killing me. I can’t keep her fury tuned out, and you wandering around like a kicked puppy is really starting to get on my nerves.” Devon quirked an eyebrow, not at all amused to be called a puppy. “The both of you are enough to drive a person crazy.”