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dropped her gaze. In the opulent hotel suite, she looked small and a little lost. “I can’t believe it.” Her voice trembled.
    He sighed, his mind spinning. He wanted to offer her comfort, but he couldn’t touch another woman. Wouldn’t touch another woman since he’d mated Veronica. “It was necessary.”
    “So you don’t love her.” Ginny’s head snapped back up.
    He opened his mouth and then shut it again. The world seemed to be closing in on him, and he needed to think it through. “I’ll not discuss my mating with you.” If nothing else, he owed his mate that loyalty.
    Ginny paled. “I see.”
    Damn. He didn’t want to hurt her. She was so delicate. Once upon a time, he’d wanted nothing but to stand between her and the entire world. But she’d chosen another. “You have to understand my position here,” he said softly.
    She nodded, tears gathering on her long lashes. “I do. This is my fault. When I let my father force me to mate Levi, I created this. I lost you.”
    “I would’ve fought your father and Levi,” Jared said evenly.
    “Yes, and somebody I loved would’ve died,” she said, wringing her hands together.
    Would they have? For the first time, Jared wondered. Her father had seemed like a decent guy. Would he have truly forced his only daughter to mate somebody she didn’t love?
    “I’m sorry, Jared,” she said, a tear rolling down her face.
    Of course she was. He moved forward and gathered her close, against his better judgment. How could he let her be in pain? What had he been thinking? She’d always been fragile and in need of protection.
    His skin itched.
    He swallowed.
    His tongue swelled a little.
    Clearing his throat, he backed away. The mating allergy would have him on the ground in a minute if he kept touching her. It would spread to her, too.
    She looked up, another tear escaping. “The allergy.”
    He nodded. “Yes.”
    “I’ve no right to ask you for anything.” She gestured around the suite. “I figured you’d take me to your place.”
    “I don’t have a place in New York,” he said. “You’re safe here. It can’t be traced to either one of us.” Perhaps he could gain a secure place for her with the Realm. They were allies now, after all. “We’ll figure something out.”
    She slowly drew her red wrap off her small body, revealing a long white dress that hugged her curves perfectly. “I need you, Jared. I always have.”
    “You have a family, Ginny. They can protect you, too.” Had she not spent any time training as a witch? She should be able to make and throw fireballs. Had she been his, she’d know how to fight whether she liked it or not. “You need training.”
    “No.” She sighed. “I’m not a fighter.”
    Veronica was. His mind moved to how hard she’d fought to stay alive to the last second, even while he had bitten her. He should call her. Hopefully she’d gone back to bed after spending the day resting. Darkness would soon fall outside, and he wanted to check on her before the storm he smelled coming hit.
    “Jared?” Ginny asked.
    He shook himself back to the hotel room. “I’ll find a safe place for you.”
    She licked her pink lips. “What about us?”
    He straightened. “Huh?”
    “Us.” Her smile turned her pretty face into sheer beauty. “I want another chance with you. Don’t you want that?”
    For so long, it was all he’d wanted. But he’d given up the dream a while ago. His blood sped up. “It can’t happen.”
    “Sure, it can. The virus works to negate a mating bond.” Hope lit her eyes. “I’m proof of it.”
    It took a minute to catch her meaning. “Ginny.” He stood straighter. “I’m mated. My mate was human and probably still is. The virus used in a mate with a still living mate might kill her.” Ginny had to know him better than that. Once he’d made that commitment, it was absolute.
    Ginny studied him. “Once she’s strong, just think about it. If you don’t love her, why stay tied for