Before Daybreak (Love Bitten)

“I know.” I twisted my wrist in his grasp to grip his forearm, driven by the need to prevent him from walking away—which was probably the same reason he’d changed his hold on me. Even without the claiming, we were both feeling the territorialism that came with being daywalker mates. “I did warn you that I wasn’t going to explain this well.”

“And I meant it when I promised that whatever you said wouldn’t change anything between us.” A muscle jumped in his jaw. “I just wasn’t expecting you to feel as though you had to make sacrifices in order to be with me. I want to lay the world at your feet, Callie. Not take shit away from you.”

I didn’t know how to help him see this from my point of view. He was a male daywalker who’d spent hundreds of years doing pretty much anything he wanted. He’d been on countless missions for the council and saved many human consorts. My goals were things he’d achieved long ago. But maybe if I explained it in a roundabout way, he’d have a better chance of understanding my perspective. “How old were you when you started combat training?”

His brow wrinkled in confusion—totally understandable since the question came out of nowhere for him—but he didn’t hesitate to answer. “It was so long ago, the memory is a little fuzzy. Probably five or six if I had to guess. Maybe a little younger. But I’d already done some self-defense training before then.”

Over a decade younger than me, just like basically every other born vampire in the world...except for me. “I was sixteen, and I had to go behind my parents’ backs to make it happen.”

It was probably a good thing I didn’t mention that his brother was the one who trained me since he already looked shocked by my answer. The littlest things could trigger jealousy in a daywalker, especially during the time between when they found their destined consort and claimed them. I’d be better off saving that news for a day when I wasn't already trying to convince him to wait much longer than he’d want for our claiming ceremony.

Refocusing on the task at hand, I asked, “What about when you first went on a mission for the council?”

“Now that I do remember.” His lips curved into a big grin. “I was nineteen. My older brothers, Liam and Jareth, went with me, along with two of our uncles. We took down three vampires that night and saved a consort who turned out to be destined for a member of the council. Since it was my first time, I went along to drop her off so I could learn that part of the process. I got to see the moment he realized that his seven-hundred-year wait had finally come to an end. It was amazing.”

“That’s what I want,” I whispered.

“No worries there. We’re going to have an amazing life together, baby.” He tugged me closer, his lips only inches from mine when he murmured, “I’ll do whatever it takes

I shook my head again. “I wasn’t talking about their relationship.”

“Explain then. Help me understand, Callie,” he urged.

“My parents love me, but they’ve never listened when I’ve tried to talk to them about my dreams and goals.” Fighting against the tears that welled in my eyes, I looked up and took a deep breath. I wanted him to see me as a capable woman, and crying over something I had come to terms with wasn’t going to help.

“I’ll pay attention to anything you say, baby,” he swore.

I opened my eyes, stared into his bright blue orbs, and blurted, “I want to be a badass vampire slayer.”

His gaze drifted down my slender frame, a muscle jumping in his jaw again. “And you don’t want to be claimed until after you’ve accomplished this goal?”

I quirked a brow at him. “How comfortable are you going to be with me leaving your bed to go out on missions?”

“It’ll definitely take some adjusting.” He pressed his lips together, and a growl rumbled up his chest. “But I still want you here with me while we’re figuring this all out. If you’re going to be crawling out of a bed in the middle of the night, it damn well will be mine.”

Thinking of our naked bodies tangled together on his sheets sent a surge of sensual need through my body. The air crackled between us, and one word slipped through my lips before I realized what I was saying. “Okay.”

3

Braeden

Callie stared at me with her golden eyes full of passion, and I wanted her with every fiber of my being. I felt the ancient magic wrapping around us, urging me to stake my claim, but I argued with it to back off and let me handle my consort.

When I told Callie I would give her everything and support her dreams, I’d meant it. Even though it would be hard to know she was out risking her life, and it was bound to drive me crazy. Perhaps if she didn’t go without me…I shook off that thought. I wasn’t sure I could stop myself from stepping in, and Callie might see my intervention as doubting her abilities.