“Are you sure you know what you are giving up? Your family, your friends, they can never know,” I say.
“I don’t have any family that counts, except you. You are my family now. You are all that matters to me. Marry me, turn me. All I want is you,” he says.
Inwardly, I am melting at his words, it is everything I ever wanted to hear, but reality is a vicious bitch. I want to say ‘yes’ in the worst way. I want to be with him, I don’t want this Council thing to ruin what is the best thing that has happened to me in a really long time. Since being turned, I have been married exactly once in one thousand years, to Fraser, who didn’t want me to turn him. With the exception of Constantine, who never asked, and Devon, who asked, but then that plan went to Hell in a handbasket, I have never wanted anyone that much before, or since, that I would even consider marrying. Cole is different. He is special. I love him completely, I want him, I want to be with him forever.
“If you mean what you say…” I fold like a cheap suit.
“I do, Liv. I do.” He kisses me. “Never have I wanted anyone as much as I want you. If that comes with a price? I will willingly pay.”
“A price?” I ask, feeling like someone has just chucked a bucket of cold water over me.
He nods. “Yes, a price. I will renounce my life for you. I will become what you are, so I can love you forever.”
I falter at his words. He is saying everything I want to hear.
“Please say ‘yes,’” he whispers.
“Yes,” I whisper back and, elated, he pulls me to him, kissing me. He slips the ring on my finger. I grip his hand in mine. Overwhelmed with happiness, and fear that I am making a massive mistake, I ignore all thoughts of Constantine’s warning and I just fall into the moment.
Cole and I are still on our knees kissing when Devon saunters back in. “Oh, don’t mind me,” he says sarcastically.
Pulling away from each other, Cole and I are grinning like teenagers as we stand up, hand in hand, turning to face Devon. Knowing I’m going to have to tell him now, I say to Cole, “Can you give us a moment, please?” Cole nods his understanding and kisses me quickly, squeezing my hand and leaving us alone.
Devon is eyeing me suspiciously. “What’s going on?” he asks.
“Devon, sit, please.” I sit on the bed and pat the spot next to me, his eyes never leaving my face as he walks slowly over.
“He asked you, didn’t he,” he says flatly, a statement, not a question. His blue eyes fill with sorrow as they flick to the ring on my finger. “I see,” he says softly.
“Devon, I…”
He interrupts me. “Liv, it’s okay, I knew it was coming. I’ve known for years, centuries even, that this day would come. I knew it would be with him the second I saw you look at him.” He sits down heavily and takes my hand. Tears well up in my eyes at his words. I want to tell him about the prophecy, but CK said to keep it quiet. Instead, I say, “I want to keep it quiet. I don’t want anyone getting wind of this until after it’s done.”
He frowns and says, “Yeah, I understand. Do it right this time, eh? No murders, accidental or otherwise, to fuck it up. Get to Holy ground and do it right. I will help you.”
Oh, my darling boy. “I love you, you know,” I say tearfully, and he turns to face me.
“I know,” he says simply and gets up to get dressed as I walk over to the door.
“This doesn’t change anything between me and you,” I say, pausing with my hand on the door handle, casting a sideways glance at him.
He pauses briefly midway through putting his shirt on. “Meaning?” He turns to look at me
“Meaning, it doesn’t change anything between me and you,” I repeat pointedly.
He silently nods his understanding and resumes getting dressed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Exiting the bedroom, I take a moment to steady myself. That went better than I could have hoped for. I know Devon won’t say anything as I have asked him not to. He wouldn’t betray my confidence. I just hope that we can keep a lid on it. However, I now have the added problem of my sire needing to know the details. If anyone can protect me, it’s him, should I need it, which I sincerely hope that I don’t. I also sincerely hope that he isn’t the one I need protecting from. I don’t foresee a very pleasant afternoon on the horizon for any of us. Calming myself and putting on my game face to cover my dread, I head back to the Main Cabin. Cole is seated at the table fiddling with a drink. He looks up as I sit next to him and he slides the Bourbon over to me. “Thought you might need this.” I smile my thanks and down it in one gulp, slamming the glass heavily to the table, my charm bracelet also hitting the deck with a loud thunk. “Everything okay?”
“Funnily enough, yes,” I say, still surprised at how okay. “More t
han okay, accepting even.” Cole looks relieved. “One down, a bigger one to go,” he says. “If he tries to kill me, I give you my blessing to turn me on the spot.” He jokes, but I can sense his nerves and I gulp.
“He’d better not try to kill you. When I turn you, it will be by choice,” I say wryly, cottoning on to the idea that the prophecy said a ‘Holy Union’. If I don’t do it on Holy ground, then we should be left alone.
“On Holy ground?” Cole asks. “To bind us together, forever?” he asks.