“I need to find out more so I know what we’re facing,” he said, “People in my position should know these things but a decade in this world is still a relative newbie so maybe that’s why I’m not well-versed,” he shrugged, “I do know that no one can find out about this. It would spark far too much interest in you. You could become the target of power hungry vampires who would kill to get to you and probably kill you in the process.”
Kyla nodded, absorbing his words.
Their eyes locked. He leaned over and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear, “I’m serious, baby. If I didn’t have the power and control I have I would’ve drained you dry that first night. Power is a hot commodity in my world. I’m already considered powerful and this, this could make me invincible. People in my world would want this. I don’t want anyone to get an opportunity to sink their teeth into you. They might not stop.” Then he added in barely more than a whisper, “And…you’re mine.” He said this with finality, looking her in the eye. Then he downed his wine and put the glass down with something like a stamp on the finality to it. He sounded logical and overly possessive all in that sentence. Is he going to go all Gollum a la Lord of the Rings on me?
“Because I’m the key to invincibility for you?” she asked accusingly.
“For fuck sakes, Kyla…” he got up from the table and glared down at her.
She winced, feeling regret but not wanting to back down.
He sat down and blew out a long slow breath, “Always looking for ulterior motives.”
“Pretty much,” she sipped her wine, then added, “And I’m yours? It’s done?” raising brows at him.
“Yeah, I haven’t explained that part yet. You are mine. In every sense of the word.”
“I don’t know how to respond to that,” Kyla said softly.
“It freaks you out.”
“Uh huh.”
“We’re connected, bonded.”
“I don’t know how to respond to that, either.”
“Part of the legend is that each feeding deepens the vampire’s abilities but also that after several consecutive feedings there’s a chemical reaction that binds the human to the vampire permanently. When you fell apart before you left me it had to be that. I’d been waiting for it, hoping for it, because I suspected your blood was enchanted.”
Kyla chewed the inside of her cheek.
“It’s unbreakable. It’s for the vampire’s benefit, of course, because the human is bonded to him, becomes his. She wants to feed him, only him. From what I’ve heard you’d fight to the death rather than let someone else feed from you and if you can’t feed me you’ll have withdrawals. We know that started to happen upstairs for you. Regular people will let any vamp feed. It gave me a feeling of peace when it happened…that moment when you fell apart and I knew my suspicions were right and you’d become mine. But then you pulled back afterwards. Then you ran. That peace disintegrated when you ran. It made me question all of this. But what I’ve felt coming from you the past few days…I’m sure that this is it and that your blood is enchanted. You’re stubborn and you needed that time alone to help you realize that. Maybe your resistance comes from the same reason you aren’t entranced. Whatever that reason is… All of this isn’t exactly textbook. The blood reactions are, the cementing of the bond, but everything I’m feeling from you, the fact that you’re not entranced, none of that is textbook. Not from anything I’ve learned, anyway.”
She took a deep breath.
“I’m glad you’re not entranced. If you were, maybe your feelings for me would be just the bond. But you’re not in a trance. They’re real. I feel them.”
She felt invaded but relieved at the same time. She didn’t want to have to articulate how she felt. If he felt it that’s why he’d forgiven her. But knowing that some chemical mystical reaction was probably responsible for some or even all of these deep emotions? That was unsettling; more than unsettling.
He continued, “Some things are going on right now, too, that complicate things further. As if we needed things to be more complicated, right? I’m hosting a party and conference here in a few days for some powerful vampire colleagues. I can’t cancel. It’s my first conference since my promotion to president of the company so all eyes will be on me. I have to keep you hidden and hide the changes in myself. I have to let my men think you’ve been...”
Kyla sighed, “Broken? I have.”
“No, no, don’t say that,” he squeezed her hand, “I don’t want that; I really don’t. I’m crazy about your personality, who you are. But can you please PLEASE cooperate? For the sake of your safety as well as my sanity?” His eyes pleaded with her.