“Fine.” I meet her teary gaze. “If you wish to hear that I would miss you, then I will say it, but only if you promise to never leave. And bring me virgins when I ask.”
She shakes her head again, this time with disgust.
I sense that she’s back to wishing for that swift death. “Very well. If it is what you truly desire, Neli, I will release you, but I ask that you find me a replacement companion first. Stella.”
I see the wheels churning in her weak female mouse brain. “If I do that,” she says, “do I have your word that you will release me?”
Ha. Hahaha… Never. “Of course.”
Her eyes twitch. “I don’t believe you.”
“Too bad. It is either that or you can take your own life.”
“You know I’ll just become a vampire if I do that.”
Yes. Only one’s master can deliver the true death. It is a safety catch. Otherwise, a vampire’s human slave could leave at any moment. Death is a gift only I can bring her. Otherwise, she can become like me, though I’m fairly certain that the glamour of becoming a vampire died long ago. She knows this life isn’t for everyone. Being the fastest, smartest, deadliest, and above all, best looking is no simple task.
Neli takes my hand and squeezes. “Boz, I need you to promise that if I do this for you, you’ll let me die.”
I stare into Neli’s eyes. I hate to lie to her, but telling the truth is far too demeaning: I would be lost without my Neli. She is like a sister. Who waits on me. And helps me kill people.
“I promise.” I hold up my hand. “Now, let us get on with the business at hand.”
“You have to remove the whammy.”
“Why?” I clear my throat. “Not that there is one.” Because it’s unsportsmanlike to hypnotize a woman whom you desire in your bed, though, I must give myself credit; I merely hypnotized Stella so that she would want to spend time with me. All right, and I may have told her to think me handsome. So what? It’s just that I saw her lying there and couldn’t help myself. “Fine. I gave her the whammy, but in my own defense, I never intended to bed her while she remained under my spell. I merely wanted a taste of her attention.” It was sweeter than I imagined.
“Good. Because you and I both know you won’t be satisfied with winning her if it isn’t real.”
“Agreed. So what do you suggest is the next step?” I ask.
“First off, remove the whammy. Then get to know her. Spend time together. Show her who you really are. If she still wants you, then maybe she’s the one you’ve been searching for all these years. Your forever companion.”
My bride? My forever love? Could Stella truly be the one I’ve been searching for all these centuries? (At least I was before my forced nap.) I had given up all hope of finding my mate. It’s why I decided I wasn’t meant to be a one-neck vampire. Lack of hope will do that to your tender immortal soul.
Who wouldn’t give up hope after the years dragged on and on with no signs such a woman existed? I was forced to give up any ridiculous notions of finding my bride and embrace my bachelorhood. I accepted that Neli would be my companion and that my manly sexual needs would be met in other ways.
But now, this notion of Stella perhaps being the one excites me. Could she be my soul mate?
I heard rumors that a vampire knows his forever mate by the intoxicating scent and the taste of their mate’s blood. The flavor is said to drive a vampire mad with lust. Stella is the first woman who meets both requirements. “You are right. I must spend time with her to see if she could be the one. And I will go to her room tonight to remove the whammy.” I need to be sure her affections are genuine.
“Okay, but no more hanky-panky, Boz. I saw the huge hickey on her neck.”
“It was a tiny scratch,” I argue. “Only about the size of a chicken egg. With holes in it.” I shrug. “And a tad purple. All right, fine. It was a massive hickey, but can you blame me? She is very desirable.”
“Boz, she’s a good girl. And I believe, in my heart, that you are a good man, capable of extreme kindness—when you want. So please don’t ruin her life. Find some salty old crow to mess with if Stella isn’t the one.”
“I am not into birds, but I do not judge.”
“I—never mind. Just promise, okay?”
I groan. “Very well. If it will make you happy, I promise I will not ruin her life.” Ah…but a nibble, that is fair game.