Page 125 of Enchanted

He withdrew his hand and relief washed over me. “A mating bond is an unbreakable link between two souls. It works differently for different supernatural creatures, or supes. With angels and demons, they mark their fated mates first.”

Fated?

I was Rami’s fated mate?

“In the natural order of things, you’d accept the bond and that would be it. You’d inherit not only his strength and healing, but his immortal lifespan too.”

I sucked in a breath. What the fuck?

“I’m not sure why Rami hasn’t taken that step,” Damien continued. “Probably some noble idea of wanting you to choose him without the pressure of a bond, I imagine. Angels. Such fools.”

“If I’m Rami’s fated mate,” I said, hardly able to believe the words leaving my mouth, “then I can’t be yours.”

“Ah.” He clapped his hands together. “See, that’s where you’re wrong. Vampires don’t have fated mates, we get to choose.”

Great. He was a vampire. From how he was leering, I was guessing not one of the sparkly, vegetarian variety.

“That’s what I’m doing,” he continued. “I’m choosing you. Assuming you’re strong enough, of course.”

“Strong enough for what?”

“Being my mate will mean a lifetime on the run. I have many enemies who are constantly hunting me down.”

There was no stopping the sarcasm in my reply. “Really? I can’t imagine why.”

Damien flashed his teeth at me once more. “Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll come to love me. That’s partially why I was annoyed at Rami’s interference. By healing the cancer from your body, he cut down on our time together.”

My mind was racing, trying to piece everything together. Problem was, I had no idea what the overall picture was supposed to be.

“I wanted to give you time to get to know me better,” Damien continued mournfully. “That’s why I hadn’t mated you already. My initial plan was to wait until you were on your deathbed before saving you.”

“Saving me by making me your mate?”

“Yes.” He blinked almost sadly. I wasn’t sure he was capable of feeling true sadness. “I wouldn’t have let you die, Ethan.”

My temper, so rarely riled, was pulsing beneath my skin. “But you were willing to let me suffer through endless rounds of chemo before doing that.”

“I had to. It was my way of testing whether you were strong enough to be with me. To be my mate. But then Rami came along and changed all my plans.”

“You’re a monster,” I whispered in disbelief. “You killed all those people today, and if it wasn’t for Rami, more would’ve died. And for what?”

“For you.” He swept his arms wide as though he was expecting applause for his cruelty. “All of this has been for you.”

God, I was going to vomit. Or pass out. One of the two.

Instead, I took a deep breath. I had to hold it together until Rami came. And he would.

He will.

“I didn’t want any of this,” I said, my lip curling. “And I certainly don’t want you.”

“You will. Assuming you’re worthy, of course. Now that you’ve been healed I’m going to follow my usual procedures.”

Damien got to his feet and disappeared out of view. When he returned, he was pulling a small metal trolley. My blood ran cold at the sight of the instruments arranged on it.

“What are those?”

“These will help me test you. I’ll have to go fast if I’m going to outrun the healing Rami’s mark gives you.”