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“Like me?” I slip off the island and sway.
Helios is there, wrapping his arms around me to keep me steady. I don’t wait. I wrap an arm around him, my bones no longer aching now that he is by my side.
I’m not sure what the future brings, but right now, my mate hasn’t run for the hills, so that has to mean something.
“Yes, like maybe you two share the same maker. That’s not possible, right? I mean, why would a vampire hunt another vampire? Doesn’t make sense.”
“I don’t know,” I answer, thinking back to who my maker is. “There’s no way the vampire who made me is still alive. Not unless he met his fated mate. I really don’t know. I haven’t seen him since the night I was turned.”
“So all this vampire stuff is real?”
Me, Soren, and Glenn stare at Helios. All eyes are on him. His anxiety heightens, along with another scent that has me stepping closer to him.
Fear.
He’s afraid of us.
Naturally. It makes sense. We are supposed to be fiction and only exist in folklore, movies, and books, but people forget there is truth in every tale. We have always existed. We’re just really great at hiding in plain sight.
“Yeah, it’s real. We’re real.” I stroke my hand up and down his spine, doing my best to reassure him as his entire world falls apart.
He doesn’t move away from me like I expect him to. I know it’s unrealistic, a dream even, to think he’d jump into my arms and accept what I am with open arms. Then we’d live happily ever after.
Unfortunately, life isn’t made up of perfection or the dreams we want.
Everyone, vampire or not, has to work their way through the muck to get the life they want. I’m living proof of that. I’ve waited so long to die, and right when I thought I was free, my mate fell out of the sky.
I don’t want death anymore. I only want him.
Helios crosses his arms, a protective stance that I can’t blame him for. He is surrounded by predators who could easily rip his throat out. None of us will hurt him, and maybe that’s something else I need to explain.
Maybe he doesn’t know it yet, but he’s safe here. He is the safest he will ever be.
“I need to sit down for a minute.” He plops on the barstool and stares at the kitchen island where blood is smeared, then follows the trail to the floor. “You almost died,” Helios whispers, covering his mouth with his hand, and that’s when I notice just how pale he is.
I took a lot of blood, but I thought I had stopped in time. I inhale, wanting a better idea of how he is doing by scent. I also focus on the connection growing between us and what the bond is saying.
“Holy shit, you almost died.” He swallows, peering up at me through watery eyes.
I hate to admit this, but damn, my mate is beautiful when he cries. His eyes become so green, like a light switch has been turned on, showcasing an ethereal glow.
“I mean, you really almost died. You were shot in front of me. With a fucking silver-infused arrow that shot through your back and chest. I saw it. I saw the life leave your eyes. Oh my god, I think I might be sick.” His breathing changes in the worst way.
Panic sets in besides fear, and that’s when it hits me that the fear isn’t based around me, Glenn, or Soren being vampires.
His fear is based on me. Losing me before he has the chance to get to know me.
His breaths are short and fast. The usual golden hue of his skin loses more of its beautiful vibrance, fading as if the life has been drained from him. Dark circles appear under his eyes, and the salty tears threatening to fall upon his cheeks have me taking a step forward.
“Helios, look at me, Honeybee.” I cup his face with both hands, my thumbs brushing each cheek, and those tears swim, threatening to fall any moment.
That’s alright.
I’m at the ready.
The second he blinks, the tears break free, like a dam bursting. The drops hit the tips of my fingers. They are warm, and the salt is so strong, it’s as if I’m standing on the shore, waves crashing against my feet.
“Honeybee?” he whispers, licking his lips as the tears roll down them. His thick black eyebrows pinch together. “I’ve heard that before.”
