Page 23 of All Night Long

“Someone may have pointed out what a dick I was being and how this might be difficult for you, being human and having no knowledge of us.”

“I think I want to meet this person.”

“You’ll like his human mate.”

Henry arched an eyebrow. “You don’t?”

“I’m… adjusting.” Gray sat on the sofa and slumped over. “I’m trying… going to try.”

“What did he say to you?”

“Words along the line of idiot, stupid, dick, bastard. The usual.”

Henry sat next to Gray, some of his anger disappearing. He hadn’t forgiven Gray for what he’d done, but he did feel some of the resentment floating away. “And you listened.”

“Not at first, but eventually I did. I can be a little stubborn.”

“You left about an hour ago and you managed to have some sense talked into you during that time?”

“Don’t push it,” Gray growled. “I don’t like humans, but I can adapt.”

“Oh, so you’re adapting to me. Nice.” Henry shook his head and glanced away. Gray made him feel so happy and warmand wanted. Not. Not at all, but he was trying in his own way. Whatever it was that made Gray hate humans must be pretty significant. “Why do you hate us?”

“You’re destructive. Selfish. Twist everything and anything if it will get you ahead. Lie and cheat and say whatever you want to whoever you want and destroy people carelessly. I could go on.”

“True.” Henry did have to accept that, even if he didn’t like it. However, he’d often thought the same thing, but he was human and he tended to stick up for other humans. The world would be a much better place if people tried to be nice to each other, tried to treat each other with respect.

“I’ve had years of watching humans destroy themselves, others, the planet.”

“Yeah. We could be great, but most choose to be the worst instead.”

“I’m tired of watching it, but there are instances when I see the good humans can be. How they come together to save people, places, animals. Why can’t you be like that all the time?”

“And vampires are perfect in comparison?”

“Fuck no, but we’re nowhere near as depraved as some humans. Sure, we have Maxim and his lot, but we can manage them.”

“Maxim?” Okay, this could be something he needed to know about.

“A vampire who wants to rule the world, pretty much. Hates most, if not all, humans and most vampires who aren’t in agreement with his ‘rule the world’ plans.”

“Sounds like a really nice guy to get to know. Remind me to never be on his invite list.”

Gray grunted. “He’s like smoke in the wind. He disappears for years at a time, then resurfaces, only to fucking disappear again. Annoys the shit out of me.”

Henry sucked his lips in, holding back his chuckle. The way Gray spoke was amusing. He was very unhappy about this Maxim person evading him. “Hmm. Can’t have that, can we?”

“Don’t be so smug. He went after a mate, a human mate, and got him, too. We had to find him and rescue him before Maxim made mincemeat out of him.”

“Yeah, keep me off the invite list. I’m more than happy living my life.”

Gray stood abruptly, surprising Henry. “I need to go.”

Standing, Henry faced Gray, narrowing his eyes. “So you do this ‘me vampire you mate’ crap at the club and then leave?”

“You were going to fuck a human, and as my mate, that’s a no. I’m not out there fucking other men, so you aren’t either.”

“You can’t. I can. Go on and fuck off. Just when I think I could actually grow to like you, you pull a stunt like this. What the fuck did I do to deserve a mate like you?”

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