Page 40 of Toward Immortal Ruin

“Any supernatural, really.” She shrugged casually, picking up her fork and fiddling with it idly as she spoke. “I’ve read far too many books and not done enough living, I guess.”

Nero inhaled slowly, as if steadying himself. When he spoke, there was no hint of humor in his voice. “And what if I told you that vampires were real, Eden? That the fiction you’ve devoted your life to wasn’t fake?”

Her sudden laugh cut through the silence between them like a sharpened knife, trying to encourage a smile from the sober-minded man across the island from her.

“I’d say you were absolutely, off-your-rocker unhinged.”

Nero still didn’t laugh. “I can assure you, I’m perfectly sane.”

Eden’s smile faded. Not only was he spewing the same delusional pitch that theCitizenshad, but he seemed entirely too serious. She waited for the punchline for what felt like an eternity. Eyes wide, she looked around, firmly believing she was about to be the butt of a joke.

“That’s—that’s hilarious, Nero. But I’m not really in the mood for recreating my meeting with theCitizensjust yet.”

“I’m telling you the truth.”

Freezing where she sat on the stool, Eden battled back the fear response and started cataloging the ways to escape Nero’s home. Though she wanted to believe that this was an attempt at humor, nothing in his voice or expression gave that impression. She had traveled thousands of miles with him to his home half a world away—was at his mercy—and now, she felt like the fool.

The blunt knife resting on the top of the butter seemed too far away.

“It’s—that’s not—” She shook her head in disbelief. “Nero, I know you think this is a joke, but seriously, you’re starting to scare me.”

He didn’t retract his statement, searching her eyes before checking the underside of the French toast. With the ease ofsomeone who’d made them thousands of times, he neatly flipped both of them onto a plate.

“Eat. Once you’re done, I’d like to show you something.”

Eden was rooted to the spot, her hands curling around the stool so tightly her knuckles were bleaching white. She suspiciously eyed the French toast, until Nero finally gave a lighthearted chuckle.

“You watched me make it, Eden. I’m not going to poison you.”

Eden took the offered plate and mechanically dribbled syrup over the slices. What followed was potentially the strangest meal she’d ever had. She attempted to keep her eyes on Nero, who was busy making a blueberry pie, while the sweetness of the French toast seemed to turn to ash in her mouth.

When she was done, she gingerly stood and took the plate to the sink. Keeping the butterknife concealed behind her, she pivoted to face him where he’d rested a hip against the island. His gaze was shadowed.

“Ready?”

“What are you going to show me, Nero?”

An intensely compassionate look settled on his face, reminding her of the man she’d come to know well in the last few days.

“I know it seems hard right now, but I would ask you to lend me your trust just a little bit longer. I vow to you I will never hurt you or allow you to come into harm’s way. Your wellbeing is more important to me than you’ll ever know.”

“Okay. But this preamble isn’t actually making me any less tense, by the way.”

Her semi-approval seemed to settle him. “Where in the world would you chose to be, should you have the ability to—I don’t know—teleport?”

Eden didn’t have to think twice. “Eiffel Tower.”

“Romantic. I like it.” Nero extended his hand out to her, palm up. “May I?”

Eyeing him as though he was a snake about to strike, Eden hesitated, weighing his merit. The cool metal in her hand didn’t ease her fear, and she soundlessly put the butterknife back into the sink behind her. Swallowing the bile that threatened to come up, she decided to take one last leap of faith.

Nero waited patiently.

If he had wanted to harm her, he could’ve done so at any point in time. She’d fallen asleep in his arms several times, and he’d shown her care and tenderness without a hint of reservation. More importantly, he’d saved her life, and even if it made her the most naïve woman alive, she believed his vows.

Eden’s fingers slid over his palm in the next second, determined to see this through. “Alright, Nero. I’ll trust you. Show me.”

“Eyes open, Eden.”

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