Page 61 of Absolved In Death

Angela Rossi was not the kind of person you simply fucked on a passionate whim, either. She was a smart, wild, formidable woman. I’d have to capture her mind and heart before I claimed her. And since the day I met her, I carefully set my snare. I watched everything she did—gathered as much intel on her as I could. I asked her friends and family about her. Then I used all of that information to win her over. She was gradually falling into my trap without even knowing it.

So she had a fated mate?He’s just as attractive as she is, inside and out. Fine by me.

She had Greek gods sniffing at her heels?Zeus help us both.

She had a weird push and pull with a Bone Whisperer…Meh, Bain is a bit of a complication, but a manageable one.I wasn’t even sure if he liked her, and when I asked about him a few evenings ago, she told me she didn’t want to talk about him. That was fine by me, because I’d rather talk aboutus.

Angela would be mine, it was just a matter of time.

When she was full, she licked over her puncture marks to close them. I carried her to the sofa and she cuddled into my lap. I loved the feeling of her against me. She turned the TV off, then handed me one of the earbuds from her pocket, keeping the other for herself. We finished a few chapters of a romance book we’d been listening to together, basking in each other’s comfort. I did kiss her, because I couldn’t deny myself a small taste. And I couldn’t deny her the evident joy I always saw in her smiles afterward. She was going through a dark time, and she needed some light, even if it was a simple kiss.

“Have you seen Judas yet?” I asked her.

“No, I refuse him every time he visits. When he tries to mindlink me, I shut him out,” she huffed.

“Being able to block a mindlink this early on is impressive, good job.” I did wonder how much of that was Judas respecting her attempts and stopping communication and how much of it was her magic strength.

She preened at the compliment, a little color coming back to her face. She gave me a soft, warm smile and I internally melted. She was so fucking adorable. Eventually, when this transition was over, she’d smile more often. She’d be back to the saucy, playful woman I fell for.

“I think you should hear him out. You’re going to be connected to him for eternity…and he’s your sire. He did what hehad to do to keep you with us,” I explained in an understanding voice. It would be difficult to win her over without including Judas in the equation, so they needed to make up, preferably soon.

“It’s not that… If becoming a vampire is the alternative to death, I’ll take it,” she admitted.

“Okay…then tell me what’s wrong.” I rubbed my hand up her leg, then settled it possessively on her knee. My urge to find out what bothered her and fix it was strong. I didn’t want her to hurt, and if Judas was at the bottom of it, he would be dealt with accordingly…even if he was handsome and charming.

“You won’t be mad?” she trailed off, unsure of how I’d react.

I answered her question with partial honesty, “No. I’d never judge you.” The full truth is that I’m so fucking obsessed with this woman I worship the ground she walks on. She couldn’t change the way I felt about her even if she tried.

“I’m mad that I’m attached to him for the rest of my life. He didn’t want me, but having sex with me was fine. He told me I wasn’t good enough for him as a partner, but my blood was good enough to drink. He said, and I quote, ‘I don’t settle down, and I would never settle down with you.’ And now, out of all of the people in the four realms, he’s my sire…and he said he was my fated mate.”

He told me that part. They shared a darkness now where their souls used to be. Which was one more reason why they had to make up. If my hypothesis about her drinking my Fae blood was right, it may also even the playing field for me as far as that bond was concerned.

“Yeah, I can see why that hurts. I’m not making excuses for him, but sometimes when men want someone who forces them to change who they are—to exist outside of their comfort zone—they resist. It’s a dick move, but it happens.”

“Yeah, and sometimes when you hurt someone and force yourself as their sire, they resist. It’s a reasonable move,” she smirked. “At least I have you. I don’t know how I’d survive without seeing you everyday, Quel.” Her heart eyes made my heartthumpso hard in my chest I wanted to scream. I needed to see them daily. Preferably every minute of every day.

“Yes you do have me. I’ll make sure you’re okay.”

That sounds so much better than “You’ll always have me for the rest of our immortal lives, whether you want me or not.” Or, “You’ve had me since day one. No, seriously, I’ve been stalking you since your niece introduced us. I’m so glad I followed my Faetuition and joined the Morningstar resistance.”

I kissed her on the forehead, reminding myself how a slow, steady approach would surely win this marathon. It was worth it, because she was the prize at the end.

Quelier, emergency meeting in my conference room, ASAP.Lucifer’s voice rang through my mind, and I internally cursed him. But alas, my whole plan was for nothing if this war ended the world as we knew it.

“I just got a mindlink from Lucifer. He needs me in a meeting.” I gingerly moved her onto the couch.

“You’ll come back?” she asked hesitantly.

“I’ll always come back to you.” Whether she wanted me to or not, I’d boomerang her for the rest of our immortal lives.

The blanket thrown over the arm of the couch wasn’t soft enough for my standards, so I teleported one from my apartment and tucked her in. She brought it to her nose and inhaled deeply.

“It smells like you…”

“Good, you can have something to remember me by while I’m gone.” Just like I had one of her books from her room, a pair of her underwear, an almost-empty bottle of her perfume,and one of her autographed music tees from some rock band I’ve never heard of.

She giggled, her breasts jiggling with her laughter. “Since you won’t judge me, look in the end table drawer.”

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