Page 15 of Finding Our Home

He smiled, bigger than earlier. “Just wait until She grows.” He walked up to me and slapped my shoulder as we both looked at the tiny, white tree that was barely a few twigs but somehow had more magic in its system than anything I’d ever felt before—including the man beside me. “Now you see why I swore you to secrecy.”

“I do, and I appreciate you sharing this with me, Elder, but I don’t understand why you have.”

He sighed. “I know I’ve been aloof and haven’t been a good replacement for the sire that you lost, but I want you to know you can come to me with anything.”

I had no words for that. Dregan had always been kind to me.

“I had planned on bringing you here someday, but when Christopher told me you’d found your True Mate, I figured sooner was better.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Since the Holy Tree was burned down, the chances of successfully turning a human has been about fifty-fifty. When She was fully grown, and we buried our fledglings beneath her, it was one hundred percent as long as the human had enough vampire blood in their system.” He waved at the tiny tree. “She’s not grown yet, but given time, She will be, and when She is,you’ll be able to turn Neo without any risk of failure. But you’ll have to wait until She grows and Her magic is saturated into the very soil we stand on. If you wait, it will be safer. But I wanted to give you a good reason to wait and not only rely on my word.”

I was overcome with emotion, not only because of the Holy Tree or the fact that Dregan was being so kind, but because I would be able to protect and keep Neo safe forever—if he’d let me. “Thank you, Elder.”

He surprised me by wrapping an arm across my shoulders and kissing my temple. He’d never done anything like that before, but I appreciated it. Maybe it was the presence of the Holy Tree making him feel the love and joy or maybe it was because he’d found his True Mate and now heknewlove and joy.

A minute before I heard his voice, I felt his presence behind me.

“Dorian?”

Smiling, I turned around, then rushed over to him and pulled him into my arms. He seemed surprised by my actions, but he didn’t pull away. He wrapped his arms around my neck, and I leaned down to tuck my head against his skin over his collarbone. I breathed him in and held him tight, then trailed my lips along his neck and jaw until I got to his mouth. He eagerly met my kiss, but when he moaned into my mouth, I had to pull away before I couldn’t stop. Having sex right here in front of the Holy Tree and the Elder and his mate seemed like a really bad idea.

Breaking our kiss, I rested our foreheads together for a minute before I pulled back and looked at Dregan and Christopher, who’d luckily turned around so their backs were to us. They had their arms around each other and were looking at the Holy Tree, pretending to ignore us.

I cleared my throat. “Sorry, Elder, Luminary.”

Christopher—the Luminary or den leader’s mate—turned and smiled. “Don’t apologize, Dorian. It’s good to see you tonight.”

“You too.”

Dregan turned around and walked over to Neo, but knew better than to try to touch him or even shake his hand in my presence—True Mates were overprotective, especially when they weren’t mated yet. “It’s wonderful to see you again, Neo.”

Neo blushed and his heart rate picked up a little, so I tucked him under my arm to pull him closer to me.

Dregan looked at me. “I’m afraid I’ve scared him. I met with him briefly before I came to your quarters.”

I was about to ask what he met with him about, but Christopher said, “He knows you won’t compel him again.”

An involuntary hiss came out of my lips. I couldn’t stand the thought of someone compelling Neo.

Dregan looked at me. “It was a necessary evil, Dorian. We’ll leave you now. You’re welcome to stay for as long as you’d like.”

“I brought you a blanket, and some water and food.” Chris held a quilt and basket out to me, so I took them and nodded my thanks, although my body stayed tense until they were out of sight and earshot.

Neo rubbed my chest. “It’s okay. I get why he did it. Chris gave me a brief vampire history lesson before we walked here, and I can feel the magic pouring off the tree.”

Taking a deep breath, I pushed away the annoyance and closed my eyes for a few seconds.

“It’s incredible. It’s like I can feel its love and happiness or something.”

“That’s what I feel, too.”

I smiled and kissed his temple, then led him a little closer before we laid the blanket on a flat area and sat down. Once Igot comfortable, I pulled him close so he was sitting between my legs and leaning back against my chest. Running my fingertips up and down the skin of his arm, we sat there staring at the Holy Tree and enjoying each other’s company for a while.

“Did you speak to Remi about drinking a lot of water and—”

His laugh cut me off. “You’re probably the fifteenth person to tell me that today.” He chuckled, and I smiled. “I’ve been drinking water since I left your room, and I’ve already eaten more today than I have all week put together.”

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