Page 74 of Caller of Crows
The mortal still looked surprised as he watched Altair pick new clothes from his closet. Well, maybe Altair wasn't the only fool here. "You are right about some things," Altair allowed. "You came back here with me when you didn't have to, and that earns you a certain amount of trust."
Sven sat up. "What are you saying?"
"That I understand you may not want to spend all of your time locked up in this room." Altair picked up Sven's shirt from where it had landed on the floor and handed it to him. "Get dressed and come up to the club with me. You can eat there."
Sven's eyes widened and he snatched the shirt from Altair. "You mean it?"
Altair shrugged. "People already know you're here, and no one who enjoys breathing will bother you while I'm around."
"Thank you." A smile split Sven's face and Altair suppressed a sigh. The mortal's joy was infectious, and he shouldn't allow such displays of emotions to affect him as much as they did. But then Sven pulled his shirt over his head and looked up at Altair with bright eyes and Altair realized it was far too late to try to deny that he liked Sven's company.
He looked away, frowning at his own weakness. "Stop looking at me like that and get your pants on."
To his credit, Sven did as he was told. He put on his jeans and smoothed down his rumpled shirt. With an uncertain look toward the bathroom, he said, "I should probably wash myself. And actually, so should you."
Altair shot him a small smile. "Leave it for later. I quite enjoy the way my scent clings to you, and it'll detract other vampires."
Sven raised an eyebrow at that but made no comment. Instead, he just shrugged. "Let's get out of here."
Altair reached out to him and then paused. Was Sven comfortable with him taking his hand? In the past, Altair hadn't asked and simply taken what he wanted. Now he waited for the mortal to reach out as well, curling his fingers around Altair's hand, entwining their hands together.
The gesture, so small and innocent in nature, still made Altair pause and wonder at how drastically Sven had turned his world upside down. And so quickly too.
Shaking off the thoughts, he tugged Sven toward the door and led him upstairs.
The club wasn't as crowded as it usually was at this time of night. No wonder, considering the ‘altercation' that had taken place here earlier. A few vampires from a different coven had announced that they ‘knew that Altair was keeping a mortal in the basement.'
They'd demanded that he share.
They thought that because his coven was small, they could threaten him and take Sven.
They had been wrong.
And Altair hoped their defeat would send a message to the other covens. Sven was his, and Altair would kill anyone who tried to touch him.
A few of his coven members were still cleaning up around the club when he entered with Sven. Only Mordyn was sitting at the bar, sipping on a bloodred drink. He raised his glass in greeting. "Looks like somebody is out of the dungeon," he said lightly and grinned when his gaze flicked over Sven. "Nice to finally meet you."
Sven frowned and looked like he might say something, but then Mordyn laughed and shook his head.
"Ah, yes. Of course. Introductions. Mordyn," the vampire said and tapped himself on the chest with a flourish, "at your service, mortal."
Sven opened his mouth to reply, but Mordyn waved him off. "I already know who you are, don't worry about that," Mordyn added. He pulled out the chair beside him. "Come take a seat. Both of you."
Sven glanced at Altair, and sat down when Altair nodded at him.
When he did, Mordyn rubbed his hands together, grinning eagerly. "Now, tell me all the details! What's it like to be stuck in a room with Mr. Gloomy and Grumpy?"
"Mordyn…" Altair sighed. He would have said more if his friend hadn't been an invaluable asset during the fight earlier.
While Altair sat down beside Sven, Mordyn raised a hand and spoke. "Yes, yes, I know. I'm being nosy, but it's just so fascinating seeing you take a new partner."
"You'd do well to mind your own business," Altair said before Sven could react. He didn't need Mordyn running off telling everybody that Altair had claimed Sven as his mate.
The fact that it was almost true only made matters worse.
Altair might have already lost his battle with himself, but there was no need to announce his imminent defeat to the rest of the world.
Luckily, Mordyn merely looked at him thoughtfully before raising his eyebrows and letting out a whistle. "Fair enough. Don't worry, I'm not planning on sticking my nose where it doesn't belong. I just wish you'd open up a little, since, obviously, you're having some trouble figuring this all out for yourself."
