Page 23 of Visions of You
Keegan almost laughed at the question. That had become a theme in their little friend group, hadn't it? Mortal mates struggling with the concept of dating a vampire. "It's not that," Keegan said. "He's a dragon, and though he does work with Apollo, I don't get the feeling that he has an issue with the undead. He flirted with me pretty aggressively during the solstice fireworks."
"I'm sure dragons can recognize their mates."
Keegan nodded. He hadn't looked at it from that point of view, but Iskander was probably right. Jaron had latched on to him for a reason.
"What's the problem?" Iskander asked.
Keegan grimaced.
How to put it…?
"The very first vision I ever had was of my own death," Keegan said. "And he was in it."
Iskander stared at him. For once, Keegan had managed to surprise him.
It very nearly made Keegan want to smile. Alas, his situation was not a happy one. "He kills me in my vision," he unveiled the full truth.
Iskander's expression turned grim, his eyes narrowing as he pondered the information. "Can you change that future?" he asked. "You mentioned once that you can see different versions of the future. You said what you see is only possibilities."
Keegan was grateful that his friend immediately turned to problem-solving rather than indulging in pointless melodrama over Keegan's eventual fate. He didn't think he could have handled outrage or even sympathy.
Iskander didn't want to cry with him; Iskander wanted to help him. Keegan appreciated that.
Still, he had to shoot him down. "I've looked countless times, even before I knew my killer was going to be my mate. I've spentyears trying to find a way around my own death. I was kinda upset by it, if you can imagine," Keegan said, only half-joking. "It seems to be fate, though."
Iskander didn't look like he was willing to accept this truth so easily. "There's got to be something," he insisted. "How do you die?"
"Stake through the heart," Keegan said simply.
Iskander shook his head. "Your mate stakes you? Why?"
If only I knew…
Keegan forced a smile. "I must deserve it. Maybe I left the door open and our dog ran away."
"You get a dog?"
"No." Keegan closed his eyes for a moment. "I don't know why he does it or what I do to force his hand." But Jaron had to have a good reason, because the dragon Keegan had met, the one he'd seen in all his other visions… He wasn't a killer. Keegan's throat constricted. "It's not like Jaron to hurt someone just because."
"Jaron," Iskander repeated the name. "That's him?"
"Yes. I know this all sounds insane, but I want to see him to see if…" Keegan trailed off, struggling to put his feelings into words. He wanted to be with his mate, to taste his blood again, to share all those happy moments his visions had teased him with… He just wasn't sure if it was the right choice to make, for either of them.
Iskander nodded as if he could relate without Keegan having to put his conflict into words. "I won't pretend to understand your abilities," he said, "but I know what it's like to find your mate. I know what it's like to try to stay away from them too."
Keegan got that. Iskander hadn't physically stayed away from his mate, but he'd certainly tried not to pressure him into a relationship while he was recovering from all the abuse he'd been though at the hands of other vampires.
"It's very difficult," Iskander said.
They both knew it was an understatement.
"I don't want to die," Keegan said.
"But you're going to take the risk." It wasn't a question.
"I guess that's why I'm here," Keegan confirmed. He wanted to say that he hadn't decided yet, but he couldn't deny Iskander's conclusion.
He most likely was going to take the risk.
