Page 55 of Bitten By Bloodmoon
“The vampires—”
“Will behave. I’m their lord. They will do what I say.”
“The vampires that attacked me before.”
“Weren’t mine—they belonged to a different house. Only Nightfall vampires will be in attendance.”
“Do you really believe we could be mates?”
“I believe anything is possible. Mates are not based on love. They are based on strengths as a unit. How equal and balanced a pair is. How it would change the world, that sort of thing. So sure, we could be mates. You and Ambrose could be mates. The gods could have paired you with any man they desired. They could be cruel and decide your mate is the man you hate most in the world, a killer, someone who killed someone you loved.”
She stares at me, thinking my words over before staring down at her hands. “In my dream, I always go right. I always go toward the moonlight, the warmth, the evergreens, the magic. It feels like home to me. But after everything, I’m terrified of choosing that path. If he’s my mate, then I’ll spend the rest of my life being with a controlling monster.”
“But if you choose left, you’ll be with a controlling killer. I get it.”
She looks up at me. “You’ve both done unforgivable things. I don’t like either of my choices.”
“Maybe the two of us aren’t your only choices.”
She shakes her head. “It’s not about having a choice at all, though, is it? My mate was decided by fate, by the gods. I don’t get a choice. To break the curse, I have to accept my mate.”
“There’s always a choice. Maybe you were given two mates because the gods wanted you to choose.”
“How do I do that, though?”
“I can’t answer that for you. All I can say is that I don’t think you really believe that either of us has done anything so unforgivable that you wouldn’t accept us as mates to break the curse.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because if you did, you’d sever our link with you. You wouldn’t be having dreams that allow you to choose. There would only be one of us in your head. You still have a choice.”
Chapter 15
Lumi
Three outfit choices that couldn’t be further apart from each other are lying on my bed. Leggings with a black shirt, jacket, and tennis shoes—casual and practical. The second option is an off-the-shoulder black jumpsuit that would fit my body like a glove, paired with boots. And the third, I gasp when I see. It’s a black lace gown with golden swirls that look like the runes that mark my body etched into it. It looks low cut in the back and is paired with stiletto heels.
I’m drawn to the third. I want the third. But it seems entirely impractical for an initiation. I need to be prepared for anything.
Nyx laid out these choices to remind me that I have a choice in who is my mate, at least until I sever one of the bonds. But just like my outfit choice, it’s fake. There’s only one option that will break the curse, but I don’t know what the correct choice is at the moment.
I put on the jumpsuit. The only option that allows me to feel attractive and powerful, while still being prepared for anything that could happen. All the while I’m getting dressed, my heart still aches for the dress that I’ll never get to wear.
The bathroom is just as gorgeous as the bedroom, with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook an incredible view of the forest.The room is bright, with white marble and gold accents. I’m brushing my sleek, silvery hair back when I hear the knock on my door.
My heart freezes. I thought I had a few more minutes to get ready before someone would come and get me for the initiation ceremony. I walk to the door, trying to maintain my composure through my trembling legs. I fumble for the door handle and push it open before I change my mind.
Dark jeans, a crisp white shirt, and a trimmed brown haircut meet my gaze, and I stop trembling as my smile draws upward.
“You look incredible,” Kael says, “and a little too relieved to see me. Are you okay?”
I swallow. “Yes, I wish you would stop asking me that.” I lead him inside, and he inhales sharply at the large window inside.
“That’s quite a view.”
I nod. “I can’t believe the vampire has a house built of glass when he can’t even enjoy the sunlight.”
“I assume that means he built it before he turned into a vampire. But it’s shocking that he didn’t have his own room redesigned. Or at least turn one of the other rooms into his room. But then again, it’s hard to destroy a view like this.”
