Page 45 of Santa's Wish
"You should," they said. "Start building the bond between you. Mates can ease the bloodlust new vampires experience."
"I haven't said?—"
They gazed at me again and I forgot what I was trying to say.
"You'll be a vampire, sooner or later. You're already loyal to our empress."
Harley agreed. "Once you finish your audit, Empress Marcella wants to reward you with eternal life."
It was my turn to feel as petulant as Santa had sounded earlier. "What if I don't want to be a vampire?"
"None of us wanted to be vampires," Santa said.
"Speak for yourself," Greed said. "I begged for it."
Key rolled his eyes. "Mercilessly."
"Regretted it immediately, too," Greed said. "I get why you'd be hesitant. You have to consider your sire bond."
Again with the sire bond. Santa's demeanor changed every time someone mentioned it. Now that I knew better, I recognized his bravado for what it was. He was afraid.
"The empress wants to sire him herself," Harley said.
"How do you know that?" I asked.
"Harley is her regional liaison," Santa said. "She said that?"
"I'm afraid so."
That wasn't terrible news, but I needed to think it through. I missed most of the conversation beyond saying our farewells. We headed to the roof for ourexit. Santa picked me up. After a dizzying flash through the cold snow, we were back at my apartment door.
My face stungfrom the cold sandblast of snow on my exposed skin. My hand shook as I tried to unlock the apartment door.
"Shit, you're bleeding." Santa took a step back.
"I'll be fine." Finally, I willed my frozen fingers to fit the key into the lock. I motioned for him to follow me inside while I blew on my glasses' lenses to warm them up.
"I should go."
"Because I'm bleeding?"
He nodded.
"I'll clean it up."
"I want to lick it off you. My saliva would heal your cuts." The unbridled hunger in his gaze stilled the laugh in my throat.
"You want to lick my face and hands?" I couldn't help the painful scrunch of my nose, so I tried to be diplomatic with my words. "That'll feel weird, but I'll allow it."
Santa frowned. "You shouldn't. Once I have the taste of someone's blood?—"
"I've tasted yours, remember?"
He nodded. "The more blood we swap, the stronger our bond will become. I can't do that to you."
I was lost. "Do what?"
He zipped to the couch with his super speed and motioned for me to sit on the opposite side. I chose the middle instead, angling my knees so they touched his.
