Page 57 of Lore and Lust
“He should.”
“After he gets settled—maybe a couple months?” Nino guesses. “I’ll go and visit him. If I like it there and we agree, I’ll move and stay with him.”
The room falls silent and Nino shrugs. “That’s the plan.” Giovanni sits, just staring with his hazel-green eyes and his arms folded. Nino frowns. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“Because I said I wouldn’t yell at you. Let me start by saying I’m pleased that you’ve formed a meaningful relationship with Haruka. He’s intelligent, patient and pragmatic. I think he’s exactly what you need.”
“Thanks,” Nino says, relaxing his shoulders but not his guard. More is coming.
“I also like that you’re working with him on something important that benefits our race,” Giovanni continues. “Running that bar, I was terrified you’d come home with some gutter vampire or fetishy human and expect me to welcome them into our home. So I’m pleasantly surprised that you’ve done exactly the opposite.”
Nino cuts his eyes away.I wouldn’t have brought her home. Jesus, I’m not stupid.
“That being said…” Giovanni raises his eyebrow. “Your plan sucks. I don’t like it.”
“Why? It makes sense for us. And you know Haru doesn’t want to bond.”
Giovanni rolls his eyes. “Right. I’ve never heard of a bond breaking—that shit is crazy. But lover boy needs to get over himself. You’re going to move there and do what, exactly?”
Nino adjusts in his seat, feeling the heat of his brother’s inquisition. “I don’t know yet. But I’m capable of running a successful business, G. I just need to get there and figure out where there’s a need—”
“So while Haruka is dealing with busy vampire aristocracy bullshit and overseeing his entire realm alone, you’re going to open a bar across town so that humans and low-level vamps can gawk at you? You’re going to live in his house, eat his food and give him hand jobs when he comes home?”
Nino drops his head, laughing despite himself. “Not… necessarily.”
“Nino, youcannotgo to Japan—a new realm, a new aristocracy with this old-blooded and exquisite creature—and do the same garbage you’ve been doing. If you move there, you need to be hisequal partner.You have to stand beside him and solidify your place in front of his society members in his realm. You can’t go there and be his fuckinghouse cat.”
He’s right.Nino sits back and runs his palms down his face. If he goes to Japan and does the same things he’s always done—avoid other ranked vampires and shy away from his proper designation in their culture—he’ll end up in the same situation he’s in now. Disrespected. Pitied.
“You should have come out with us when I took him to greet our society members—”
“Iknow, G,” Nino sighs.
“You can’t let assholes like Moretti get to you. He might be older, but in the hierarchy of our culture, you outrank him, Nino. You’repurebred. Do you really get that? You’re an unflawed, rare and extraordinary creation. There are billions of humans and millions of fucking ranked vamps on this planet, but there probably aren’t even a thousand purebred vampires. You need to let that sink in and think before you hopscotch over to Japan to play house with Haruka.”
He understands. Spending so much time with Haruka in the past three months has shown Nino that he needs to change. That he needs to grow. In the beginning, he commiserated with Haruka over their shared reluctance to engage within the aristocracy. It is the foundation of their relationship. The irony that brought them closer.
But Haruka has slowly changed. The guarded hermit that Nino met in the beginning has transformed, shedding his heavy cloak and lifting his head to the sunlight. Now, Haruka is looking back at Nino and reaching his hand out to him, as if to say, “Come with me?”
Instead of grabbing his hand, Nino is hesitating.
“I hear what you’re saying, G, but what am I supposed to do? I can’t just start barging into meetings and events with my chest puffed out like some asshole.”
“Practice,” Giovanni says simply, letting the word sink in before he goes on. “Stay home for a while and come with me to meetings and social events. Nobody will fucking talk to you the way Moretti did if I’m with you—and I’ve already had a conversation with him about that.”
Nino nods. He needs to make more arrangements at Scotch & Amaretto and talk to his employees. He’s already spoken with Mariana about taking on the role of co-owner. With some additional staff, she can definitely handle the responsibility of running the bar long term.
“And then,” Giovanni continues, “you need to go to Japan sooner. None of this ‘let him get settled’ shit. Within the first two weeks of Haruka being back, somebody will throw him a big soiree to welcome him home. I don’t know who or when, but you need to be there.”
“I shouldn’t just show up uninvited,” Nino says, doubtful. “Haruka hasn’t told me—”
“Nino. Haruka knows that youhatearistocracy events. Of course he won’t invite you. But it’ll be an important event to be beside him and assert yourself. Based on what he’s told me about the size of his realm, he’s got a lot on his plate. He’ll be happy you’re there. Trust me. When the time comes, just go and surprise him. Show him you can handle being his partner.”
Can I handle being his partner?Nino wants to be with Haruka. Whenever they’re together, it feels more natural than when they’re apart. Even now, Nino’s skin is itchy and his nature discontented from the geographical distance between them.
“Are you accepting my offer?” Giovanni asks. “What’s your decision?”
“I’ll stay,” Nino resolves. “I don’t want to be his house cat.”
