Page 39 of Love Bleeds
"That's why he grew fangs." They weren't visible anymore, but Crimson remembered the sight of them.
"Yes." Collin eyed his brother once more before his gaze returned to Crimson. "My partner thinks that whatever your sire did to him might have triggered his magic. Possibly the blood too. But if you saw him glow before, maybe that wasn't even the catalyst."
Crimson nodded, but his attention wasn't on Collin anymore. While Collin spoke, he'd pulled a chair up to the bed and sat by Luke's head to run his fingers through his hair.
"Sometimes I check up on him and he's chanting your name." Collin hesitated. "Our magic, dhampir magic, is powered by love."
"Love?" Crimson asked even as he kept his eyes on Luke.
"You love him, don't you?" It wasn't really a question so much as an observation. "I think that's what he needs right now." Slowly, he got up from the bed. "I'm going to go feed my son. Please don't make me regret leaving you alone with my brother."
"I won't. I..." Crimson paused, then pushed on, because really, what was the point in denying it? "I love him." Whatever else he'd forgotten, this was one thing he was sure of.
Collin paused at the door as if still reluctant to leave. "I know you do," he said then. "You saved him because you love him. If he could remind you of that, if you still feel it..." He turned to Crimson. "Bring him back."
"I'll try," Crimson promised. He knew in his bones that he would do anything he could to help Luke. Always.
Finally, Collin left the room and Crimson found himself alone with the mortal who wasn't really a mortal. His friend. Maybe his lover. He should have asked Collin exactly what their relationship had been, except it had felt embarrassing to admit that he didn't know. He could only rely on what his heart told him, which was that Luke had been the most important person in his life one way or another.
He had sacrificed himself in order to protect Luke from vampires. That was how he'd ended up like this. If that was the truth, Crimson could live with it. Somehow, just knowing how he'd become a vampire made his fate a lot easier to put up with.
He would have put up with worse than that if it was to keep Luke safe.
Slowly, he stroked the tip of his thumb over Luke's cheek, then across his lips. "I don't know if you can hear me, but I'm with you, okay?" He leaned in to place a kiss on Luke's temple. "I love you."
Luke's eyes didn't open, but Crimson thought that his breathing sounded a little more relaxed. Settling back in his chair, Crimson took Luke's hand in his own and intertwined his fingers. He would stay here for however long it took for Luke to wake up.
