Page 35 of Shadowing Bright
“Over two hundred, less than six.”She smirked.
He leaned back, “Centuries without a partner?”
“It’s easy if you have hobbies, and I have had a lot of hobbies.”
“Does Matthias know?”
“Of course.I helped him build this city into what it is today.I am delighted that he has settled down with Leo after all this time.He does better with a companion.”
Kremoryn looked at her.“Why are you fighting our connection?”
“Because it will last for longer than you think.When monsters learn I will live as long or longer than they will, they get a little paranoid and head off for a nice short-lived lover.”
He frowned.“Is that the problem?”
“Sure.I was one of the few who were raised to want the perceived safety of a relationship.Connecting to feed is not a good enough reason for me to link myself to someone.”
He stroked her jaw and ran a finger down to her neck.“So, what would happen if I strayed?”
“All your stuff would light on fire, and that would be the last that you ever saw me.Of course, if you strayed, that might not be a concern for you.I would, of course, remove any children with me when I left.”
He frowned.“You have thought this out?”
“Every time I get close.I mean, as it stands, you are going to be more powerful but exhausted.Sorry.I have a few centuries of frustration to work out.”
His eyes gleamed.“Can we take on a third?”
“A third what?”
“Another male of power to divide the load.”
She muttered, “Don’t say load.”
He chuckled.“So, you are inexperienced but not ignorant.”
“Duh.I live in the modern age, but porn doesn’t do much for me.It just makes me wonder how many naked females are ordering pizza, and how the companies can continue to send those barely legal young males to deliver.It’s just irresponsible.”
He was grinning.“As a male myself, I consider him lucky.”
“As someone who has always been planning to have a family, if I caught a cougar near my youngling, I would break her teeth and her jaw.”
He blinked.“Right.Noted.”
“So, why do you want a third?”
“In order to keep you safer than I can alone.As today demonstrated, you are vulnerable, and if you catch with child, you will be more vulnerable.”
“Do you have dossiers?”
He smiled.“You are considering it?”
“Well, I can’t not, now that I know I have options, but I have spent so much time binding myself in rules to keep control, it will take me a while to relax them.”
“How long?”
“How long is a piece of string?”
He chuckled.“As long as I need it to be.”
