Page 56 of Undying
He gave it to me, which means now it’s mine.
Shaking off the weird possessiveness, I focus on Milo again.
“It’s safe to look,” I say, pulling my hair free from the sweater, then slowly combing my fingers through the damp strands.
He hesitantly peers at me over his shoulder, as if he’s not sure what he’ll find. His shoulders relax slightly when he sees me fully dressed. When he scans me from top to bottom, a warm glow fills my chest.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispers in awe, then awkwardly clears his throat, seeming to find the floor fascinating.
I find his awkwardness endearing and decide to give him a lifeline by changing the subject. “Tell me about what mating means. It’s not just sex, is it?”
He snorts, glaring daggers at the empty doorway, and mutters under his breath, “Of all the idiotic, stupid, selfish—”
“What was that?” I lean forward, struggling to understand what he’s saying.
“What?” He snaps to attention, looking up at me with a slightly guilty expression. He shakes his head, emotions draining out of his face as he gets himself under control again. “Right, uhm, we were talking about mating.”
He runs his hand down the front of his shirt, the gesture giving him away, and I find myself relaxing even more at the nervous habit. “Humans think paranormal creatures are soulless, and they’re right in a sense. We have all these extra abilities that make us faster and stronger. We don’t feel things the way normal humans do…not until we meet our mate. It’s said that our mate is the other half of our soul. They complete us.
“Over the centuries, finding our mates has become progressively more difficult. It’s nearly impossible to find the one that’s created specifically for us. Without the other half of our soul, we turn more violent and ruthless as we age. Eventually, we lose control of ourselves and turn feral and become nothing more than unstoppable killing machines.”
After meeting more than a few supernatural creatures, I can vouch for the truth of his statement. “They become corrupt, like they’ve caught a computer virus or something,” I murmur.
“Exactly!” His eyes light up at my reference, and he flashes me a brilliant smile, revealing only a hint of fangs. “Wolves find mates, while vampires find theirreina—their queen. We claim our other halves with a bite—a simple exchange of blood. The connection is instantaneous. We consider it the beginning of a courtship.
“The need to claim your mate is nearly impossible to resist, and sex instantly cements the bond. Over time, you’ll even be able to feel each other’s emotions and even thoughts. The process is slightly different for vampires compared to shifters.” He says it almost reverently, absently rubbing his chest, and I can’t help but probe for more information.
“What do you mean?” I play with the edges of my hair, holding my arm protectively in front of my still beating heart.
Milo shakes his head, as if to shake off his fanciful thoughts. “While vampires still breathe, it’s more of a predatory response than a need for air. It helps us scent our…” He clears his throat, shifting uncomfortably.
“Food?” I suggest helpfully, and he flashes me a wry smile.
“Well said.” He rubs a hand across his jaw, as if his fangs ache at the mention of prey. “It’s why being buried alive and drowning can’t really kill us. Our hearts are a different matter. They only beat in the presence of blood. When we feed, our hearts pump the blood we consumed through our system.”
“So when you’re hungry—”
“Our hearts will sometimes beat in the presence of humans, just a few thumps a minute, as if to entice us to feed,” he finishes, then he seems to find the ceiling fascinating. “Most vampires bite their partners during sex, so when we feel desire, it can trigger our heart to beat as well.”
My stomach flutters at learning that spicy detail, and I mentally shove it to the back of my mind to study later.
“There is one exception. It’s whispered that when a vampire finally finds theirreina, it will bring them back alive. They’re not wrong—when we finally take a mate, our heart begins to beat again, syncing with our mate’s. It gives us a new lease on life. We virtually live for our mate.”
My heart swoons at the romantic story, his reverent tone full of awe.
I can almost feel his yearning for a mate.
Then he blinks, and the stars clear from his eyes slightly. “If the courtship isn’t completed within a month, the connection eventually fades. Breaking the courtship can be a painful process.”
Then everything he says slams into me.
I blink at him owlishly, then slap my hand over the bite on my arm, and my insides tremble in denial. Praying that I’m wrong, I reluctantly drag the sleeve of my sweater up my arm and stare at the bite mark uncomprehendingly for a moment, not sure how to feel about the revelation.
I gingerly run my fingers over the wound, and my skin tingles at the contact, an icy sensation that reminds me of Castle. A chill snakes down my spine, one that has nothing to do with cold, and heat floods my body.
It’s like being infused with pure lust.
Fear fades as wonder fills me, and my eyes sting. “I have a mate?”
