Page 102 of A Bond with the Dark

“Not directed at me. But I am bound to see you in your natural state. We’re linked now.”

“How are we linked?”

Even though I don’t feel we’re soul mates, I still feel drawn to him. We’re not endgame, but we definitely have an epic middle chapter. A sudden sadness pings in my chest when he doesn’t recognize the thing that pulls us together.

But he’s a vampire, and I’m supposed to be drawn to him. He’s not drawn to me.

“Never mind,” I speak defensively now.

Bristling even more, every muscle in my body tenses.

This is the first time he’s pissing me off.

“Sayah.” He pulls me to him as close as he can. “I feel that too. I’m sorry. I’ve been working all night, and I’m tired. I feel the bond we have. I’ll show you that side of me when the time comes. But that time isn’t now, okay?”

Realizing this is a battle I’m bound to lose, I kiss him and let him drift off to sleep.

As dusk approaches the following evening, after Derek has picked up Gauge, Dom and I sit at the dining room table reviewing our plan. It’s Friday night, and he doesn’t have to work this weekend.

The sun's golden rays delicately lend the room a safe, serene look, a dark juxtaposition for the pernicious things we’re planning.

“So this is the motel,” I say, pulling the address up on his phone in Google Maps.

He leans into me and peers at the map.

“All right, I’ll probably leave my phone in the car when I arrive. I don’t want to let them know I’m coming.”

There’s a sinister softness in the inflections of his voice that gives me chills.

“Yes, and be careful. It looks like this motel is a run-down crack motel in the ghetto of Denver.”

He gives me a crooked smile, and his eyes are striking in the ochre color of the sunset. They’re muddy brown, tinged with black. He needs to feed soon.

“I’ll be careful, my love,” he answers, tucking a loose hair behind my ear.

“All right. One more quick thing before you go,” I state, hopping out of the chair and bounding to the spell cabinet.

I gather my purple altar cloth, lavender incense, white candle, and the most enormous black tourmaline crystal.

Assembling the candle and incense atop the purple cloth, I close my eyes and blow, lighting the candle as I do with my breath. I use the flame to light the incense.

Dom’s looking at me with a coruscating gaze, disarming me. Still, I continue meditatively, smudging his aura and the crystals with the inchoate smoke.

“Gods of strength and power, protect this man on his journey. Usher him through the danger with the grit of light and cunning. Element of Earth, keep his feet protected on the ground. Element of air, surround him in purity and protection. Element of water, wash away the negative energy. And element of fire, burn away the evil.” As I speak the last of the spell, I slide the tourmaline through the fire’s flame. “So mote it be.” I hand him the crystal and say, “Keep this in your pocket for protection, okay?”

He takes the black rock and slides it into his pocket. “I’ll text you as much as I can.”

Nodding, I hug him and walk him to the door.

“I love you,” he says, taking my lips.

“Love you,” I respond through the lip lock. “Be safe.”

I watch as he descends the front stoop and embarks on his journey to feed.

Anxiety strangulates me an hour later while I wait for the text that it’s been done. Everything from:

What if they know what he is, and they staked him with silver?

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