Page 49 of Claiming the Dhampir

The perfect ambience for fae royalty. I snorted at the thought. If the queens were anything like the other fae, they’d be completely insulted. Apparently, the guys were doing it on purpose, but I wasn’t sure I agreed with whatever reason they had.

“I need something to do,” I grumbled, trying not to pace. “I suck at waiting.”

Nathan perched on a stack of boxes across the room from me. I tried not to look his way. Every time I did, he was watching me, like a predator watched its prey.

Kenrid stepped up beside me and pulled me into a tight embrace. “Ten more minutes. I doubt they’ll be late.”

I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my head on his shoulder. “Do we have to hide our relationship?”

“No. If they don’t already know, they will as soon as the queens’ royal guards read your thoughts.”

He’d mentioned earlier that some of the royal guards were powerful enough to break through any mental barrier. I wasn’t sure who they would read first, mine or his. There was no way for me to keep my dhampir from them. They would know what I was, and they would do everything they could to take me. I wasn’t strong enough to stop them. And I still didn’t know Damon’s plan to get us out of this.

If Nathan and I exchanged blood, we could be strong enough, Mir said.

I considered her suggestion. If we couldn’t hide, shouldn’t we try to intimidate the queens? Was it even possible to make them fear us? Probably not, but we might make them pause to question how easy it would be to get us in their grasp.

Exactly! We need to do whatever we can to delay them, Mir said. Just like we did with Brance. Damon already proved he won’t let anything happen to us.

“Then I’m not hiding.” My voice took on the harsh edge of my dhampir.

Kenrid gently pushed me back, and I knew he saw my dhampir’s black eyes. “Let’s not confirm their suspicions unless we have to.”

“I disagree. Nathan and I should power up before they get here,” Mir said. “Let’s go into this with all our strengths. I trust Damon to have our backs, but we shouldn’t appear weak and defeated.”

I stepped away from Kenrid and turned to face Nathan.

“Fate has drawn us together for a reason,” Mir continued. “How many times has Damon told us to trust our magic? I refuse to hide any longer, and I refuse to roll over without a fight. If these bitches will be able to see me as soon as they arrive, then they should see all of me.”

Nathan rose from the boxes and stared at me, his blue eyes shifting to red every few seconds. The guys had repeated over and over again how hard it would be for him to get over his addiction to my blood, and yet here I was, offering myself up. It felt unfair and even a little selfish, but I couldn’t bring myself to retract the words.

I kept a tight hold on my magic, though, not wanting Nathan to think that I’d magically coerced him in any way. In the end, it needed to be Nathan’s decision.

“I need your oath that you will not compel me,” Nathan said, slowly closing the space between us. “Swear to me that you will not get lost to your bloodlust.”

Mir snarled, but I understood his fear. I’d heard all the stories about dhampir who’d slaughtered their vampire masters. I remembered what I’d done to Conrad, even if Mir tried to keep it from me.

“Wait,” Kenrid said, interrupting my response. “Nathan, are you sure? If you take more of her blood, you may never be able to break the addiction.”

Nathan’s intense gaze never left my face. “Lorna is right. They should see our strengths and know that we’re not going without a fight.”

Kenrid sighed, but he didn’t try to intervene.

“I give you my oath, Nathan Kaerne,” I said, easing past Mir’s control. “I will not compel you unless you ask me to. I will always put the lives of my mates before my own.”

Mir pushed back, and I hesitated when I saw her intent. What if he denied us as his mate? I hadn’t taken the time to think about what it would mean to have him in my life as more than just the clan’s leader and my mates’ good friend.

“That includes you, vampire,” Mir said, ignoring my indecision. “I refuse to give up the life I know I can have with Lorna and our mates. I would rather die than sacrifice the love she shares so easily.”

Tears burned my eyes.

I love you, too. I said.

Don’t get sappy on me.

You started it!

I would’ve laughed, but Nathan was suddenly right in front of me. His scent wrapped around me and held me captive. I couldn’t have moved even if I’d wanted. But I didn’t want to. I’d been the one to suggest that we swap blood.

---