Page 71 of Claiming the Dhampir

This time, though…

There wasn’t an impending doom hanging over our heads. The queens had to make that oath – not just any oath. I could feel the magic binding them to their words. We’d be safe for the first time since I’d found out about the supernatural world.

That realization brought tears to my eyes. My guys had done exactly what they’d promised. They’d protected me. They’d given me a safe place where I could learn about who I was. And they were eager to teach me to use my magic.

Now I just needed to clear the air between me and Mir.

Mir, please talk to me, I begged, pulling off my clothes and heading for the closet. I need to know how you’re feeling about all this.

Mir slowly crawled out of her space in my mind. I felt guilty for the tentativeness sliding between us.

I’m sorry, Mir.

It’s not your fault. I … She hesitated, and I tried to keep all my thoughts silent for her. She snorted. Thanks. Did you notice that their dhampir halves remained in control? I never saw their human half emerge.

I thought about our dinner and the dhampir we talked to. I hadn’t noticed at the time, but she was right.

What does that mean? I asked.

I don’t know. I’m afraid to ask. She hesitated again. What if … what if Damon gets to know some of the other dhampir and likes them better? Lucifer said the others were creating bonds by swapping blood. They didn’t need to be soulmates to connect.

I froze, still in the middle of my closet and wearing only my bra and panties.

I don’t think soulmates work that way, I said.

Damon implied he’d be okay with adding another female to the group.

I ran back through our conversations from the last couple days. Yes, Damon had said that if one of us decided to add another partner to the group, we’d talk about it first. I was certain he hadn’t meant it the way Mir implied.

He was just trying to reassure me. I found a tank top and a pair of yoga pants and pulled them on. Where is this insecurity coming from? You were the one yelling at me to trust our mates.

What if he replaces me? Mir asked. Her uncertainty was almost painful. I felt special before, like there wasn’t anyone else who could experience what we do with our demon. But now…

If she could’ve waved her hands in the air, I was sure she would have.

Damon would never do that, I said with certainty. I have to believe that our mated bond is way stronger than anything created by the others. Why would fate bring us together if it wasn’t? Besides, I can’t see any of the other dhampir doing what we’re getting ready to do.

I created an image of me and Nathan wrapped up in each other, with the other guys circling us. I tried to imagine the surge of magic I’d felt in the warehouse before the queens arrived. Tingles raced across my skin, giving me goosebumps. My anticipation from earlier returned.

Fine, you’re right, Mir grumbled. Just this one time.

I smiled. You’re allowed to be insecure. I’m not the only one new to all of this, baby dhampir.

She snorted at me, but I could feel her appreciation.

Let’s go have an orgy with the guys, she said, rather than saying thank you.

I laughed and started to argue with her, but I stopped myself. How many people did it take to have an orgy?

Chapter 25

Nathan

Ipaced along the wall of mirrors on the far side of the personal gym that Elliott and Damon built into the tower years ago. The left side of the room had plenty of space for the weight sets, rowing machines, treadmills, and other equipment the two of them used on a regular basis. The remaining two-thirds of the room was open space where they sparred.

A normal gym would’ve had mats on the floor, but Elliott and Damon weren’t even close to normal. Mats probably wouldn’t survive a wolf’s claws or a demon’s scaled hide.

I shook my head and stopped pacing, looking at the metal doors on the opposite end of the room. It’d been longer than five minutes. I wondered if Lorna had changed her mind, not that I could blame her if she did. I’d been cold and harsh to her ever since we found her. I’d accused her of being a spy. I’d argued that she harbored a fae spell that would destroy us. I’d sworn she would be the most effective weapon to tear apart my team and everything I’d built.

---