Page 82 of Thicker than Blood

“How do you know what?”

“That you’ll keep me. What if someday someone better or prettier comes along? Then what?”

Elias smiles and my stomach does a happy little flip. “I’ve been alive for nearly a thousand years. I have seen much beauty. I have met the brightest minds. And yet no combination of beauty and brains surpasses yours. There is no one else. No one alive or not yet born who will rival you. I am as sure of that as I am sure of who I am. I choose you, Geordi. Will you choose me? All you have to do is say yes and my gift is yours.”

My mind races with the consequences of saying yes or no. Do I trust that somehow it’ll all work out? Can I keep the friends I’ve struggled to even find, or will I have new friends now?

As I lift my gaze and stare into his eyes, I wonder if I could say no if I tried.

No. There’s only one outcome. This has been in motion since the moment I was conceived. I was always meant to be a vampire, and maybe, I was always meant to be his companion.

His eyes pulse with heat as he waits patiently for the words he clearly wants to hear.

“Ask me again.”

A warm smile spreads across Elias’s lips. “Be my companion, Geordi. My eternal consort. Say yes and I’m yours.”

I wait for nerves or fear or an ounce of self-preservation to kick in, but nothing happens. My heartbeat is even, my body temperature normal.

Nodding, I offer a subtle smile. “Yes, Elias. I’ll be your companion.”

CHAPTER 24

Elias

The moment I hear the desired word, my body reacts in ways it never has. My nerves tingle and my vampiric nature surges forward, desperate and hungry for the stunning mortal’s blood. So much is happening within me, I almost forget the trouble that brought us together in this way.

Unfortunately, the moment is broken by Benicio’s intrusion as he softly clears his throat. “Sir?”

“What is it, Beni?”

“Tristan wants to tell you about what happened.”

“I don’t care.” I cup Geordi’s face. “I have everything I need.”

“But, sir?—”

“No,” I growl. “I’ll deal with him later.”

Geordi’s eyes soften as he reaches up and rubs my chest. “I’ll be here. We really should deal with this.”

My mood instantly sours, but my consort is right. The sooner we extinguish the threat, the sooner I can devote all my time and attention to Geordi.

“Fine. I’ll go to him.”

“I’m coming too,” Geordi says.

“No. You should rest. He tried to kill you.”

“But he didn’t and I’m fine, thanks to you. I want to know what happened too. I deserve that.”

My anger ebbs as I gaze into his pretty eyes. “I cannot deny you your wishes. Not now or ever. Come along, love.”

He rises, wrapping his hand around mine as I lead him to Paradiso, where we have Tristan restrained with silver chains. I’m so angry with him that Benicio and Jagger had to hold me back from simply tearing his head from his neck. Only the promise of forcing him to grovel at Geordi’s feet soothed my beast.

“How is Ronald?” I ask as we descend the stairs.

“Healing,” Benicio answers. “Jagger is upstairs with the other mortal.”

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