Page 44 of Sunshine and the Vamp

His eyebrows twitched a little higher, as if he was surprised that I’d actually answered his question. “You going to talk about the dead body?”

“Among other things, yes.”

“How much danger am I in, Damyr?”

There was such vulnerability pouring from his eyes that all I wanted to do was wrap him in my arms and hide him away from the world. It was such an alien feeling, this need to protect, but it was as if every atom of my being screamed to be closer to his. I was drawn to him in a way that I’d never experienced before. I wanted to crawl under his skin until there was nothing separating us. Until we were one.

I walked around the island and took his face between my palms. “As long as you are under my protection, Benjamin, I promise I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.”

“Can’t you just let me go?”

My heart squeezed at the thought. My first instinct was to scream ‘no’, but I found myself saying something completely different. “If, after I’ve finished dealing with this mess, you still want to leave, I’ll let you go.”

His face lit up like the brightest ray of sunshine. “Really?”

“If it’s safe, yes.” I just had to hope, that when the time came, he’d choose to stay with me. Perhaps I did have a conscience after all and wasn’t that a novel thing to think.

***

I left Benjamin to finish his meal and get changed into something more fitting of the Julian hotel. I’d said that he didn’t need to change and that he could wear what he wanted but he said something about wanting to look the part and feel like a million dollars so who was I to spoil his fun?

However, as I stepped back into my office, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d done something wrong. Had I just made the biggest mistake in agreeing to let him go? A pain that was jagged and raw cut through my heart at the realisation that he might not stay. That he’d turn his back on me, and I’d never see him again. I couldn’t let that happen. It might be selfish of me, but I wanted Benjamin to choose me. To want to be with me, and if I had to woo the pants off him, then that’s what I’d do.

I just had to find the person trying to manipulate me and wipe them off the face of this fucking earth first.

“Is Benjamin okay?” Vlad asked as I sat behind me desk.

I nodded. “He’s getting ready to go out. Acheron, will you keep him company whilst I meet with the Council?”

“You’re bringing him with you?” Aleksey sneered.

“Yes.” I slammed my fist on my desk, the wood splintering with the impact. “What is your fucking problem?”

Aleksey looked at the others. “Please don’t tell me that none of you fail to see how this human is going to become a problem?”

“A problem?” I said, my voice a deadly whisper.

“Yes. A problem. You’re distracted, Damyr. You should be tearing this city down looking for Charlie Kent and instead you’re feeding some human and letting some hooded asshole tell you what to do.”

“Aleksey!” Vlad cut in. “Back down.”

“No,” he shouted. “Damyr needs to get his head out of his ass or he’s going to look weak.”

I exploded from my chair, leaping over my desk and slamming Aleksey into the floor. My fangs descended and I wrapped my hands around his throat, my sharp talons pressing precariously into his skin.

“Weak?” I spat. “Does this look weak to you?”

Aleksey’s nostrils flared but he didn’t say anything. Probably wise.

I squeezed his throat harder, rage pouring through my veins as I watched the vessels start to burst in his eyes. I was going to rip his fucking head off.

A hand slipped over my arm and Vlad stepped into my peripheral vision. “Damyr, stop.”

I snarled, watching Aleksey’s skin turn blotchy as the oxygen failed to reach his brain.

Vlad squeezed my arm. “He’s not fighting back, Damyr. You need to stop.”

He was right. Aleksey’s hands were relaxed against the floor in submission.

---