Page 27 of Property of Mako
“Well, I mean, this would be the time that you have her drink from you,” she drily replied. “Assuming she’s mortal since you said you went too far?”
“No. I’m not turning her—ever,” I immediately insisted.
“Calix,” her tone went soft and worried. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’m dead serious. I’m not making her live this life.”
“She has a choice, you know. Did you not ask her?”
“I didn’t tell her I believe she’s my mate.”
She blew out a long, heavy breath.
“Jesus, Calix.” After a few seconds, she resumed. “She’s breathing?”
“Yes.”
“Then she’s fine. If you can start an IV for her, do it. If not, try to get her to drink some water or an electrolyte drink. If she won’t, it will take longer, but she’ll still be fine,” she insisted.
“Are you sure?” I stared at Lyra, watching to be sure she was still breathing. Relief hit me like a freight train when I started to hear her pulse.
“Yes. Now perhaps you’d like to explain why you disappeared on me eighty years ago?”
“Eve… you met your mate. I didn’t think it was appropriate,” I explained as I dragged a hand down my face.
“Calix, you were my best friend. We’d worked together for years,” she continued. “Then you just vanished.”
“He was your mate. We had slept together,” I said matter-of-factly as I shrugged. “I figured it would be better if I wasn’t around.”
“Oh for fuck’s sake. He didn’t care about that. He knows damn well that vampires are lustful creatures. Fucking isn’t the same as a mate, and we all know this. There were no feelings involved, and neither of us was dating anyone. He’s not a jealous man because he knows full good and well that he’s my mate and nothing trumps that,” she responded in her own matter-of-factly tone. “You and I were friends. He and I are mates. The two are not even comparable.”
“Yeah, I get that now,” I muttered, staring at the beautiful redhead passed out on the bed.
“Bring her by when you explain everything to her. I’m still in Paris, but we’ll be returning next month. I’d love to meet her,” she softly added. Then she ended the call.
I tossed my phone on the nightstand.
With a feather-light touch, I traced her face. I’d never expected to meet my mate. I assumed she’d been killed before I met her. After all, I was quite old, and I hadn’t met her, so it made sense.
The rest of the night, I stayed awake to watch over her, periodically getting her to drink.
As I ran my fingers through her hair, I made a promise to her. “I’ll keep you safe. I swear. And we’re going to find your sister.”
I just hoped I could keep my word.
Chapter 9
Blood in the Flour
Lyra
I woke to the faint scent of leather and coffee brewing.
Calix was already up, standing shirtless at my kitchen counter, loading weapons into a duffel. His back was all carved muscle and ink, the kind of view that should’ve made me forget my own name—but instead, it reminded me of everything that happened last night.
Everything I couldn’t take back.
We hadn’t just crossed a line; we’d set it on fire.
