Page 77 of High Stakes and Soulmates
Casimir sighs. “Okay.”
“I can’t help but feel so much regret that he’s been bitten, and not even because of how it’ll change his life. It’s so selfish of me. I wanted to turn him into a vampire, but now I can’t. I wanted to make sure he’d never age. He’d never grow old. He’d never leave me, even if he never loved me. I just didn’t want to ever let him go.”
“Werewolves age slower than humans.”
“But they don’t age slow enough,” I say.
Casimir squeezes my shoulder. “I wish I had something better to say to you.”
“It’s fine. I’m not expecting anything. I’m just… I wish I could redo everything. I wish I was strong like you so I could protect those I love.”
“Ezio, you don’t have to be anything like me to protect the people you love. No… when you were a human against that vampire… I don’t think there’s anything you could have done. Even with my training as a human, I guarantee I couldn’t have done anything to stop him back then,” Casimir assures me. “But now? Wewillstop him. I promise you.”
“Thanks.”
“Be careful.”
“I will.”
He leaves, and I’m left in the quiet room as Cyrus sleeps.
“You’re not at fault,” Cyrus whispers. I don’t know how long he’s been awake or how much he heard.
“That’s because you don’t know what’s going on,” I say.
“Then tell me.”
“The man who attacked you… the man who killed your family… is Louis. The same man who killed Arturo.”
“So he really didn’t die.”
“No. I was led to believe he had. It was my blood he was using at the crime scenes. It was all some fucked-up show to mess with me… maybe even to draw me closer to you. He said he wanted me to fall in love with you so he could kill you in front of me. So he could fucking…” I swallow hard. “I’m so sorry.”
“Why the hell would you apologize? Do you think when I work on a case and a victim’s family dies because the killer is obsessed with them, it’s the victim’s fault?”
“It’s different,” I say.
Cyrus’s eyes hold on to mine. “Why? Because you’re a vampire? How the fuck would any of that be different? Ezio, please, stop. I know you. I can already tell you’re coming up with some scheme to run off to do some self-sacrificing shit, to cut me off, but it’s too fucking late. You’re not leaving me. We’re in this together.”
“Why would you want to be? Cyrus, you have your whole life ahead of you.”
“And you think I don’t want you in that life?” he asks as he gives me a look. “You think now that you’ve clawed and harassed your way into my life, I’m going to be fine with you just leaving it? Now, when I need you more than ever?”
“Why would you even want me? After learning about everything I’ve caused?”
“Does it matter?” Cyrus asks. “Does it matter why you like me? Does any of that matter?”
“I’m not good for you. You were right to avoid me and avoid wanting a relationship with me.”
“Well… right now, I want you with me… As I was getting fucking mauled by a werewolf, my thoughts were on you. My thoughts were about how I wished I’d have let myself enjoy life. How I wished that I hadn’t pushed you away because I thought I didn’t deserve something nice in my life and that my only focus should be on getting revenge for my family.”
I try not to focus on the fact that Cyrus had thought of me—that he thought about what it’d be like to be with me—because I know that if I do, I’m going to want to stay here. I’m going to want to keep caring about him, and won’t Louis just have more of my life to ruin?
He takes a deep breath. “Still no news on Joaquin?”
“No. I’m sorry,” I say, wishing I had something better to tell him. “I should have kept looking for him. When Louis turned to attack me, the last I saw of your brother, he was moving away. Casimir and Atticus confronted Louis then. I guess a bunch of people chose to help Louis and during that time, Louis disappeared. Casimir and Atticus searched everywhere for Joaquin but never saw him. I hope he ran, knowing he was in over his head.”
“Okay. Thank you,” he replies, but I can tell he’s still anxious.
