Page 30 of Mitchell
"Stop getting dressed." Mitchell put as much authority into his tone as he could. Seryn seemed to respond to Mitchell when he took charge.
Seryn's back was to him, but he stopped and held the shirt in his hand. "What do you want from me, Mitchell?"
"I want you to turn around and explain more about being a vampire."
Seryn turned. His eyes were still red, and he wore the empty smile Mitchell disliked, but only when Seryn directed it at him.
Mitchell had pissed him off. No doubt about it. But he kept it bottled like he always did, which made Mitchell angry. But unlike Seryn, who quietly took someone's head off with a smile on his face, Mitchell was used to talking it out.
"Why are you mad at me?"
"You think I'm some sort of monster? Just for being a vampire."
"I don't think you're a monster."
"But you don't want to feed me."
"I didn't say that either." Mitchell patted the bed. "Come here."
Seryn shook his head and kept his gaze averted.
Mitchell raised his eyebrows. "Why won't you?"
Instead of answering the question, he explained why he was mad. "I know I'm different. People think of me as strange. I used to get punished for it. But I didn't want you to think of me that way. I want to be someone you can like."
Shit. "I think of you as the guy who saved my life." When Seryn tried to speak, Mitchell held up a hand, stopping him. "Please, wait until I'm finished."
Seryn nodded.
"I think you're the guy who will probably keep saving my life because I got news for you. You might be strange, but I'm a fucked-up mess. I've always been a fucked-up mess and I doubt I can change it. I don't know how to be any other way." Mitchell sighed in relief when the corner of Seryn's mouth turned up into a genuine smile. "The only reason I'm not more freaked out about the vampire warlock thing, and god knows what else is out there, is because I've lived my life on a goddamned razor's edge. Not much surprises me."
"I did when I said I needed blood."
Mitchell chuckled. "Sweetheart, you're about the only thing that does surprise me. But it ain't because you're a vampire warlock and whatever else you are. You being all that is about the only thing that doesn't, honestly."
"What does then?"
"I'm the only one you smile at. A genuine smile. Not that fake, deadly shit you give everyone else. You're the hottest person on the earth. Probably in the whole damn universe. And you flirt back. You also seem to like it when I boss you around."
"It quiets my mind." Seryn stepped closer, dropping the shirt. His voice was soft, nothing more than a whisper.
"Why does it work?"
"I trust you to take care of me. To do what's best for me." Seryn hesitated, biting his lip and frowning before saying what was on his mind. "Like a Daddy. And a mate."
Mitchell sat up in bed. It took him a while, but he needed time to process all that Seryn had said. Seryn closed the distance, helping Mitchell.
Afterward, Seryn sat facing him. He held Mitchell's hand and let the silence stretch between them. But then it wasn't Seryn who needed to speak next. Mitchell had to respond.
He sighed. "Okay, let's break this down some."
"Do you want to know what it means to be mates?"
That's as good a place to start as any. "You've mentioned it before."
"That's because it's important. Paranormals believe we have a fated mate. I knew you were mine the second I saw you in a vision."
"How?"
