Page 25 of Benicio

“No need for the kitchen.”

“It’s fully stocked. Though, with my bouts of weakness, I haven’t had much of an appetite.”

“What exactly is that spell doing to you, besides making you weaker?”

“That, I don’t know,” Benicio said. “I have no idea what the end game is, though I suspect it is my slow death so that I experience the ultimate suffering before I take my last breath. In the end, my father got the last laugh.”

“Not if I can help it,” David said with a snarl. “We’re going to find his spell book, Benicio. We’re going to find it and then reverse what he did to you.”

“I love your optimism.”

The look in Benicio’s eyes said he wasn’t hopeful. He probably wasn’t since he’d made a trip to Ridgeway instead of going wherever his father had lived to look for the book.

David wasn’t going to give up. He was determined to save his mate.

“I don’t know why, but I’m still curious about the guy your father turned.” David snuggled closer, feeling tired, even though he’d just slept the day away. “You said he’s still around.”

“He is.”

“Do I know him?” David asked. “Please don’t tell me it’s my dad. He’s old as dirt. Not as old as you, but he’s still old, and if you tell me he was the start of our race, I might vomit.”

“It’s not your father,” Benicio said. “The man my father kidnapped, turned, and I had to subsequently erase his memory is Eleazar.”

Chapter Eight

David didn’t like this one bit. He was completely against Benicio going to see Eleazar. Not when he was this weak. As of right now, the only people who knew that Benicio wasn’t the big, bad boogeyman coming in were David and Matteo.

But others would realize the fact if Benicio had another episode. If he was riddled with so much pain that he wouldn’t be able to hide the fact that his body was failing him.

“Shouldn’t you just wait?” David asked as they approached the foyer of the mansion they were staying in. “We could try and find that book, reverse the curse, and then you can break bad on whoever you want.”

“I agree with David,” Matteo said. “Eleazar is the most powerful vampire. If he doesn’t like your verdict, he could retaliate, and with the condition you’re in, he could—”

“Enough,” Benicio snarled. “This has to be done. You speak of my weakness and how I’m not fit to confront Eleazar, but both of you are forgetting that, if I don’t do this, I’ll have all five members of the council coming after me.”

Matteo narrowed his eyes. “You could lay waste to them with no problem.”

“Normally,” Benicio said in agreement. “But things aren’t normal right now, are they?”

“I say we hogtie him and make him rest,” David said to Matteo. “I think we can take him.”

Matteo smirked, a glint in his eyes. “I say we simply take away his car keys.”

“Spike his tea with a strong sedative.” David crossed his arms. “He’s old. I could trip him. It would take grandpa forever to get back up.”

Benicio glared at them. “Neither of you are funny.”

David pursed his lips. “We were seriously considering viable options because this is ludicrous. You’re in no condition to go anywhere.”

As if he were talking to himself, David watched Benicio turn and walk out the door. He sighed, knowing there was no way of talking his mate out of this.

Matteo placed a hand on David’s shoulder. “He’s set in his ways. Mate or not, you wouldn’t have been able to change his mind.” Matteo squeezed. “I’m glad you’re here.”

David’s brows shot up. “You are?”

The guy smirked. “Now I have more time for dating.”

“And here I thought you liked me.” David walked out, not really angry. He just enjoyed the banter with Matteo. Who knew the guy had a wicked sense of humor? True, he could date more since Benicio would spend most of his time with David.

---