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“I will die, as well.”
“But…” I say, my breaths coming in short, heavy bursts as I wrap my head around what he’s saying and the possible ramifications. “You’re going to be king. How can you be king if you’re dead?”
“I suppose Jasmine will take my place when it happens.”
When. Not if. When.
“So, what’s stopping her from killing me to speed up the process?” I blurt before I’ve fully thought out the words.
“Me. I’m stopping her. I won’t let anything happen to you, Eden. I promise you that.”
“You can’t stop time, Jesse,” I say, frustration bubbling up in my gut. “I’m going to grow old, and I’m going to die.”
I inhale sharply as Franklin’s words echo through my mind. So, you plan to turn her, then?
“No, Eden,” Jesse says, snapping me out of my thoughts. “I know what you’re thinking. I won’t turn you just to keep you by my side.”
“But––”
He spins in a whir of motion, ending up in front of me, his body pinning me to the counter as his hands cup my cheeks.
“I love you, Eden Walsh, and I would never act so selfishly and turn you against your will.”
“What if it is my will?” I shoot back, and his pale skin turns even paler.
“You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“I’m saying I love you, and I want to be with you forever. I want to be your eternal mate.”
The words spill out of me uncontrollably, but in this moment, I know them to be true. Despite how insane this whole situation is, I’ve never felt more certain. I love Jesse. I want to be his mate. His partner.
His equal.
And becoming a vampire would ensure that. It would keep me young and strong. I would be his, forever.
And I won’t die, which means he won’t suffer and die, himself.
But I can see it in his eyes. He’s not ready to consider the possibility. Not yet. He thinks I’m reacting to this new knowledge, and maybe I am, a little. But I also know that I want the life I can have with him.
I’ll make him see it, eventually. And I know I shouldn’t push the issue until he does. So, I drop it, and decide to revel in the here and now.
And right now, we’re alone in a soundproof room, and Jesse’s obvious love for me is making my body temperature rise. Grabbing the hem of my shirt, I whip it over my head and toss it to the floor. Jesse’s eyes glow with obsidian fire, and his strong hands drift over my shoulders to my back, where he deftly unclasps my bra.
“I love you, Jesse,” I whisper before pressing my open mouth to his chest.
“I love you, Eden, and I will always protect you,” he whispers back, lifting my chin and pressing his mouth to mine.
And I’m going to hold you to that, I think. Even if protecting me means turning me into a vampire so I can protect myself. And you.
I will be a vampire. And I’ll be by his side. Forever.
20
THE TIME OF MY LIFE
I slept like the dead…no pun intended. Between the trip, my reunion with Jesse, meeting his family, and learning about the mate-bond, my brain decided to shut down and go on strike for the last nine hours. Despite being in an unfamiliar bed in a strange and dangerous place, I passed out in Jesse’s arms as soon as my head hit the pillow.
Blinking my eyes open, I look over to confirm what I already know––Jesse is gone. I listen for any telltale sounds that he might be in the bathroom, then remember the room is soundproof, and if vampires can’t hear anything from inside it, I certainly can’t.
