Jeremy quickly follows, grabbing a towel from the hall and drying me off. Jay deposits me in the bed we all keep ending up in and when he leaves to dry himself off, the other three surround me.
I hear Jay and Jeremy swear when they get back but after that it’s blank as I pass out.
Twenty Five
Aly
The three thousand year old vampire agrees to meet with us after Jeremy’s parents convince him. He won’t share his name, but he was one thousand years old when the book about mating bonds came out, so he’s our guy. He’s the only person we could find that has been alive that long, so he’s our only chance.
“I don’t want you going Aly,” Jeremy declares for the fifth time.
“Jer, I get that but I’m going. Please try to understand,” I say again.
I sit down on his lap and wrap my arms around his neck. He grunts but holds me tight to his body.
“It’s not safe, and we don’tneedyou. We will get the information we need and come back. Please? For me?” He begs and he’s being vulnerable with me. He never begs and I feel my resolve breaking.
“Okay, fine,” I agree.
He is absolutely shocked by my agreement.
“Really?” He asks.
“Really!?” Kiran also asks, stunned.
When I turn to look at all of them they’re all wearing various degrees of surprise.
“Don’t look so shocked! I can be agreeable!” I yell.
Nic snorts out a laugh, and they all stare at me like I’m crazy.
“You don’t usually give in so easily,” Jay points out.
I roll my eyes but don’t disagree.
“So, when are you guys leaving?” I ask.
Everyone defers to Nic but of course, Jeremy cuts in not quite happy yet. “We can’t all go. At least one person needs to stay home and protect you!”
My back goes stiff and I hear Kiran whisper, “what an idiot.”
I agree. “Jeremy I don’t need to be protected. I can take care of myself, you need to back off some.”
He looks like he’s about to start up again but I cut him off, “Jeremy, I agreed to stay behind but that’s only going to happen if you all go. I want to know you’re safe.”
He stares at me hard for a long moment before finally giving me a stiff nod. I relax back into him.
I am trying to give him some leeway, I know it was hard when I was taken, and he was already super protective but eventually he’s going to need to get over this and trust me.
“We leave in an hour, everyone get ready,” Nic says.
* * *
The hour passes quickly with the guys all getting ready. I can tell they’re nervous and I’m anxious about them leaving. I hate the idea of them in danger without me there for them. I’ll have no idea what’s happening.
“You have to keep me updated while you’re gone,” I sound like I’m begging.
Kiran gives me soft eyes as he wraps me up in his arms and presses his forehead to mine.
