The blood drained from Elena’s face, and it took all she had not to put her hand to her head as she suddenly became lightheaded. If he lost control, then she would losehim. She couldn’t stomach the possibility.
Never in her life had she felt as connected to someone as she did to Logan. She’d never believed it possible to love someone as much as she did him. And now, just when she’d found happiness, she could lose it all, and he could lose the essence of who he was.
No, absolutely not. She refused to let that happen. Whatever was going on here, she would fight for him to the death before she ever gave up on him. She would not allow the demon part of him to take control. They would get through this together.
Lifting her chin, she stared determinedly up at him. “What do we do to keep that from happening?”
“Elena….”
His voice trailed off, and when he looked away, a chill ran down her spine. Was it already too late to stop it from happening?
“We have to be able to do something to stop it,” she whispered.
Logan sighed; this was not how this was supposed to go, but he couldn’t keep it from her anymore. He couldn’t continue to let that distress and heartache shimmer in her eyes when he could ease it.
“How much do you know about vampire mates?” he asked.
“Not much,” she admitted.
“When vampires find their mates, they stay with them until one of them dies. There is no breaking that bond. But when a vampire first encounters their mate, they become increasingly unstable until they complete the bond.”
Chapter Forty-Three
Elena suckedin a breath as the implication of his words sank in. This loss of control was because ofher. And yes, there was something they could do to help him, but it would entail her becoming one of the things she’d always hated, the thing that had haunted her nightmares, and the thing she swore never to become.
She’d also never expected to fall in love with a vampire, and she’d most certainly done that.
“This instability is worse in purebred vampires, and I’m assuming in hunters who are turned vampires, like myself. Nathan told me once that he felt an especially intense connection to Vicky when they first met. He said he knew, even though he fought it, so I believe hunters also feel the call of the mate bond, just not as deeply.”
When her mouth parted, he could tell he’d struck a chord in her, and for the first time since revealing she was his mate, Logan felt a sense of relief. If she felt a hint of the mate bond too, then maybe she would agree to join him.
Elena’s mind spun as he revealed Nathan’s admission to her. Wasthatwhy she was attracted to him even in the beginning, when she hated and distrusted him most? Was she also feeling a small part of the mate bond too?
It made sense; it made everything else make more sense, but she still wasn’t sure how to process all of it. She had to sit down almost as badly as she needed fresh air. Yet, her feet remained riveted to the floor as they stood, staring at each other.
There was something so hopeful yet lost in his eyes. Something that frightened her even as it tugged at her heart and brought tears to her eyes.
“I’m scared,” she admitted in a whisper.
It was something she’d never admitted to anyone before.
“I know,” he said. “I’m not pressuring you; I’m telling you the truth because you asked, and I can’t lie to you.”
Elena stepped into him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and rested her head on his chest.
“I love you,” she whispered.
He enveloped her in a hug that made her feel safe and cherished. He waseverythingto her, and her fear might destroy them. However, she didn’t know what else to do. She wasn’t ready to become something that survived on blood and could become a monster if its thirst got out of control.
She’d been willing to fight anything and anyone for him when she thought that’s what it would take, but now thatshewas the problem, she wasn’t sure how to conquer her fear.
“Give me a little time,” she said. “Can you stay in control long enough to do that?”
“I can do anything for you.”
Those words brought tears to her eyes. She tried to blink them away, but they slipped down her cheeks.
* * *
