At the same time, Sky exclaimed, “But Ego has the money.”
Lysandro shook his head. “That’s not the point. In a true fledgling-anchor pairing, it would be the new-turned vampire’s sire who’d be responsible for taking care of the anchor. It’s considered an honor when an anchor is bestowed on someone’s child.” He sighed. “Well, I’ve taken on most of the other duties, so I’ll be responsible for that, too.”
My eyes widened. “Lysandro. You’re a librarian. I’m not taking?—”
His burst of laughter cut me off. “I’m hundreds of years old. I can assure you that I’m probably the wealthiest person you know.” His gaze cut to Ego. “Yes, that includes you. I’ve accumulated what you’re worth ten times over.”
I was happy to see my jaw wasn’t the only one that dropped. Although, it was a good distraction from all…this. Sky started laughing so hard, he clutched his belly and bent over.
“What?” Ego and I asked, both of us sounding discombobulated and on the edge.
“Lysandro’s paying Ego’s dowry. Are you sure the money shouldn’t go to Chance or Jetty since Scotty lives with them?” He hiccupped. “This is sounding more and more like a fated-mate situation to me. Sorry, not sorry.”
As much as I hated to admit it—I agreed with him. I’d never say that, though. Nor would I ever confess to another soul—living or spirit—that Ego and I had gotten freaky. It made me wonder if we’d really wanted to fool around or if some fated magical stuff had led us to touching dicks.
One look into Ego’s frightened eyes confirmed he was having the same thought. I blew out a breath and focused back on him,blocking out Sky’s merriment and Lysandro’s attempts at not dissolving into laughter, too.
“We can work on the smaller details later, but if I’m going to be staying here with you so that you stop losing your shit, you have to make me one promise.”
“What?” he asked, then warmed my heart when he followed that up with, “Anything.”
“You will listen to Lysandro, Ego. It’s time.”
He stared at me, ghostly white, cool to the touch, without moving a muscle for several seconds before he gave me one stiff nod.
With a reverence to his voice that I’d never heard before, Lysandro said, “We begin tomorrow at sunset.”
Once Ego agreed—albeit reluctantly—I ran back to the entryway and retrieved the bag I’d dropped by his sudden appearance at the door. Feeling a little ridiculous since Sky and Lysandro were watching, I shoved it into Ego’s chest.
Ego’s scowl melted as he gazed at the brown paper bag like it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. “You brought me a gift?”
“Just open it,” I grumbled.
Then I hid my own small grin as a luminous smile spread across his face when he pulled out the golden goblet I’d bought him to replace the one he’d crunched.
Lysandro cocked one elegant brow at me. “Huh, you are indeed his anchor.”
Chapter 17
Ego
As the firstrays of dawn touched the sky, I made sure all of the drapes were in place around the house. It had been an exhausting night, and I was ready for bed.
Sky had looked up Dead Air—thanks to Scotty—so that had been a whole conversation, while Scotty and Lysandro sat in the wingbacks discussing what I’d need from Scotty as my anchor. I should’ve probably paid attention, but I was low-key panicking about Scotty being in my space at all times.
This was very much starting to feel like one of those romance novels I’d liked reading when I was biding my time on the tour bus. As much as Lysandro assured us that the fledgling-anchor bond was fated but not like mates—as in no pull to sex or a forever/marriage type relationship—it felt that way.
Lysandro’s insistence that it would be best if Scotty lived here with me and stayed with me at all times—unless there was an emergency—was also like…forced proximity.Hello.Men in those books were always falling in love when they were confined to spending all their time with the one person they’d just met or had hated since the beginning of time.
As much as I’d liked Scotty since the first time I’d laid eyes on him, I didn’t want to ruin his life. This all felt so unfair, and I didn’t know what to do.
My eyelids grew heavy, and I knew if I didn’t get into bed in the next few minutes, I’d fall asleep on my feet and fall where I stood. It had happened too many times to count in those initial first few weeks when I was still touring. Luckily, Delaney had been keeping an eye on me, so she’d cover me up and stick a pillow under my head.
The first time, I’d expected to have a crick in my back for the whole day, but apparently those little aches and pains were a thing of the past, which I could admit now, didn’t suck.
Damn, I felt like such a dick. Scotty had driven Chance’s truck home, and Sky would drop him back off tomorrow, and I felt bad for Scotty being stuck with me. I really, really did. But…gah. I was such a dick. I had to admit to myself that I was excited about this. About the whole romance novel set-up of it all. We’d be living our days together in a refurbished mini-castle, with the pillars and the ancient air of mystery surrounding us.
There were still so many drafty rooms, just waiting to be furnished, and we’d have nothing but time on our hands, so we could sit up and browse websites together, and he could help me fill this place with warmth. Just the thought of it was so appealing that it already didn’t feel like such a prison anymore.
