Thano's heart cracked.It was so painful it was hard to hide."Breed isn't allowed in Last Hope."He went to grab a pair of socks.He had people to look after and a community to run.People were expecting a meeting.They were expecting him to act like normal, not like...whatever he'd been acting like these last few days.He took a calming breath.He was used to this role.Had fought to get it, had fought to keep it.He cared about his people, all breeds, not only the vampires.
He'd do what was best for The Moonlight Ranch, and he believed, right now, it was to cut ties with Last Hope.The vampires would hunt, but the rest would stay away.
His stomach twinged as he pictured feeding from someone other than Eli, but it would be fine.He'd hunt in the shadows like so many times before.His job was to keep his people safe.He'd wanted to add Eli to the list, but he didn't want it.Maybe humans weren't a race that functioned well in a community.
Romeo had come here on his own, had known he risked death, but had picked it over staying in a human settlement anyway.Eli wasn't like Romeo.He didn't want Thano's protection, didn't want his care, didn't want his touch.
"Thano."Eli reached for him, but Thano sidestepped and went to sit on the edge of the bed.Why had he brought his things, his animals, if he didn't plan to stay?It didn't matter.Humbert would gladly look after the animals, and maybe it was better they were here, so the board wouldn't take them from Eli.He'd make sure he got eggs and meat.Emeric or someone else from the coven could deliver them.
"Oh, come on, you're acting like a child."
Thano ignored him.
"You can't say it's normal to move in with someone after a couple of days of knowing them.To demand they give up their life before they truly know you."
Give up his life?Thano looked at him.He'd brought him here to give him a life, to save him from Last Hope where he was likely to get killed either by violence or starvation.People were shooting in the streets, and Eli was a target.He was friendly with the residents of The Moonlight Ranch, and he didn't want a wife.Both dangerous things in the land of the simple-minded.
"I'll ask Tuur."Best would be if a vampire could take him, but none of the vampires knew how to drive.He hadn't seen Tuur all day, but he was sure he was around somewhere, and he liked Eli, so he'd protect him while he was with him.He gathered the shadows around him.
"Don't you dare!"Eli reached for him, but he got up and slipped around him while he was still patting the place where Thano had been seated.
"Thano?Fucking coward.You can't hide in the middle of an argument."
Argument?They weren't having an argument.He walked toward the door.
"What the fuck, Thano?"Eli scanned the room without seeing him.Thano watched him for a few seconds.He liked how he looked, liked how he moved, loved how he felt against him, inside him, loved how he tasted.He could've spent the rest of his days watching Eli.
"Thano?"It came out in a whisper."Are you still here?"
He took a step out of the room but lingered at the first step of the stairs.
"I'm sorry.I have to go."Eli still spoke in a whisper, but he might as well have shouted.Thano's heart shattered.
* * * *
Chapter 16
Eli didn't know how long it took before Tuur knocked on the door.Not long.He opened it and gave him a wobbly smile.
"Romeo said I could borrow the car, but I'm to drop you a block away from where the human land begins."He grimaced."He doesn't want me to get injured and says he can't afford to have the car shot at either."
"Of course."Shit, would they shoot at Romeo's car?He was sure most people in town recognized it as his.He wanted to ask if Thano was here.Could Tuur tell?
Tuur watched him for a few seconds too long."It means you have to carry your things."
Right, so not fourteen birds, eight rabbits, and several bags."I'll grab my clothes."He turned around and jogged toward the stairs.His bags were still mostly packed.He'd grabbed clean underwear when he'd gone to shower, but that was it.He zipped up the open bag and grabbed it along with the bag he had yet to touch.His head was spinning.This was too much back and forth, and he hadn't had a chance to reflect.What was he doing?Did this mean he'd never see Thano again?
He looked around the room."Thano?"He could barely hear his own whisper, but he didn't want Tuur to hear him speak if Thano wasn't here.Nothing happened.No flickering, no appearing, no voice answering.Fuck.
He walked down the stairs.Tuur was standing by the kitchen table, leafing through a book.Eli walked closer.The garden book.It must've been what Thano went to get.A book about how to start a garden.For Eli, since Thano didn't need to eat solid food.
He'd hold someone close and sink his fangs into their skin.Eli wasn't sure he wanted Thano to bite him, but he sure as hell didn't want him biting anyone else.His gaze caught on the half-eaten bowl of oatmeal he'd left on the table.Oatmeal Thano had made for him because he wanted him to eat more.
The ache in his chest grew sharper.
"Were you gonna dig a garden bed?"
"I...eh...We didn't have time to talk about it."He dropped the bags and grabbed the now-cold oatmeal.He shoveled it into his mouth, swallowing one spoonful after the other without tasting it.He couldn't afford to waste food.
