When Elijah didn't reply, Eli looked up at him.
“You could've been there, Eli.You could've been like Romeo.How many times have you looked at him and wished you were him?"
“Ciar is scary.I wouldn't want to sleep next to him at night."
Elijah chuckled.“Thano is scary.He's the boogie man personified."His grin turned wicked.“In a nice suit."
Eli shrugged.Thano could be scary, and he did look fine in a suit, but he'd never been anything but kind to Eli.He'd been willing to change his entire life for Eli without truly knowing him.Fuck.He groaned.
“Maybe you should've been thinking about yourself for once.What kind of life do we live here?I bet being at the ranch is better if you're sure you won't get eaten."
“I'd get eaten."He grinned at Elijah, which was met by a splutter.
“He bit you?"
Eli gave a short nod.
“Was it painful?"
Eli opened his mouth to respond only to grimace.“When the fangs broke the skin it stung, but it was surprisingly painless otherwise.And when he licked it, the wound disappeared.He said he could remove the memory if I didn't want it, so maybe you've been bitten too without knowing it."
Elijah stared at him.“God, I hope not.Or...I mean, I don't want anyone to mess with my mind.I wasn't sure they could, but if Thano..."His voice died away.“Could you ask them not to mess with my mind?"
Pain stabbed at his heart.“I don't know if I'll ever see anyone from The Moonlight Ranch again."He grabbed the mug and sipped the tea to distract himself.
Elijah's gaze swept over his face.“I'm sure you will.I don't think Thano will leave you."
Sighing, Eli rubbed his neck.“I was the one who left him.Romeo told me I was Thano's mate, and I...panicked, I guess.I told him I don't know him and can't just move in with someone I don't know.Thano was upset and hurt and fixed a ride for me back to town."
“And you left?"Elijah looked at him as if he'd lost his mind.
“What was I to do?"
“Stay and be happy.You can never have a partner here.They'd kill you before they'd let you.You'll always have to deal with the board, will always have too little food, will always have to worry about saying or doing the wrong thing.Haven't you seen Romeo?"
“I think I've seen more of Romeo than you have."
“Yes, so you know he's not starving, he's not mistreated, he doesn't have to worry about a thing because as soon as there is trouble brewing, he's surrounded by scary as fuck monsters who won't let anyone get near him."
All true, but...“What about the people here?"
“Fuck the people here!They would never go out of their way to make your life better."
“Some would.Lisa-Mae and Rosie--"
“Would sell you out the moment they saw you kiss Thano."
Maybe.
Elijah shook his head.“You have a chance to get out of here.Take it."
“Had.Ihada chance to get out."He hadn't taken it.
“Next time it arises, take it.I wouldn't have hesitated for a second."
“No?"Eli wasn't so sure.“What about the hotel?"
“The hotel is to keep me alive while I'm here.And maybe, when you're on the outside, you can find a way to help us without having to worry about the board."
