Page 83 of Into The Light

I pushed the last of my shoes into the bag and sat on it to help it close. As I struggled to close the zipper, I smiled when I remembered where I’d be taking this suitcase.

Bora Bora.

And I was going to Bora Bora with Aiden... who was a human.

How all of this had happened was still a mystery I knew I would never solve. If anyone had told me that night in the bar that the man in the corner was the love of my life, a vampire, and now a human because of his love for me I would have called the cops and had them lock me away. And yet here I stood pushing the last of my new shoes into the bag I was taking on my vacation with him.

A human him.

“Get your cute ass down here and say goodbye!” Mark called up from downstairs.

My joy wavered for a moment knowing that Mark was leaving and the next time I saw him he would be different. Very different. He would be a vampire.

“Coming!” I called back and steeled my nerve to say goodbye. I’d had two days to process his leaving but knowing the time had come only ripped open the wound again. Aiden had called his brother, and after some heated words Lothaire had agreed to fulfill Aiden’s promise and change Mark. Secretly, and selfishly, I had wished he’d said no so Mark would remain as he was now. My bestie. My human bestie.

When I made it to the bottom of the stairs, he stood in the doorway wearing a pair of Gucci sunglasses and a goofy grin.

“Well?” he asked and did a twirl. “Don’t you think all those extra sit-ups and kale smoothies made a perfect vessel to cement me into for eternity?”

I chuckled and nodded my head. “You look incredible, Mark. Perfect. There will be no sexier vampire on the face of the earth.”

“Damn straight,” he said, and pulled his sunglasses off his face and shot them a look. “I won’t be needing these anymore soon. It’s too bad, really. I look fantastic in them.”

“You might not need them, but you can still wear them inside just to make a fashion statement. Are you sure about this Mark?” I stepped to his side and pulled his hand in mine. “This is forever, Mark. Like forever forever.”

I heard Aiden come up behind me and his arms slid around my waist.

“Well, if I don’t like the blood drinking, stuck in the dark for eternity part, I can always turn into a born-again human. I get the all the good powers and none of the downsides. It seems to be working well for, Aiden.”

“Just be sure this is what you want. That’s all I’m asking.”

He squeezed my hands. “I’m sure. This time next week I’ll have compelled a few billionaires to share their wealth and I’ll be making out with Ryan Gosling in my new penthouse suite.”

“Mark,” Aiden warned. “We don’t compel people to have sex. That’s just creepy.”

“Puh-lease,” Mark said with an accompanying eye roll. “I’m not gonna get all rapey. I only mean that I’ll compel his bodyguards to grant me access to him. Once he meets me, there will be no compelling needed... he’ll be begging for a taste of all this.” He waved a hand over his body.

“Mark, he’s straight.” I laughed. “And married. To a woman. A stunningly beautiful, uber-sexy woman.”

“He won’t be after he meets me. Eva’s got nothing on me.” He waggled his eyebrows and we burst into laughter.

“God, I’m going to miss you.” I threw my arms around his neck and squeezed tight. “Don’t be a stranger.”

“I’ll miss you, too, sweetie. And don’t worry, you’ll be trying to toss me out of here in no time. You’re not getting rid of me that easy.”

Aiden stepped forward, and I released my grip around Mark’s neck.

“Remember, don’t agree to join the clan. Just take the blood and go live your life.”

He scoffed, pressing his hand into his hip. “I have no intentions of joining some centuries-old vampire war. The only war I intend to wage is against this fucking wrinkle between my brows I will be stuck with for eternity if the Botox I’m getting doesn’t survive the transition.”

“Take care, friend.” Aiden placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “I’ll miss you.”

“Who would have thunk? Next week I’ll be a vampire and you’ll be human.”

“Not in a million years,” Aiden said with a chuckle.

Mark pursed his lips and I could see the quiver in his lip starting. “Thank you, Aiden. It’s been an incredible ride. Now take care of my girl, okay?” He pulled me into his arms and squeezed tight.