Page 43 of Damian’s Conquest

“No, I didn’t.”

The stubborn lifting of Damian’s chin didn’t escape Samson’s notice. Nor apparently Amaury’s.

“And why not?” Samson added.

“Because of this.” Damian gestured to him and Amaury. “Because you’d both be giving me the third degree. And by the end of the night, it’ll be a moot point anyway.”

“Who is she, son?” Amaury asked.

Damian hesitated, and Samson realized that whatever the answer was, he wouldn’t like it.

“She’s the journalist I told you about. The one following up on allegations of a satanic cult or blood sacrifices at the Mezzanine.”

Samson pushed out a breath, while Amaury ran a hand through his long hair.

“And you want to tell her what you are? What we all are?” Samson asked, shaking his head. “For once I have to agree with Grayson. I advise against it. You don’t know her. You have no idea how she’ll react. And all you’re doing is giving her evidence for her story.”

Damian let out a bitter laugh. “As if either one of you knew your mates for more than a few days before they found out what you are. How is that any different than this situation? Explain that to me.”

When Samson wanted to reply, Amaury stopped him. “Don’t, Samson. He’s right. It doesn’t matter that she’s a journalist, or that he’s only known her for a few days. He could do worse. After all, the first time I met Nina, she wanted to kill me. And look, it turned out well in the end.”

Amaury grinned.

“Yeah, Mom liked to tell that story to Benjamin and me when we were younger.” Damian smiled just like his father now, and the resemblance between them was uncanny, except for the hair.

“And what if she uses what you tell her, and publishes her story?” Samson asked.

“She won’t,” Damian claimed. “She’s the one.”

“What if she doesn’t feel the same?”

“It’s not possible.”

Samson had to chuckle at the hybrid’s stoic declaration. “It’s not all about sex.” Though he knew from his own experience that being compatible in bed was a fantastic foundation for a happy marriage. And considering that a vampire’s sex drive didn’t wane with age, he was happy that he and Delilah were as crazy about each other as on the day they’d met. And equally insatiable when it came to their carnal pleasures. Just thinking about her now made him want to drag her from the living room and find a dark corner to make love to her, preferably with his fangs lodged deep in her neck.

Samson cleared his throat. “Well, if you really think that she’s the one, then I guess you have to do what you have to do. But I warn you: if she doesn’t accept you, you’ll have to wipe her memory of everything she knows about you or the Mezzanine. We can’t afford the press sticking their noses into our business.”

“I understand,” Damian said. Then he gestured to the door. “I’d better look for her and take her home.”

“Don’t make it look rushed,” Amaury advised him. “You don’t want her to suspect that you’re hiding your family. Besides, I think your mother would love to meet her. As would I.”

Damian raised an eyebrow. “Let’s not overwhelm her. She’ll find out soon enough that if she accepts me, she’ll also get a whole new family.”

“We’ll be on our best behavior,” Amaury promised.

Damian rolled his eyes as if he didn’t believe his father, then left the room and closed the door behind him.

“I didn’t see that one coming,” Amaury said.

“Just like I didn’t see it coming, when you bonded with Nina,” Samson replied, chuckling. “When it hits us, it hits us hard and fast.”

“No wonder he punched Grayson,” Amaury said.

“Don’t worry, it’ll do Grayson good. I wish he would finally come down from his high horse, and behave better. I sure didn’t raise him to be a jerk.”

Amaury chuckled. “No, but you spoiled him. Both of you. Now he’s used to getting his way, and he doesn’t believe that being nice to people is necessary.”

“I wish he’d find a woman who’ll cut him down to size.”