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“What about it?” he asked.
The older man crossed his arms over his chest. “There are few things that rival the Slayer’s Code,” he announced. “Ordinance 7304 is one. The Claws Clause. Our code says that we must eliminate the threats. To us, a threat to our secrecy is as much a threat as Nightwalker draining its victims. Tabitha couldn’t put you down. Daniels failed to get past her. I could do it myself, and yet—”
And yet? What did he mean, and yet?
“My niece is a prize,” Boone said next. “The best of her classes in school, even moreso in her slayer lessons. She throws herself into everything she does with the goal of being number one… whether it’s what she wants or not. She’s a slayer, not because it’s her passion, but because she was born into it. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Not even a little.
“What does any of that have to do with the Claws Clause?” he said gruffly.
“She called you her betrothed. Is that true? Did you really bond Tabitha to you?”
Adam blinked. Holy shit. That’s right. It happened so fast, he hardly picked up on it since he was still gobsmacked by the way she casually—or, okay, not so casually—threw out that she loved him. But she did call him her betrothed, didn’t she?
Did that mean—
When Adam failed to answer him right away, Boone added quickly, “And, please, a simple yes or no will suffice. I’m well versed in how a vampire claims his mate and, if you don’t mind, I’d rather not know any details when it comes to what you and my niece do when you’re alone together.”
Adam lost all of his color within weeks of being turned. Even so, he was sure he used at least half of a blood bag when it rushed to his pale cheeks, flushing at her uncle’s blunt insinuation.
A jerk of his head. Yes.
It was true. Even though he hadn’t fully claimed her yet with the final blood exchange, Debbie made it clear when she checked on Tabby following her attack by Priscilla. Somewhere along the line, between the two blood exchanges and the feelings brewing between them, a bond began to form. Adam might’ve instigated it—even though he still wasn’t sure how that happened—but now he had no doubt in his mind that Tabby cemented it on her end.
She chose him, too. And while the bond wasn’t final—not yet—it still existed.
And not just because they’d had sex. As far as Adam was concerned, that had just been a bonus. A really fun, really pleasurable bonus.
His answer seemed to be good enough for Boone. At least, until he fired off another question that had Tabby groaning under her breath.
“Did you get a bonding license yet? I understand there’s a Bumptown within driving distance of the city.”
Colt’s Bumptown. Adam shook his head. “Not yet.”
“I suggest you do that as soon as you can.”
“Yes, sir.” Something about Boone Matthews reminded him of his sergeant on the force. He just screamed sir. “I will.”
“Now you, young lady.”
Tabby went stiff. Adam wasn’t sure he would’ve noticed it if he hadn’t been watching her reaction out of the corner of his eye—or if he didn’t know her as well as he did.
Well, except for the whole “Boone is her uncle thing”. He chalked that up to family issues, kind of like how he couldn’t help but stumble and close up whenever he brought up his mom.
“Boone—”
“That’s Uncle Boone to you, Tabitha.”
She took a deep breath. “You told me that I shouldn’t call you that in front of others as soon as I finished my training.”
“That’s right. I did. I never wanted any of our crew to think you got special treatment because of how we were related. Maybe if I wasn’t in charge, it would’ve been different…” Boone let out a soft sigh. “A lot of things could have been different, but I wouldn’t change you for the world, Tabitha. I’ll always be your uncle, but I’m no longer your handler.”
What?
Adam’s head snapped toward Tabby, trying to make sure he heard what he thought he heard.
She didn’t react. Not really. With a shrug, she said, “That’s it?”
