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“Did I wake you?” I ask, glancing down as she holds out the mug filled with coffee as if she’s planning to keep the blood for herself. I arch a single brow at her.
“Kidding,” she says with a tired smile and pulls the coffee closer to her chest, handing me the blood.
My lips twitch as I take it from her. “Thank you.”
She nods, taking a sip of the coffee as she cradles it in her hands. “I just got up. The bed was crowded, and yet, I knew you weren’t there the moment I opened my eyes.” Her cheeks go pink a second after she realizes what she’s said.
I step in closer and take the mug from her, setting them both on the small marble table between the bistro chairs next to us.
Her eyes narrow slightly, watching me like a hawk. “Taking coffee away from me is about as dangerous as taking blood away from you, F-Y-I.”
“You know, I think I’ll be okay.” I can’t help the smugness in my tone. The back and forth we get into is far too entertaining to deny.
She reaches for the coffee, but I catch her wrist and pull her toward me before turning us around. I walk her backward until she hits the balcony wall.
The sky is painted with streaks of morning behind her—between Calla and the sunrise, it’s the most stunning thing I’ve ever laid eyes on.
“Atlas, what are you doing?” she asks in a soft voice, sliding her hands up my chest and gripping the cotton of my T-shirt between her fingers.
I pause, my gaze flitting over her face before meeting hers. “You are so beautiful.” The words leave my mouth as I lift my hand to her face, brushing the hair back and tucking it behind her ear.
Her pulse jumps and her lips part. “I… Are you okay?”
“Why? Because I gave you a compliment?”
“Um, yeah, pretty much.” She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, lowering her gaze.
I slide my finger under her chin, tilting her head back up, and use my thumb to free her lip. “What are you thinking about?”
Her brows tug closer. “Everything.” She shakes her head and turns around to face the lightening sky.
I step up beside her, watching her face as she looks out over the city. “Calla—”
“What do you think I’d be like as a vampire?” she blurts.
I blink, leaning against the balcony wall. “A pain in my ass, probably.”
She scowls, shooting me a glare. “Gee, thanks, asshole.” She turns away to stomp back inside, but I move quicker than her, blocking the door. “Move,” she snaps, blinking quickly.
“No.” I step closer.
Calla lifts her hand, but I catch her fist before it can connect with my face, gripping it tightly. “Let go of me.” Her voice wobbles, and I immediately drop her hand.
“I’m sorry.”
She looks away, sniffling. “Since when?” she mutters dryly.
“That’s a more complicated question than you know, Calla.” I sigh, snagging her chin once again and making her look at me. Her watery eyes are like a punch to my gut, and I frown. “You are one of the strongest people I have ever had the privilege to know.” I slide my fingers along her jaw and cup her cheek, brushing away a tear. “You handle anything that comes your way with grace and courage, and no matter what happens, we’ve got you.”
Her jaw clenches against my hand as she tries to reign in her emotions and hold back more tears. “I… I’m scared. More scared than I’ve ever been in my life. And I’ve lived with looking over my shoulder everywhere I went for years before you guys showed up.”
Nodding, I murmur, “I know. Believe me when I say I would do anything to take that fear away.”
Her eyes flick between mine. “I don’t want to die—that whole part freaks the hell out of me—but I’m more scared of who I’ll be… what I’ll want to do once I’ve tasted human blood. I’ve seen what it can do to people and I… I’m terrified of what I’ll become.”
Her vulnerability cracks something inside of me wide open, and I pull her against me. Wrapping my arm around her waist and burying my other hand in her hair, I hold her to me. Her heart beats like the wings of a hummingbird and her breathing is uneven as she struggles to keep it together. “Listen to me,” I say in a soft voice close to her ear. “Becoming a vampire won’t change who you are, Calla. It will only heighten everything about you.”
She pulls back enough to look into my eyes, and the vulnerability in her gaze fills me with the urge to hold her tighter. “Would you…?” Her voice cracks, and she clears her throat, starting her sentence over. “Would you be the one to do it? I mean, would I have a choice?”
