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“No.”And why would she?
“Normally, I wouldn’t relay personal or private information about anyone, but given the timeframe, I’m making an exception.”
I tensed, unsure I wanted him to continue.
“You are a turned vampire. Born human, bitten, and then transformed.”
“Right. Already knew that.”And if this turns into another “why didn’t your maker teach you anything” I swear to God…
“Sunny is a living vampire. She was born of two vampires and will live her human life until she feels ready to transition herself, which, for her, requires no bite. No vampire venom. Sunny will die and be reborn as one of us because that’s what she is.”
Living vampire?
What?
When I’d first met her I assumed she was a vampire because she was Julian’s assistant. I hadn’t bothered to notice her scent to make sure.
“You’ll find a mixture of living and turned vampires in Laurel Cove and both kinds work for me in my compound. But you won’t find that across the river in Titus’s tower. He believes made vampires are blasphemous. A perversion of our true form. He also believes that vampires are superior to every other race and therefore doesn’t police his vampires the way I’ve done here.”
That was not at all where I thought this was going. But I nodded along all the same. “The nests, right? They keep vamps from getting too territorial.”
“Exactly. Nests keep order, but Titus encourages his vampires to fight for their ranks and honor. He’s wanted to expand his territory for years.” His gaze held mine firmly, but the discomfort and urge to flee wasn’t present this time. “That is what I’m about, Eden. Making certain Titus doesn’t get a foothold in Laurel Cove and force me out. He’d kill every one of the made vampires I’ve offered sanctuary to, and claim the cove and all its resources, including that wolf pack on the edge of town, the witches who live in secret here, and those god-awful fae in the south.
“I won’t allow that tyrant’s reach to grow any further. And I need your help to do it, Eden.”
In his gaze swam rivers of resolve and…
I leaned in, hoping to catch more of his scent and test a theory.
The pine and cedar notes of Julian’s scent were strongest, dominating the spiced vanilla and smokey match head notes.
Was this what protectiveness smelled like on a vampire? “What do you need from me, Julian?”
A low rumble escaped his throat. “First, I need you to stop calling me by my given name.”
“Why not? Don’t you like your name?” I popped an eyebrow up and finished off the last of the blood. “I’m keeping this cup, too.” I said, tucking it closer.
“It’s not a question of whether I like my name, it’s a matter of respect, Eden. I am the king. You’ll refer to me as such, or nothing at all.”
“Oh, I do apologize, King Julian. I just assumed you’d want to distance yourself from a title that makes you sound like a crazy little monkey.”
His shoulders tightened as he leveled a stern look at me. “What are you talking about, Eden?”
“Madagascar? You know, the cute little lemur?”
Nothing. No recognition whatsoever on the vampire king’s face.
Okay, media references were out, I guess.
He stayed staring at me, and I didn’t back down. Still didn’t feel the need to run away.
I did, however, have the urge to grab him by the shirt and press my lips to his.
Instead, I reached for my cup of blood and took a long sip of nothing.
“You realize the only reason you can hold my stare or say my name without a title is because you’re my mate?”
The cup slipped from my fingers, bouncing on the quartz with a flat plastic pop. “That’s not something we need to discuss right now.” I turned away, but he blurred to the other side of the island and put himself directly in my line of sight.
