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“If you’re worried about Camila,” Karoly told him, “I give you my word she’ll live out her life unharmed.” To me, he said, “I assume you believe you love my son.” At my nod, he continued, “Do you really think he’ll be happy farming flowers with you?”
I flinched. “No,” I admitted.
Gabriel’s arm tightened on me. “Stay out of this,” he snarled at his father. “My mind’s made up.”
Karoly spread his hands. “Think about it,” he said to me.
I hesitated, the weight of what I was about to do pressing on my chest and parching my throat. But looking back, I’d made up my mind to stay with Gabriel the instant I saw him again in the speakeasy. I hadn’t knownhowI would stay, but I’d known that if I somehow survived, I’d do anything necessary for a fresh chance with him.
“What if I become a dhampir?” I asked his father. “Will that be enough for you?”
Gabriel swore. “Damn it, Mila.”
His father lifted both brows. “You’d do that?”
“Yes.”
“No,” Gabriel told me. “You’re perfect. And if my father can’t accept that, he can go to hell.” He glared at Karoly Kral. “Rafe can succeed you. As of now, I’m out of the Syndicate.”
I leaned into Gabriel. He’d always be there for me. That, I knew to the depths of my soul. And I loved that he was willing to do anything for me, even give up the Syndicate. But I didn’t want to be the weak human.
I wanted to stand by my mate’s side, not cower behind him.
I straightened my shoulders and spoke to Karoly, not Gabriel. “I’m bonded to Gabriel. And we’re going to be married—and mated, I guess.”
Karoly arched a black brow. “Are you?”
“He hasn’t asked me yet,” I said with a sidelong look at Gabriel. “But he will. And if he doesn’t, I’m going to ask him. So yes, I’m willing to be turned to dhampir.”
“No, damn it.” Gabriel’s fingers dug into my shoulder. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”
Karoly’s gaze remained trained on me. “I think she does.”
“Yes. Your mate explained it to me, and last night, me and Gabriel talked about it, too.”
“So you understand you could die.”
My already parched mouth dried further. I gave a noisy swallow and squared my shoulders. “I understand. Just tell me what I have to do.”
“Mila…” Gabriel said in a broken voice. He shot his father a beseeching look. “Stop this. You know how it was when Mom went through the transition. She almost died.”
Karoly’s black gaze went to him. “I believe your Camila will survive.”
I turned into Gabriel and touched his cheek. “You said you’d free me from our blood bond. Was that a lie?”
His eyes closed. “No,” he grated.
“Then either free me—or give me permission to make the transition. I need to be able to defend myself. Tonight we were attacked in your own penthouse. How do you know that won’t happen again, even if you resign as crown prince?”
His nostrils flared. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”
“The transition to vampire would be easier on you,” Karoly remarked. “You’re young, strong. You’d almost certainly survive.”
No fucking way.I concealed a shudder. “No. It’s dhampir, or nothing.”
“Are you sure?”
“Very.”
