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She mimes zipping her lips and I smirk.

“I was leaving one of my … art scenes,” I say for lack of a better idea of what to call it. “When something tugged me toward her.” Luna rolls her eyes at the mention of my “art”. I know she hates when I talk about it, but I continue. “She took my breath away. It felt like I got hit by a truck. When I finally caught her scent, the world was ripped right out from under me. It’s like my life starts and ends with her now and I can’t let her go. The fact she’s a human and I’m a vampire doesn’t matter. I know it’s rare, and definitely odd she’s human, but it doesn’t change anything.”

Mates aren’t all that rare for those of us who are of the supernatural variety—vampire, fae, shifter—but having one that’s human is. It’s uncommon enough that I’ve only ever met one pairing in my three-hundred years. It was a wolf shifter and her human mate.

My eyes flutter shut under my glasses at the memory of how she looked that first night on the scene. Celine was a stunning and intelligent creature and allmine.

“You’ve got it bad,” Luna laughs and pats my hand. “I’m happy for you. Truly. Celine is one of the nicest humans I’ve ever met, and I know she’ll be good for you. But shit. A human.”

“I won’t be good for her?” I balk, pure offense sharpening my words.

Spinning around from me on her stool, and walking away she volleys back, “She needs to keep her wits about her around you. You’ll corrupt her, Zavier.”

“That’s what I’m counting on,” I chuckle, but stop when I remember a crucial detail. “Wait. You were the one that encouraged Celine to go to Vex’s grand-opening weren’t you?” I cross my muscled arms over my chest and glare.

“Yeah. I’ve heard whisperings that something is going on there. She’s a damn good cop and I pointed her in the directionof a case.” Shrugging her shoulders she continues to put away clean dishes.

“It was a club! One where she wore essentially nothing and looked like a walking snack.” Raking a hand through my hair, I fight back my anger and remember the men and women who stared at her with covetous eyes. I stepped in to stake my claim as quickly as I could, but the damage had been done. “Do you know how horrible it was to watch her basically dance naked in front of everyone?”

Pursing her lips, she rebuttals, “She deserved some fun and you’re not her parent. Let the girl live. Plus, like I said, she was investigating a case. And how was I supposed to know she’s your mate? She doesn’t smell of you yet.”

“What exactly did you have her investigating?”

“I think it’s a drug front that’s dabbling in trafficking. It’s been hard for even me to get the straight of it.”

“Luna! You sent Celine there knowing that?” I explode, standing straight up.

The anger I feel is all consuming and if this is a peek into what I have to look forward to I don’t know if I can handle it. If I’m a possessive bastard on a good day, I’ll be downright murderous on a bad one. Celine ismineand she’ll come to no harm under my watch.

“Chill.” A dirty dish rag hits my face. “She was obviously fine and can take care of herself.”

Grabbing the soiled cloth before it stains my shirt I lob it back at her. We push each other’s buttons, but I need moments like this to rein myself in and she knows it, too.

“You’re going to be the death of me.” A sigh leaves my body, and I deflate.

“You’re already dead.”

Silence fills the space as I stare at her for a few beats before I turn on my heel and walk toward the door. “I’m leaving.” The door jingles as I open it. “And you’re an idiot.”

Luna’s melodic laughter follows me, and I stop, remembering my reason for initially coming in. My feet pound on the wooden floor as I sprint over to her backup cooler and steal a few extra bags of blood.

“You greedy little pig,” she calls out. “I’m adding that to your tab.”

I stick out my tongue and dart out into the night.

CHAPTER 12

CELINE

“How’s he doing today, Sharon?”

The woman slowly ambles next to me as we make our way down the hall of the assisted living home. Pictures of smiling couples and families line the walls, aiming to incite happiness but instead fill me with dread with their hollow smiles.

Today’s the day.

Marked on my calendar every third Wednesday of the month.

It's my day to come see my dad.