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“Just curious, I guess.” I shrugged one shoulder, trying to play it cool while inside I was dying to know.

“I can’t answer that for you, Benji. You need to speak to Damyr.”

“Oh.” I tried not to be disappointed, but I don’t think I quite managed it.

“What I will say, is you have options. You don’t have to turn into a vampire to remain in a relationship with one. And besides, you don’t have to make any decisions now. You’ve only just met the guyandfound out that vampires exist.”

He was right. I knew that, I guess I just wanted all the answers straight away. “What about folklore and legends? Are they true?”

He chuckled. “Which ones?”

“A crucifix?”

“Nope. No effect.”

“Garlic?”

“Can’t cook without it.”

“Holy water?”

“I could bathe in it every day if I wanted to.”

I leant forward and dropped my voice to a stage whisper. “Do you sparkle in the sun?”

“Fuck no,” he said with a deep laugh. “That’s absolutely ridiculous.”

“Thank God.” Wasn’t sure I was going to be able live with that one if it were true.

“The only way to kill a vampire is to cut off our head or shoot us in the heart with a silver bullet. That won’t kill us on its own, but it’ll give you a chance to get close enough to take off our head.”

“What about feeding?” I asked. “Why does it change with a mate?”

Vlad quirked an eyebrow. “You’ve experienced how intimate it is, would you want Damyr to feed from anyone else now?”

A surge of jealousy rushed though me at the thought of Damyr’s mouth touching anyone but me. It was probably completely unhealthy and a massive red flag, but fuck, I was possessive over that.

Vlad laughed at me. “I think you have your answer, but to be honest, mates are supposed to perfect for their other half in every way. Damyr will give you what you need just like you will give him what he needs.”

Doubt crept in. What could I give a man like Damyr? He was powerful, rich, had a strong social standing. He was dominant, self-confident and didn’t seem to want for anything. “What could he possibly want from me, Vlad?”

“Love,” he said simply, as if that was the answer to everything. Maybe it was. Only time would tell.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Damyr

By the time I returned home, I was angry and frustrated. Roxie couldn’t find any hint of Ronin in Donovan’s history, so I had no idea how he’d been targeted. This guy was like a ghost, leaving no trace behind anywhere. How was that even possible?

How could someone like this fly under the radar for so long? Where did he come from? Why was he targeting me? What had I done? I couldn’t figure it out and the fact that I was just going around in circles made me feel incompetent and useless.

I knew Benjamin had gone to bed and I didn’t blame him. I’d been out hunting for a while and I’d for nothing to show for it. Nothing but more damn questions.

I should have left him alone, but I didn’t have the strength to resist him. Benjamin lay on his side, his hands tucked under his chin. He looked so adorable, his curls a little wild like he’d been tossing in his sleep.

I stepped closer to the bed and Benjamin’s eyes flew open. His cat darted off the bed and scurried away. Benjamin jolted upright and slammed his hand on the lamp, bathing the room in a sift yellow glow.

“Damyr? What are you doing?”