Page 19

I t’s been four whole days and Teddy still hasn’t woken up.

I stand at the end of my bed, arms crossed, staring at him… willing him to be okay.

What if something’s wrong? What if I was too late?

“You know there’s a saying, ‘a watched pot never boils,’” Layla says, standing at the door of my room.

“He should be awake by now. Fledglings only need a full day’s sleep after the transformation.”

“Yes, but he’s a blood mate. He’s… magical.” Layla flashes her hands and wiggles her fingers.

I groan. “If only we knew more about that magic. ”

I drop my arms and leave since I can’t telepathically will my sleeping beauty to wake .

“That’s actually why I’m here,” Layla says, following me as I shut the bedroom door and walk down the hallway. “Noran has arrived.”

“What? Now? It’s two hours until sunrise. And why the hell didn’t you lead with that?!”

In a millisecond, I’m in the living room where Noran stands at my bookcase, admiring my art and memorabilia collection.

He selects a book and turns, holding it up.

“A Shakespeare first edition,” he says, smiling. He opens the book to the first page. “And it’s signed with a personal message. ‘To Mildred, thank you for convincing me not to name my character after you. There can only be one Mildred in my life.’”

Noran is a slim man, with icy blue eyes and bleach blond hair pulled back into a low ponytail. His cheeks are sunken in, and his skin is sickly pale. He looks as if he will break at the slightest touch.

He’s impeccably dressed, a fitted black suit and shirt with a skinny red tie.

“Yes, well, Mildred Capulet doesn’t have the same ring, now does it?”

I met William when I was newly turned. Less than one hundred years a vampire. Henry had taken me to a performance of The Taming of the Shrew and after the show, he disappeared with one of the actors. I loved the play so much, I tracked down Shakespeare himself to offer my accolades… and to make him my next meal. I considered killing him after taking his blood, but his talent was too good to let his life end.

We had a week’s long affair instead.

Noran chuckles. “I suppose you’re right.”

He puts the book back on the shelf.

“Please, have a seat. Would you like something to drink?”

“Wine is fine.”

Noran and I sit in the armchairs while Layla grabs us drinks. The future queen of New York City shouldn’t be waiting on us, but she knows how eager I am to talk to this vampire.

“I hear you’ve found your blood mate.”

“I have. And where might yours be?”

Noran raises a brow at me. “He’s not in this city, which is full of blood thirsty supernaturals.”

Layla returns with our drinks. Noran takes his glass and casually sips on the bitter liquid.

“Your mate will always be desired by other supernaturals. His blood is infused with… something ethereal. We just don’t know what that ethereal component is exactly or much about why someone is destined to be a vampire’s mate. Does he have a rare blood type?”

I nod.

“Then he was likely born with this… fate, but the older he got and the closer to meeting his match, the more potent the magic became. Was he ill when you met?”

I suck in a breath, eyes wide. “Inoperable brain tumor.”

“Yes. That was the result of his body slowly fading; the magic feeding off his soul to survive. My mate had become ill with a neurological disease. He was unable to be compelled as well.”

Just like Teddy.

“Sounds more like a parasite,” Layla mumbles.

Noran chuckles. “Yes, well, if a blood mate is the product of witches, then I have no doubt it is a curse in its own right.”

“Tell me everything. Teddy has been sleeping for four days since I turned him.”

Noran takes a sip of his wine to compose his thoughts.

“He should be waking soon. His body is preparing him for the bond.”

“The bond?”

“You have to complete the blood mate bond.”

I must have a confused look on my face because Noran waves his hand around .

“It’s simple. You fuck. You come together. You drink from each other.”

“Sounds similar to how the gargoyles accept their fated mate bond,” Layla snorts.

“The witches are responsible for the curse on the gargoyles as well,” Noran says. “They are either clever or lazy with their spell casting.”

I nod blankly, tapping my fingertips on my lips as I try to narrow down all the questions I have.

“Are the rumors true about what happens after we’ve mated?”

“Yes. It’s all true. Your heart will beat once again. Your tears will be real. You’ll be able to take a midday stroll. You can love. True love. Your soul will be restored.”

I almost cry thinking about it.

“But it has its limitations. While your heart beats, it will be slow. One or two beats per minute. Therefore, you are still not technically alive. Don’t tempt this gift. You can withstand sunlight but too much will still make you sick. You and your mate will fall madly in love, but he’s in control of that connection. He will be capable of breaking the bond if he ever so chooses. Though I doubt that would happen. Blood mates are extremely loyal. It would take an act of God to break that connection.”

We will fall madly in love .

I repeat Noran’s words in my head.

I told the council I loved Teddy. Vampires never say the word. But I did, even though Teddy and I are not yet fully bonded.

Am I already in love with him?

I knew love when I was human, but what I have for Teddy feels different. I’m eager to spend the rest of our lives exploring it.

“If he’s in control of our connection, does that mean I won’t be able to control him like most sires are able to do?”

“That is correct. The bond will not allow it.”

That’s a relief. Not that I would have tried to control Teddy, but it’s good to know that my sire abilities won’t work with him.

“The downside of having a blood mate is the fact that he will be a walking blood bag.”

“Even now that he’s a vampire?”

“More so. His blood is extremely desirable. He can be drained, and while it won’t kill him, it will be painful. It happened once to my mate. I suggest befriending a witch and having a protection spell placed on him.”

Witches work with supernatural beings all the time, even vampires. They no longer hate us. Well, not all of them. The elders still aren’t our fans, and the United Witch Authority refuses to break the vampire curse .

They made us evil then have the audacity to get mad when we do evil things yet refuse to put an end to it?

I suppose it’s also likely that the witches who cursed us used dark magic and assured there wouldn’t be a way to reverse our curse.

Noran glances at his watch and stands. “I must be going, but do not hesitate to call if you have any other questions.”

He slips his hand into his suit jacket pocket, extracts a card, and hands it to me.

“So, you do have a phone number?”

He chuckles. “Yes, but only a handful of people have it. Don’t abuse it, Queen.”

“I won’t. Thank you,” I say. “I’m sure I’ll be speaking with you soon.”

The moment Noran is out the door, something barrels into me.

Teddy.

He has me pinned to the wall by the throat, fangs bared.

“Layla, leave,” Teddy growls, locking eyes with me. “I need to fuck my mate.”

I watch Layla walk to the kitchen island and grab her purse.

“Don’t have to tell me twice,” she says and zooms out of the penthouse, leaving me alone with my newly turned—and apparently extremely horny—fledgling .

“How long have you been awake?” I ask, my voice strained because of the pressure he’s putting on my neck.

“Enough to hear everything that man said.”

Teddy sniffs, then inhales deeper. The pupils of his green eyes—now infused with specks of gold—expand and his face lights up with hunger .

“Fuck, Millie, I can smell how turned on you are. Should I squeeze your throat harder?”

He doesn’t wait for my answer and puts more pressure in all the right places.

I whimper and the sound sets him off.

He tears off my clothes… literally. They’re in shreds on the floor. He drops his pants and removes his shirt next. He grabs my leg to hook it around his waist and while he has me pinned to the wall, he slams into me.

I scream and he moans and picks up the pace, realizing he now has vampire strength.

I hold on to his shoulders as he pistons his hips. His mouth crashes against mine, claiming my lips with rough kisses. Since he’s not used to the fangs, the sharp canines scrape and puncture my lips and tongue. The wounds leak blood, which fills his mouth. He growls, possessively .

I’m impressed with how he’s able to control this newfound strength as he squeezes my neck harder. Any other fledgling would have crushed muscles, ligaments, and more by now.

He’s putting the perfect amount of pressure on my throat.

He slips his free hand between us until finding my clit, massaging it lightly at first then pressing harder.

That’s what sends me over the edge.

He fucks me through my orgasm, then once my pussy stops contracting, he slips out of me and pushes me down to my knees.

I immediately open my mouth and he shoves his cock inside.

“You’re going to swallow all my cum, Millie.”

“Mhm,” I hum around his length.

He slides in and out, the tip hitting the back of my throat, causing him to moan. He grabs a chunk of my hair to hold my head in place and starts fucking my mouth just as hard as he was fucking my cunt minutes ago.

Human Teddy loved to have control, but he held back. Vampire Teddy has no mercy.

And I am absolutely here for it.

I reach around him to squeeze his ass cheeks. He groans and pumps faster. When I swallow around him, he explodes. Webs of cum shoot down my throat, and I take every last drop like a good girl .

When he pulls out, he sits on the floor next to me. A goofy smile spreads across his face. I’m glad the turn hasn’t taken that part of this man away from me.

“We didn’t bond,” I say, taking his hand and weaving my fingers with his.

“I know. I just really needed to fuck you.”

I laugh and rest my head on his shoulder.

“You didn’t think we were done, did you?” Teddy asks.

“Umm… no?”

He clutches my jaw so he can look at me.

“That was just round one.”