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CELESTE

E motions warred within me. Ever since I woke, my mind had been in turmoil. Last night, when I bit Van and my heart beat—truly beat with one loud thump—I knew he was the one. But then, upon awakening, doubts began to creep in.

How could this work? With someone so different from me and generations younger. He lived and worked on a cruise ship while I resided at my villa an ocean away.

Worse, what Lucien had said slithered beneath my skin, poisoning me with more toxins. What if Van was just like Lucien? Using me for my money? Having fun with me until the next younger, shinier attraction came along?

This attractive singer with the captivating voice was adored by countless women. I’d seen the way their eyes tracked him. Once I’d left, he was sure to forget me and move on. And where would that leave me? No better than when Lucien had betrayed me.

Betrayal never became easier, no matter how many years I’d lived. The knife slipped beneath the bones, twisting and taunting with the question shouldn’t you know better by now ?

And I should. I had centuries of experience. I shouldn’t let common sense be overruled by sensation with how I felt in Van’s arms, tasting his blood, feeling his heartbeat. Or by being wrapped in his embrace now, dancing with the ocean surrounding us and the stars and moon shining above.

Both Van and Lucien were young and blond. Did I have a type—one that would continue to be a mistake? If I were smart, I would consider this cruise a magical voyage before we went our separate ways. And yet, the idea tormented me. How could I let go of someone who made me feel the way he did?

We spent the rest of the night exploring the ship. He suggested a musical, which he didn’t appear to be invested in, but I appreciated the gesture.

After we left the theater, we returned to my suite. He furrowed his brows as he studied me. “Is something wrong?”

“No, of course not,” I said quickly. I walked over to play some music, selecting something gentle. “You know, I really liked dancing with you up there, but the whole time, all I could think about was us being alone again.” I extended my hand. “Dance with me again?”

He gave me a panty-melting smile that I was certain had captured countless hearts at his shows. “There’s nothing I’d rather do, darling.”

When he took me in his arms and we danced, a vibration rumbled in his chest. I placed my hand over his heart, feeling the faint tremor.

“I feel that rumble… Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” I asked.

He chuckled. “A very good thing.” He caressed my face with the back of his knuckles. “It means you make my jaguar very happy. And you make me very happy.”

“Oh.” A flutter of happiness bloomed within me. I wished I could capture this moment in time, so it would never disappear.

I glanced into his eyes and admitted, “I feel the same way.”

His eyes brightened. “Really?”

“Yes.”

He swallowed. “You mean something to me, Celeste. I think you’re incredible.”

His words took flight inside me, giving me hope—but I had to be strong, to remember two centuries of experience that warned me to be cautious.

“There’s something I need to tell you,” he said, shuffling his feet.

“Go ahead.” I braced myself for whatever terrible thing he was about to reveal.

“Celeste, I’m… you’re…” He exhaled, laughing nervously. “Too bad this isn’t a song lyric I could use to say it.”

“What is it?”

“Celeste, I know this started out as pretend, but this hasn’t been fake for me for a long time.

Since…almost since we met. Because my jaguar…

because I…” He took another deep breath, ran his fingers through his hair.

“Okay, I’ll just say it. You’re my mate.

And there’s nobody else I want in this world. ”

He traced his knuckles along my cheek, down my jawline. “Only you, Celeste. Only you.”

My body stilled. The fluttering inside went manic. What he said was beyond anything I’d ever considered—it made me blatantly happy on one level, and on another, it terrified me beyond comprehension.

“Celeste?”

I must’ve looked frozen because he frowned. “Am I freaking you out?”

“I… I’m just…” I didn’t know what to think.

“Oh, no.” His face fell. “Forget I ever said it. We can keep doing what we’re doing.”

I stepped back, the weight of his words sinking in. Two centuries of experience, and none of it prepared me for this moment. “We’ve…we’ve only known each other for a few days, Van. Maybe we’re rushing things.”

“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath, groaning. “I never should’ve said anything.”

“No, I’m glad you did.” I struggled to make sense of the war between my heart and mind. “But maybe…maybe we need some space. Time to figure out what we really want.”

Van’s expression crumbled. I wanted to yank every goddamn word back, but I didn’t. I just stood there, watching him hurt.

He walked to the door, paused, and turned back. “I already know what I want, Celeste.”

His gaze pierced me. “You.”

Then he opened the door and walked out.