Page 124 of Bite The Terror That Feeds

“To protect you.”

“You said I would be Queen of Vampires, Lady of Darkness. What kind of queen abandons her people?”

“But you haven’t married me. And you haven’t turned.”

“What difference does that make—”

“It makes all the difference in the world,” I snapped. “The Ethereal are not orcs. Not goblins. They’re not even like vampires. They’re stronger. Yes, you’re decent with the blade, but you have nowhere near the skill set to challenge them.”

Her eyes shifted back and forth between mine in a quick motion. “Be that as it may, I’m not leaving you.”

Fuck. “Larisa—”

“I don’t have to stand on the front line with the other soldiers. I can stay within Grayson.”

“I think we’ll be victorious, but that’s not guaranteed. If they overrun us, they’ll behead every one of us—and they won’t spare you. Do you understand what I’m saying to you?”

“Yes. I could die.” There was no fear in her expression or her voice. “But I’d rather die at your side than go on without you.”

She’d never told me she loved me. But the way she implied it was far more powerful than if she’d said those three little words. “I can turn you. We have enough time for the transition. You’ll be far stronger as a vampire, stronger than me as an Original.”

Her eyes immediately dropped as she inhaled a quick breath.

The rejection wouldn’t have stung if my hopes hadn’t been so high. It was like a tease…but not a fun one. “I want you to stay near the palace. Fang will stay with you.”

I will fight with you, Kingsnake.

I ask that you protect Larisa since I’m unable to.

My place is at your ssside—

You know I care more about her than myself. And I know you care about her too.

Larisa still wouldn’t look at me. “I need more time to think about it.”

“That’s fine.”

“You’re angry…” She slowly turned to look at me again.

“I’m not.”

“You know you can’t lie to me.”

My eyes focused on hers as I bottled my anger. “You say you can’t live without me, but then you refuse to commit to your words.”

“I’ve never refused. I just need to think about it—”

“What’s there to think about?” I didn’t want to fight. It was the last thing I wanted to do when we could both be dead tomorrow. But the words poured out, and the bickering ensued. “This is the only way we can be together. And what better time than on the eve of battle?”

“You said I had all the time in the world to think about it—”

“And then you refuse to leave and pledge to die beside me. Perhaps I misinterpreted your words, but that’s a pretty clear declaration of love. The kind of love that knows no boundaries, that will make any and every sacrifice.” Yes, I was angry. I was furious that she wouldn’t give me what I wanted. Furious that she wouldn’t accept the protection it would bestow upon her.

“If I die beside you as a human, I still have a soul.”

“And if your mythology is true, then my soul won’t find yours in the afterlife. So you’ll lose me then. This is the only way we stay together for eternity.”

She looked away. “I just need more time… It’s a big decision.”