Page 21 of Bound in Blood

“One more question, and then I’m done, I promise.” Logan paused before adding, “For now.”

“Of course.” Marco nodded. “Shoot.”

“You’re really up to date on modern slang,” Logan said, as if he were trying to figure out how best to word his question. “If you were turned so long ago, how do you keep up? Especially if you can’t go out during the day.”

“I mean, do you expect us to sound like mobsters?” Mateo teased. “That feels xenophobic, Logan. I’m telling on you toTwitter.”

“Don’t forget ageism,” Marco added, “I think he expected us to specifically sound like Al Capone.”

“Right, I’ll add it to the callout post.” Mateo made like he was grabbing his phone from his pocket. Logan kicked his thigh. “Ouch! I’m just kidding, Logan. No need to get violent.” He laughed, fending off Logan’s feet with his hands.

“We adapt, just like any species,” Marco explained. “While our bodies freeze in time, our minds don’t.”

Mateo nodded. “The nightlife in this city helps. Spend enough time around drunk college kids at clubs, and you pick up all the fun new words.” He levels a suggestive look at Logan, before adding, “Makes seducing cute bartenders incredibly easy.”

“You’re insufferable. But until you’d like to get into your sordid past, I am out of questions,” Logan said, stretching out his arms with a yawn.

“Perfect. Now we get to makeyouslightly uncomfortable.” Mateo grinned. “Marco and I were talking while you were turning.”

“That’s never good, is it?” Logan tried to joke, but his renewed nervousness made it fall a little flat.

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.” Marco pointed out, before Mateo had the chance to scare Logan off.

“Well, other than drink blood, and live forever, and other vampire shit.” Mateo added unhelpfully.

“Fuck you. Too soon.” Logan sighed, but it lacked any real heat. “What are you about to ask me to do?”

Mateo paused, and Marco could see the gears turning in his brain. They disagreed often, but this had been a no-brainer. They didn’t want Logan to be uncomfortable, no matter what. But the question had to be asked, especially with Logan’s vampirism being so new. Bond or no bond, navigating these things wouldn’t be easy.

So—

“Move in with us.”

* Dear

Chapter

Eight

LOGAN

Move in with us.

The words rang in Logan’s ears, rattling around in his brain like a loose screw. His first instinct told him to run away, just like he’d run away from Texas six months ago. His second instinct was to deflect and pretend this wasn’t happening.

But it was happening.

Marco and Mateo watched him expectantly. They knew he was panicking, of course. No secrets between the bonded, Logan was learning the hard way. But panicking on the inside and panicking on the outside were two different things. He had to play this cool.

Slowly, he sat up, looking between Marco and Mateo as he tried to find the right words. Another fork in the road. Another chance to freak out or push forward.

Logan’s stomach turned nervously. The thing was, though, the more Logan thought about it, the less scary it sounded. He had spent all his time as a vampire surrounded by this undeniable rightness in their proximity. The thought of being treated so kindly every single day sounded like a dream.

And fuck if Logan wasn’t so sick of being alone all the time.

He swallowed, pulse picking up slightly, but he tried his best to ignore it. “That’s… a lot.”

“Pretty tame compared to everything else, though, yes?” Mateo pointed out. “I mean, yeah, we just met, but it’s not like there are any expectations. We can set you up with your own coffin and everything.” He winked.