Page 73 of Dark Flame

“Maybe by death, but you know what’ll happen if she dies.”

I’ll perish too. And I’d never be able to be the one to kill her myself.

“Next question.”

“This is the Sinclairs’ doing, isn’t it? It’s the only way a witch could be my Bride.”

“Hm, not sure if I can say…” Freya’s haunting purple eyes flick to my ceiling where she stares for a long moment. “Turns out I can. No, the Sinclairs didn’t do this. Fate did, if you’d believe it. Assisted by something else I can’t say.”

I don’t. Not at all.

“Why?”

“Harlow’s one of the most powerful witches alive, even if she’s unaware of this, and you’re one of the vampire kings. Sounds like a kickass match made to me.”

It isn’t. Not at all.

“I can’t hurt her. That’s why you were never worried. You knew at some point this would all come out, and why you helped me retrieve her that night.”

Her tongue rubs across her teeth as she nods. “Good little vamp putting it all together.”

“It’s also why I can drink her blood, isn’t it? It has nothing to do with my age.” Her blood was made for me andonlyme. Cure or otherwise, the bond began linking us together from the very beginning, being the reason behind the strange sensations I got around her.

“Man, you’re smart. I see why you’re king.”

“And you’re a smartass. Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

She looks up from fiddling with her nails. “Oh, I’m sorry, was answering all your pressing questionsnothelpful? I’ll go if you have no more.”

I have many more, and yet none of them come to my mind.

How do I break the bond without killing myself?

How do I live with her?

How do I keep her when she wants nothing to do with me?

How do I keep her when a part of me wants nothing to do with her?

She slides off the desk, approaching. “She’s a gift, Alec, so treat her as such. Be smart about this. Your sister is long dead; don’t kill your future by trying to save your past.”

“I’m not trying to save my past, as you put it. I understand Cora is long dead and won’t be returning.”

A sad smile graces her lips. “Thing is, yeah, you are. You’ll never appreciate Harlow as your mate if you don’t move on. Cora wouldn’t want you to throw away what could be between you two.”

“Harlow hates me,” I argue instead of responding to her spiel, her statement about my sister stoking a rage inside me. Cora would want revenge as much as I do.

Would she, though? Cora was a peacekeeper.

“For now. Anyhoo, I should be off. More vampires to torture and all that. More witches to help.”

“Whatdoyou do every day?”

“Oh, I’m here and there. Helping my kind when needed. The vampire comment was a joke, so don’t be getting jealous. You’re my only bloodsucking pal.” She pauses, her head ticking to the side, eyes glinting with mischief. “Although, how I hear it, you only suck the blood from one being. The very being who…” She trails off, turning towards the door.

“Who what?” I demand when she doesn’t finish.

She holds up three fingers “Wait. Three…” She lowers a finger. “Two.” Another finger. “One.”