Page 28 of Fated Mates and How to Seduce Them (Fated Mates #4)
Ian kept waiting for the “I’m just joking” laugh, but she looked dead serious. Uhh…eh? “I’m sorry, what?”
“I can’t rattle off the numbers for you, but roughly two percent of humanity is compatible with vampire chemistry, where there’s no pain in a feeding, and even fewer find pleasure from a bite.”
“Whoa, I had no idea it was so rare. No wonder André was floored.”
“Yes, precisely. It’s not common at all. Of that, a small percentage are mates. So yes, they’re rare, but honestly speaking, the fact you’re compatible is a telltale sign you might be a mate as well. I realize it sounds rather farfetched—”
Overstatement. Severe overstatement. Ian felt like he had entered the Twilight Zone just having this conversation. His brain refused to compute this as a real possibility.
“—but we need to be sure what you are. In order to safeguard you, in order for you to safeguard yourself, we must be sure. Do you understand?”
“I, er, do. Um, how do we know?”
“A simple test. One of us will try something like Mesmerize on you. If it works, you’re not a mate. If it doesn’t, you are.”
“So, basically, a litmus test.”
“In essence. Is that all right?”
Was it? Ian was still in this surreal headspace where nothing truly impacted him. That said, was there any harm in trying? “I don’t mind the test. I still don’t think I’m a mate, but you’re right in that we should at least verify it, one way or another.”
“Good, I’m glad you agree. We’ll do it later today, after we return to the house. André is eager to test it.”
“Haaaa, yeah, I bet. All right, I’m forewarned and braced.”
“Ian, there’s something I want to clarify, too.”
He was all for a change of topic, as the previous one had been immensely heavy. “Sure, what?”
“Felix told me he did a live video yesterday to quell people hassling you at school. Have people really approached you and said you weren’t good enough for my son?”
She sounded so outraged, Ian found himself smiling at her without meaning to. Her expression was just like André’s when one of his had been wronged. If Ian named names, she would hunt them down herself.
At that moment, he felt more than accepted. He felt loved.
“Um, only a few have dared say it to my face. A lot of it’s just been comments by petty people on social media.”
“So they have said it. Of all the nerve. Where do people get off judging who’s good for my sons?”
“In all fairness, André’s only ever been with elite people before he met me. People of the same social circle with model looks. Of course, people would get whiplash seeing me with him.”
“What my son needs,” Mrs. Castor firmly said, her frown heralding quite the mother storm, “is someone who sees him precisely as he is and loves him fully. You do that. I have no complaints about who my sons are dating, and I will make it clear to the world. Why are you smiling at me?”
“I’m so happy you are you,” Ian answered. “I worried so much about meeting you and your husband, afraid I wouldn’t be accepted by either of you, that I wouldn’t be worthy in your eyes. I’m glad you’re like this instead of what my fears whispered to me.”
She reached over to squeeze his hand again. “You are darling, Ian. Of course, I’m happy to have you. Don’t ever doubt otherwise. My husband feels the same way about you. He told me last night that we’re taking you on family vacations from now on.”
Ian pointed to himself in question, feeling like a gear in his brain slipped a notch. “Wait, take me?”
“He wants to know you better. Don’t be surprised if you get called over often from now on, either.
With everyone’s schedules being so busy, family vacations are the only time we can all spend together.
Of course, we’ll bring you too. Oh, if you don’t have one already, we need to get you a passport. ”
Of course. She said “of course” as if it was the most natural thing in the world. It turned out André knew his parents well. They had taken Ian in fully without even a question. He felt like he’d gained a family he’d never had before, and if she hadn’t been driving, he’d have hugged her.
His voice was husky as he told her, “I look forward to it.”
“Good. And I meant it, too, when I said I want you and André to attend events together from now on. André mopes when you’re not with him. I don’t want you to give anyone openings to my son, either. Don’t let them think there’s an issue between you two.”
Ian hadn’t considered this. She was right, though. Sending André to events alone would give the wrong impression. Ian didn’t want to do that. But… “I don’t know how to conduct myself at those kinds of events, though.”
“Ahhh. Don’t worry, dear. I’ll coach you.” She winked at him. “I won’t throw you into the deep end and expect you to swim.”
“André really is your child,” he murmured, heartstrings tugging. “He got his giving heart from you.”
Ian heard mirth in her voice as she replied, “Flattery will get you everywhere with me, just so you know.”
It was his turn to laugh, this time in sheer relief. “I’ll gladly accept the help.”
“Good, it’s settled, then. I’ll dress you, don’t worry.”
Since she was being so charming and open with him, Ian decided to bank on this. “Actually, I could use your expert opinion.”
“Oh?”
“I want to get André and me matching bracelets for Christmas, but nothing I see in the shops is quite right. I don’t have an eye for design, either. But the more I think about this, the more I question it. Is a bracelet even something he’d wear?”
“Ian, he would wear anything you gave him.”
“I mean, you’re right. I don’t doubt that. But I want to get him something he’d be comfortable wearing too. Maybe an earring would be better? He sometimes wears a diamond stud in one ear, I’ve noticed.”
“I think he’d wear a bracelet fine, too. Do you have something in mind? A preferred style?”
“Something…simple. Sleek in design. But personalized. I…hmm…don’t know how to clarify better than that.”
Proving she was an expert in her field, Mrs. Castor rattled off a series of questions to help him narrow down what he wanted.
Then she dictated notes to him so she could have the jewelry custom-made by a friend of hers who did commission pieces.
Ian didn’t quite know when she took over the project but was happy for the help, as he’d broken his head against this brick wall for a good week already without results.
The rest of the drive went by so quickly, Ian was almost sad to get out of the car. Who knew taking a long drive with his boyfriend’s mother would be so much fun? Or spending the day with her at a group home would have him smiling so much?
It once again confirmed his fears were utterly groundless after all. The only things waiting for him in the Castor family were pure love and acceptance.