Page 75 of Gray

“Does he kill people?”

“Only if they deserve it,” Alastair answered in a cool tone. “He only feeds on humans who allow him to, and he never hurts them. In the sixty years I’ve known him, he’s only killed two humans. Both of them were hunters who tried killing him first, despite him explaining that he meant them no harm. Mostly, he kills other vampires. Rogue ones who break our laws.”

“A vamp who kills vamps?” Storm chuckled. “Damn. Never thought I’d see the day. All right. So what are you sayin’? Vamps are off the hunter menu?”

“Oh no. You’re free to still kill them. Some of them are on the enemy’s side. However, there are several covens who are now on ours, and I ask that you play nice with them if you are ever to meet. Not all are bad, and the sooner you realize this, the better it will be for everyone.”

“What does Hawk have to say about this?”

Alastair looked at me. Waiting.

I quietly cleared my throat before speaking up. “It’s fucking weird, if I’m being honest. But Alastair’s right. This war will affect all of us. It makes sense for there to be some supernatural beings who share our views and want to help us fight. As someone recently told me, there can be good vampires just like there can be evil humans.”

Gray softly smiled at me before his eyes closed.

Alastair told Storm about Konnar’s friend Omar and the coven in Manchester, as well as mentioned a few others. Their conversation faded to the background as I watched sleep finally take hold of Gray as he lay on the rug. The sun came through the window and shone on his tuft of blond hair, bringing out the darker strands of gold.

“Here.” Alastair handed me the phone after he and Storm finished the call.

“I’m allowed to keep it? Shocker.”

“Don’t be a smart-ass or I might have to kill you after all.” There was no real anger in his voice. “Thor said he’ll talk to his friends and get back to me. Though hesitant, he understands that this war is too important to let such prejudices get in the way.”

“Okay. Cool.”

Alastair sipped his tea and studied me for a long moment. “Do you know why vampires drink blood?”

“That’s a random question.”

“And do you know the answer? Allow me to enlighten you. They have no choice. Blood drinking is a sign of the damned, of the cursed. It’s not only limited to vampires. Fallen angels must also drink blood to survive. Defecting from the heavens tainted them. As the sons of those fallen angels, the taste for blood lies with us as well.”

I understood what he was doing now. He must’ve read Gray’s thoughts from earlier.

“So you have no choice but to drink it?” I asked.

“No. We have a choice. We don’t need blood to survive. However, the craving for it is always present. Some of us indulge more than others. It’s also common among mates. The urge to claim them in all ways, to put your mark on them so the world will know.” Alastair dropped his gaze to the rug, where Gray lightly snored. “If you’re going to stay by his side, you must be prepared to love all of him Not just the good parts… but his darkness too.”

“What are you trying to say, Alastair?”

“I’m nottryingto say anything. I’m telling you outright.” His tone hardened, and when I met his eyes, that same hardness shone in them too. “If you can’t love Gray in the way he needs you to, you need to pack your things and leave this mansion. Sooner rather than later.”

“Love? It’s a little too soon for that kind of talk, don’t you think?” As my gaze returned to Gray, my heart thrashed around in my chest.

“The fated mate connection is different for everyone,” Alastair said. “Warrin, Daman’s husband, experienced love at first sight. For Castor and Kyo, the connection surfaced as intense lust at first, then grew to love. Time doesn’t matter.”

Gray mumbled something in his sleep and wiggled his nose before turning over and curling more into a ball.

Before meeting him, I had been content with my relationship-free life. Maybe a little lonely, but at least it wasn’t complicated. In the span of about two weeks, all of that had changed.

Ihad changed.

“I suggest you figure out what you want before things between you two become even more serious. You may be fated mates, but you can still walk away if you truly want to.”

“That’s possible?” I asked.

“For Gray? Unlikely. He feels the connection much stronger than you do. For now, at least. But that’s why fate is so cruel. Because you can refuse the bond and leave him if you see fit to do so.”

My feelings confused the fuck out of me. In only a short time, I’d become used to waking up to the sight of Gray’s brown eyes and his cheeky little grin. Leaving would mean I wouldn’t be able to cradle him while he took his afternoon naps or breathe him in when he jumped up into my arms and snuggled against my chest.