Page 113 of Taming His Vampire Mate

Despite the fury and desperation, the need to act—my wolf clawing at my insides to get to my mate—I found myself grinning.

It was exactly what I needed to hear.

It reminded me, painfully, that I’d been a terrible brother. She deserved better. And maybe I couldbebetter. For the first time in a long time, I wanted to try.

“I love you,” I told her simply.

Her silence stretched for several seconds. Then: “It’s been years since you’ve said that to me. What the hell happened to you?”

I didn’t have to think. “I found something to live for.”

“Well, it’s about damn time,” she said. “I love you, too.”

Then she hung up.

I checked my phone. Nathaniel hadn’t messaged back; the text was still unread. I could bang on his door, but it was a risk. It would waste time. I would need to explain. Even if he didn’t have questions, it would take time for him to act.

I needed to get to Thierrynow.

No, I decided, already moving to the front door. Lindsey would do what I’d asked. She was my sister. My family. My pack. I could rely on her. On them.

They hadn’t gone anywhere.Iwas the one who had changed.

I made it out of the bar, out the back door, and down the street. My sister’s SUV was still there, right where Thierry and I had parked it. I unlocked it and climbed in.

I drove out of the city as fast as I dared, letting my inner senses guide me to Thierry. The wolf-bond was stronger now as well, as though the blood bond had reinforced it. I could sense the correct path to him with more ease than before, like an invisible rope connecting us.

Just outside Monroe, still a half hour from Gold Bar, I pulled onto the shoulder of the two-lane highway, killed the engine, and climbed out.

Then I shifted right there.

It was an immense relief. The wolf took over instantly and bolted into the stretch of woods alongside the freeway.

I didn’t know if Lindsey had reached anyone, and my wolf-self barely cared. The only thing that mattered was getting to my mate.

If it came down to it, I would protect Thierry with my life.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE || THIERRY

“Hello, Thierry,” Godric said exactly an hour after he had appeared to me in the mirror, stepping out of the shadows. He stood on the back porch of Danny and Michael’s house, looking exactly as he had in spectral form. His expression was oddly neutral, without even a hint of malice. But then, he had never been especially bloodthirsty—resigned, cold, and brutal, yes. But each creature he killed was just another item crossed off a to-do list, nothing more, nothing less.

His voice was mild as he met my gaze and added, “Thank you for agreeing to meet me.”

“How could I refuse, after you asked so nicely?” I paused, listening. No movement inside the house. “Are Danny and Michael okay?”

“They remain unharmed. You have my word.”

“Why should I believe you?”

“Because I speak the truth. I have never lied to you.”

“No—you’ve just terrorized me for centuries. And now you’re threatening my friends.”

“I do not wish to harm your loved ones.” He frowned, cocking his head, peering at me with dark, unreadable eyes. “I apologize for threatening you. I would not have done so unless strictly necessary.”

Tension coiled in every muscle as I stared at him. Did I believe him? Of course not. He was dangerous. He had destroyed Rookwood. He couldn’t be trusted, not even for a second.

Naturally, he still looked the same as when I first saw him, the day after Magnus turned me. But that wasn’t surprising. Age wouldn’t have touched him. But there were differences: his black hair was cropped close at the sides, longer on top—a distinctly modern cut. He had a five o’clock shadow instead of the clean-shaven look he used to favor. And he wore all black now, not the crimson tunics from my memory.