Page 118 of Taming His Vampire Mate

Poppy’s eyes widened, as if the ancient vampire’s strange behavior clicked into place for her. “Wait. Is this—did he—is Rico—” She sucked in a breath, her gaze sliding to meet mine. “Is this my spell again?”

“Godric is of my bloodline.” I sighed. “Therefore, it would seem so. And it’s always irritating to watch, I might add. Every single time.”

On the plus side,Jeremy said slyly into my mind,this is way tamer than how you and I first met.

I ignored that—clearly the only sensible response for a dignified vampire such as myself. Never mind how vividly my body remembered the details of our first encounter.

“I would never harm him,” Godric repeated, transfixed by Rico. “You must know that.”

“You’re about a million years old. And creepy. And evil.” Danny’s voice dropped to a growl. “So. Back. The. Fuck. Off.”

“If it helps, he might not actually be evil. Especially if we’re grading on a curve,” I offered mildly. “We may have had a misunderstanding related to Godric not knowing how to use a phone like a normal person. Apologies for alarming you all.”

Before Danny could reply, Rico frowned at Godric. “Wait—why does he smell so good?”

A happy smile broke across Godric’s face, his dark eyes lighting up. “Tell me—what is my scent to you?”

“Um. It’s like empanadas?” Rico said hesitantly, brow furrowed. “Like what my abuela used to make.” He paused, sheepish. “So, uh. Weird question, since you’re ancient and evil and whatever—but what kind of body wash do you use? It smells amazing.”

Michael snickered.

At the same moment, Jeremy let out another braying wolf-laugh.It’s actually sort of sweet. I’m expecting Danny to go get a shotgun any moment now.

He owns one. Not beyond the realm of possibility.

Danny glared at both Jeremy and Michael. “This isn’t funny! This is very serious.”

“What’s serious?” Rico asked, blinking. He frowned, his brows knitting. “Did I miss something?”

Despite myself, I smiled.

And for the first time since Godric appeared in my bathroom mirror, a crashing sense of relief washed over me.

Though I had always been arch and superior—with good reason—toward these insufferable optimists, I somehow, impossibly, found myself believing that everything might actually work itself out.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO || JEREMY

“Isensed it the very moment you cast the spell,” Godric explained, hours later. It had taken everyone a long time to realize Thierry wasn’t in danger—and longer still to actually listen to what Godric was trying to tell us. “Magnus is freed from his bonds.”

We were back in Seattle, on the second floor of vampire headquarters. Thierry had called the space “the green room,” and it wasn’t hard to see why. The space featured dark green walls and carpet and a highly polished black table in the center, surrounded by hunter-green leather chairs. The effect was like stepping into a forest at night.

“Who is Magnus?” Nathaniel asked, frowning at Godric. His hands were steepled, chin resting on his fingertips.

He sat at one end of the table with Ethan, Pierce, and James. Poppy and Simone were across from Thierry and me. Godric was at the far end. At his request, Quinn and Derek had joined us as well, seated next to Thierry. Quinn kept shooting Godric nervous looks, as if he expected the ancient vampire to lunge for Derek at any second. He hardly seemed to notice the other mortals in the room.

Danny and Michael had stayed home with Rico—though they’d have their hands full guarding him from his supposedtrue mate, if that was indeed what Godric turned out to be. Rico seemed less affected than Godric—for now. But it was only a matter of time before fate had its way with both of them.

“Magnus is our maker,” Godric said, giving my vampire a meaningful look. “He is the one who pursued Thierry for many centuries.”

“Oh.” Nathaniel looked stunned. He turned to Thierry. “I thought he was dead.”

Godric grimaced. “Ishouldhave killed him while he was trapped. But I believed it just and right that he rot in darkness for all he had done. That was a mistake—one that’s already cost many innocent lives.”

“What do you mean?” Simone asked sharply.

Instead of answering, Godric looked hard at Quinn. “Who turned you, young one?”

Quinn blanched. “I don’t remember. It’s just… blank.”