Page 135 of Taming His Vampire Mate

He inclined his head. “You need to think carefully about what you want to do now.”

“I don’t want to be a ghost.”

“You need to remember what happened right before you got here.”

A flash of electric-blue eyes seared across my mind. A firm hand, cooler than a human’s but still warm, holding mine. Closeness and connection. Love, searing and wonderful.

“Why can’t I remember?”

“This place blurs things for everyone at first,” Ian said gently. “It makes letting go of life easier. But what are you feeling?”

“Don’t you already know?”

“That’s not why I asked.”

I swallowed hard, a lump choking me. “I don’t want to leave him.”

Ian’s smile was sad. “I know the feeling.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, grief and guilt breaking loose. “I should’ve—”

He raised a hand, stopping me. “It wasn’t your fault. Blaming yourself hasn’t done anything but break you into pieces, Jer. And if you’d been there, you would’ve died too.”

“You don’t know that.”

He snorted. “I do, actually. Things are much clearer where I am now.”

“But you’re here,” I protested. “Standing right in front of me!”

Ian smiled and shook his head. “You’ll understand, eventually. Just know that death isn’t something to fear. Not really. You don’t need to feel afraid now. But you do need to remember why you’re here.”

I stared at him, trying to figure out what he meant. Everything before I had gotten here was… blank.

Except the echo of—

A promise. A promise I had made to someone very important. The man holding my hand.

I’ll do anything for you. Always.

Ian nodded. “And who was holding your hand?”

“A vampire.”

“Good. Why is the vampire important? Why was he holding your hand?”

“Because he loves me.” The words left me before I could second-guess them. Those strange blue eyes flickered again in my memory, followed by a flash of golden hair. And then his face, achingly beautiful.

Ian nodded. “He does.”

“I love him, too.”

Ian’s expression didn’t change. “I know. And that’s okay, too. What’s his name?”

The fog peeled back. The forest sharpened. The log beneath me felt suddenly real.

“Thierry,” I said, springing to my feet. “His name isThierry.”

Ian let out a long, relieved breath.