Page 66 of Taming the Beasts

“I can’t believe she’s a vampire too,” Callum said as we walked down Main Street. “I have so many questions for her. I’m not the only one anymore.”

He was acting like he’d been dying for there to be another vampire. And I’d done literally nothing but offer to become one for days now. “I don’t believe her.”

“Why? As soon as she said it, I realized I didn’t smell her.”

I just stared at him.

“She doesn’t have normal human blood. She’s definitely a vampire.”

“Maybe your noes is just off. She’s not a vampire. Because she didn’t really have any answers. She just agreed with what everyone else was saying. And have vampires really even been around that long? She’s ancient.”

“I didn’t know they went back that far from my research. But she’s proof that they do.”

“Or she’s lying. That disappearing thing? She...”

“What disappearing thing?”

I’d forgotten that he’d been talking to Bennett during that specific accusation. “We thought we saw her disappear. And she didn’t say it was from super speeduntil Huxley told her it was. What were you and Bennett talking about anyway?”

“He was asking me if I believe her. Which I do.”

I tried to hide my sigh. “But what was all that weird stuff about her daddy?” I shook my head. “I mean her father. Things just aren’t adding up.”

Callum smiled down at me. “I thought you wanted me to be cured?”

“I want you to be safe. And healthy. I don’t know if that coin has anything to do with that. I just have a bad feeling in my gut.”

“So what would give you a good feeling?”

I looked up at him. “Are you saying you want the cure?”

“Yes. I’ve been searching for it for centuries.”

“But what about your fears about a cure making you your true age and killing you?”

“If Kebe isn’t worried about that, why should I be? She’s clearly done a lot of research.”

I didn’t see that as clearly as he did. “Well I’m worried about it.”

Callum pulled me to a stop in the middle of the sidewalk. He lifted his hands and cradled my face. “You want our forevers to be aligned. I’m much more comfortable doing it this way than the other.”

“But this feels so much more dangerous, Callum.”

He shook his head. “No. If I change you, everyone around you will be in danger. It took me ten years to get control of this so that we could be together.”

And he’d almost slipped today. I wasn’t sure how close he’d been. But the bite mark on my shoulder was proof that he didn’t have full control. Even after tenyears. Would I have to isolate myself for that long if I changed?

“This will be easier,” he said.

“But what if Kebe is wrong? What if it hurts you?”

“But what if it frees me?”

I pressed my lips together. If I knew for sure it wouldn’t hurt him, I’d want him to take it. I knew how long he’d wanted a cure. “I just don’t want to lose you again.” I felt tears welling in the corners of my eyes.

“Baby.” His voice sounded pained.

“You only just proposed. You promised me forever. I don’t want forever to be cut short.”