Page 18 of Worse Fates

Rurik opens his mouth to say something, but I hear movement in the other room. Within a second I’m pushing the door open, finding Golden shoving his foot into his boot.

“So, thanks for saving me, dude.”

When his boot is secured, he punches both fists onto his hips. Making himself bigger and taking up more space. This is no shy flower I’m dealing with.

“But I’ve gotta go.” He raises an eyebrow, daring me to stop him. “Can you tell all the ghosts and ghouls to kindly leave me the hell alone? I’ve gotta sell a spooky, possibly cursed, brooch, and all this was not on my agenda today. Or ever — just to make that real clear. Yeah?”

I smile, he’s adorable. I doubt he’d like to know my thoughts, however, so I keep them to myself. “Of course. But let me put your mind at ease, I promise you, the brooch isn’t cursed.”

I’m not sure what brooch he’s talking about, but I know mages and magic. The victim of a curse is well aware when it's happened.

“That’s good.” He nods his head with his whole body and bounces on the balls of his feet. “I really wanted to get some good coin for this thing, and now that I know rubies are rarer than diamonds—so is gold, did ya know? Well now I know that, I plan to make a killing. Not of me, to again make it really clear. Ijust need to find someone who’ll buy it. A jeweller, maybe. That makes sense, right?”

“What do you plan to do with your riches?” Golden is a talker, or maybe rambler is more correct. Either way I enjoy it, I can be quiet.

“There’s this burger place that makes triple cheese stuffed veggie burgers. I’m drooling just thinking about it.”

“You don’t eat meat?”

“Only when I have to. Meat has gristle.” He shudders. “Even the thought of it makes my stomach turn, so I go for the safer option.”

“And—”

“You said you’re a monster.” Golden looks me dead in the eye, chin tilted up and so much bravado I could almost ignore his quivering lips.

“I’d never hurt you.”

“One did.” He touches his bruised neck.

“Who is Jace?”

“What type of monster was it?”

I want to shield him from darkness. But in the short time I’ve known Golden, the truth is how I’ll protect him. He’d run from even gentle lies.

“A vampire.”

Golden doesn’t stop rocking on his heels, but now his teeth sink into his lip. His thoughts run a mile a minute past his eyes.

“There are two things I can do in this situation.” He holds up two fingers. “One, say you're crazy, run out of here and never look back. And two is…fucking just accept there are vampires.” He throws his hands up like it’s simple, but he's exasperated at the whole thing.

I tilt my head towards him. “What are you leaning towards, Golden?”

“The burger, to be honest,” he jokes, but then he shuffles his feet, edging away from me.

“It’s a lot to take in, I understand.”

I wish I could know what he’s thinking, or show him my heart so he understands he’s safe with me. Golden’s about to say something, instead shakes his head, closes his eyes then bites his lip all in the span of one blink.

“And you’re a vampire?” he asks quietly.

“I am.”

He huffs out a long breath, his body deflating. “I don’t know why I trust you, maybe because you saved me. Why did you save me if you’re a vampire, too?” he asks suspiciously.

“To hurt you would be a crime,” I answer honestly.

“So, you protect humans?”