Page 86 of Feral

“And he drank your blood.”

“Yeah. Mortal blood helps them a lot.”

“So that’s not a myth.”

“No.”

“But killing people to feed is?”

I nod. “They don’t have to kill, and most don’t unless provoked like they were tonight. They blend in with us and mostly act like us.”

“He doesn’t sleep in a coffin, does he?”

“No. He sleeps in a bed.”

“And he’s not…” Dimi shrugs. “He’s not dead. His body works like normal?”

“He’s not dead, but I wouldn’t say it’s normal. He doesn’t eat regular food and he drinks blood. Obviously he’s stronger than a normal man his size would be.”

“But he has emotions and he can love and he can have sex?”

“Yeah. All of that.”

“Huh.” Dimi sits back in his seat. “What does this mean for you? You’re in a relationship with him.”

I nod, playing with a nick on the wood table. “He wants to keep me. You know, forever.”

“He can’t die?”

“Not easily. He’s basically immortal.”

Dimi nods, studying my face. “To keep you forever… What does that mean?”

“I’d have to become a vampire.”

Dimi’s jaw drops. After a second, he blows out a breath. “Dude.”

“I know. Obviously, it’s a lot to consider. It would change my life in a lot of ways. Mom and Rich would grow old and die but I’d never age. You too, eventually. Hale would be my family after all of you go.”

“You’d have to drink blood?”

“Yeah. He says it’s different when you’re a vampire. It tastes good, I guess.”

We sit silently for what feels like an eternity until Dimi asks his next question.

“You’re considering it, aren’t you?”

I nod, biting my bottom lip. “I told you earlier that I’m falling for him, and if I don’t, I’ll die someday and he’ll be all alone. He told me I’m his mate, which means a lot more than partner or boyfriend or even husband. It’s like a bond that can’t be broken.”

“Whoa. I saw a movie with wolf shifters, and they had mates. If they lost their mate, they would never love anyone else. Do you think it’s like that for Hale?”

My stomach twists at the thought. “It could be. He was very serious about it when he told me.”

“How does he know it’s you?”

I shake my head. “He just does. He says being with me is different than it ever has been. I believe him because the way I feel about him is different too. Not just because he’s a man, but the way I experience emotions with him, the way I light up, the way I want to be physical with him. All of that is new for me.”

My brother’s expression softens. “That’s really nice to hear. I’m happy you found him.”