you’ve
read.”
“So much is not as I’ve assumed.”
“That’s not a bad thing. The mystique is there for a reason,
Frankie. If we left the legends in place, let us be romanticized, it dissuades
some who might otherwise hunt us. We’re difficult to kill but it’s not
impossible. Now that I’ve aged enough to be comfortable within my skin it’s not
a bad thing, being a vamp, though I’m still not certain it’s an existence I
would have chosen. No, I wasn’t given a choice. Someone turned me against my
will and I’ve made the best of it. Now with the possibility of you sharing
eternity with me it seems even better.”
“So you would make that part of the deal, me staying with
you.”
“Yes and no. I’d ask you to stay long enough for you to be
able to control your hunger. No way would I transform you and then let you out
on your own until I was sure you could do that. It would be irresponsible and
might destroy your mind after you randomly killed innocent people. I’d hope
you’d give us a fair chance because I believe we would be amazing together once
your need for revenge was fulfilled. It won’t be the same, but I think we could
become a family of sorts. I have good friends within my community who I know
would welcome you as my mate.
“We could travel. Gods, there is so much out there I would
love to show you, share with you. Believe it or not there are still places I
haven’t seen. We could explore them together.”
Frankie was enthralled by his expression. This man really
did seem to want to spend forever with her. For months she’d given up all hope
of a future and now he was offering her more than she’d ever imagined since her
life was ruined. He’d even declared her his mate. Finding someone, being half
of a couple, was something she’d looked forward to in the past before her
family was destroyed. Well, not exactly. Marriage and all that it implied, yes,
though not necessarily to a vampire.
“Before you decide you need to hear all of it. I’m saying
this because more than anything I’d hope the transformation would be
successful.”
“You mean it might not be?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean. You might not be
compatible. Your genetics might prevent you from changing and it would kill you
outright. Or, even worse, you might only change partway, which would leave you
a monster, out for as much blood as you could get, leaving a trail of bodies in
your wake. That would leave me no choice but to destroy you myself. I love you,
Frankie. Either scenario would destroy me, most especially the second.”
She gaped. “Wh-what did you just say?”
Kellen grinned. “I said I love you. I know it hasn’t been
long and your life is a mess at the moment but I do love you. I think I have
since the first night you stepped out of the shadows and spoke to me. When I
heard your story I decided I wanted you with me always. In fact now that we’ve
met I can’t imagine being without you.
“With how I let you repeatedly watch me feed, looked forward
to it, I must have known instinctively that you are meant to be my mate. If you
decide to be that is. But that’s me and what I want, which is the least of what
you need to consider.”
She knew she was staring, open-mouthed, but could do nothing
to stop herself. Kellen loved her? Kellen loved her. For the first time in
forever Frankie’s heart felt something other than grief. It was so unexpected.
However, he was correct. That was something to think about later. For now she
had to focus on the rest of what he’d said. There were risks involved that
she’d never imagined. Even if he was now willing to help her it didn’t mean it
would necessarily work out as she pictured. What if she decided to proceed and
it didn’t work? If he truly loved her as she was willing to accept he did then
it would hurt him tremendously. Was she willing to take the chance?
Perhaps she should rethink the entire thing. Maybe she
should just ask him to help
read.”
“So much is not as I’ve assumed.”
“That’s not a bad thing. The mystique is there for a reason,
Frankie. If we left the legends in place, let us be romanticized, it dissuades
some who might otherwise hunt us. We’re difficult to kill but it’s not
impossible. Now that I’ve aged enough to be comfortable within my skin it’s not
a bad thing, being a vamp, though I’m still not certain it’s an existence I
would have chosen. No, I wasn’t given a choice. Someone turned me against my
will and I’ve made the best of it. Now with the possibility of you sharing
eternity with me it seems even better.”
“So you would make that part of the deal, me staying with
you.”
“Yes and no. I’d ask you to stay long enough for you to be
able to control your hunger. No way would I transform you and then let you out
on your own until I was sure you could do that. It would be irresponsible and
might destroy your mind after you randomly killed innocent people. I’d hope
you’d give us a fair chance because I believe we would be amazing together once
your need for revenge was fulfilled. It won’t be the same, but I think we could
become a family of sorts. I have good friends within my community who I know
would welcome you as my mate.
“We could travel. Gods, there is so much out there I would
love to show you, share with you. Believe it or not there are still places I
haven’t seen. We could explore them together.”
Frankie was enthralled by his expression. This man really
did seem to want to spend forever with her. For months she’d given up all hope
of a future and now he was offering her more than she’d ever imagined since her
life was ruined. He’d even declared her his mate. Finding someone, being half
of a couple, was something she’d looked forward to in the past before her
family was destroyed. Well, not exactly. Marriage and all that it implied, yes,
though not necessarily to a vampire.
“Before you decide you need to hear all of it. I’m saying
this because more than anything I’d hope the transformation would be
successful.”
“You mean it might not be?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean. You might not be
compatible. Your genetics might prevent you from changing and it would kill you
outright. Or, even worse, you might only change partway, which would leave you
a monster, out for as much blood as you could get, leaving a trail of bodies in
your wake. That would leave me no choice but to destroy you myself. I love you,
Frankie. Either scenario would destroy me, most especially the second.”
She gaped. “Wh-what did you just say?”
Kellen grinned. “I said I love you. I know it hasn’t been
long and your life is a mess at the moment but I do love you. I think I have
since the first night you stepped out of the shadows and spoke to me. When I
heard your story I decided I wanted you with me always. In fact now that we’ve
met I can’t imagine being without you.
“With how I let you repeatedly watch me feed, looked forward
to it, I must have known instinctively that you are meant to be my mate. If you
decide to be that is. But that’s me and what I want, which is the least of what
you need to consider.”
She knew she was staring, open-mouthed, but could do nothing
to stop herself. Kellen loved her? Kellen loved her. For the first time in
forever Frankie’s heart felt something other than grief. It was so unexpected.
However, he was correct. That was something to think about later. For now she
had to focus on the rest of what he’d said. There were risks involved that
she’d never imagined. Even if he was now willing to help her it didn’t mean it
would necessarily work out as she pictured. What if she decided to proceed and
it didn’t work? If he truly loved her as she was willing to accept he did then
it would hurt him tremendously. Was she willing to take the chance?
Perhaps she should rethink the entire thing. Maybe she
should just ask him to help
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