24. Yannis
Dimi and I sit at a table in the back near the offices, both of us silent. How do I even start this conversation? Fortunately, my headstrong brother solves that problem for me.
“Nothing I just saw should be real.”
“No.”
“But it is. Right?”
“Yep.”
“Your boyfriend is a…vampire?”
I nod, rubbing my hands together. “Yeah. Everyone you’ve met tonight is. Except the two women.”
“Are they normal women?”
“Nope. Witches.”
Dimi nods, staring straight ahead. “How?”
“How what?”
“How are they vampires, Yann? How do vampires exist? How did you find them?”
“They found me. As for how they exist, they just do. A lot of stuff does that we didn’t know about, but I do now.”
“Like?”
“Demons.” I clear my throat. “Uh, sirens. Shifters.”
“Shifters? Like people who can turn into animals?”
“Yeah.”
“No way.” He shakes his head. “I’m dreaming.”
“You’re awake. I wasn’t planning on telling you anytime soon, but you showed up, and then all this happened so…” I shrug. “Surprise.”
He just stares at me like I’ve turned green. Maybe I have.
After a minute, he rubs his forehead. “We’re safe with them?”
“Obviously. We’d already be dead if we weren’t. They willingly put themselves in harm’s way to protect us.”
“Yeah,” he mumbles. “Hales looks like a regular guy, but then he took all those bullets and turned into a…” He stops himself.
“A wild animal. A monster. A feral beast. That’s the vampire side when he’s angry.”
“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.”
“Thanks. I don’t have to do it anytime soon. I can wait.”
“But you don’t want to, do you? You’re ready to commit your whole life, literally, to him?”
“I can’t imagine anything ever being better than this. I can’t imagine wanting someone else the way I want him. I don’t want anything to happen to me that would take me away, you know?”
“Like bullets?”
I half smile. “Car accidents, illness, and yeah, pissed-off Mafia guys with guns. I’d be forever thirty-four.”
“Strong and healthy for eternity. Not a bad deal.”
“No. I could always look out for you too. You’d never be alone.”
He smiles, grabbing my hand. “I know you think I’m a kid, but I’m an adult. A little stunted, but I can do this. I’m ready to grow up and take care of myself.”
“I don’t think you’re a kid, Dimi, but you can’t stop me looking out for you.”
“I know.” He lets go of me and drags his hand through his hair. “How did you plan to hide all of this from me tonight?”
“No clue. Hale told me to trust him and I did. I think they have a drink that makes people forget details.”
He laughs. “Oh, drug me. Nice.”
“Harmless drugs. Pretty sure, anyway.”
“Is that how they hide it from people who come here?”
“Yeah. A lot of the customers aren’t mortal. Some are though.”
“Wow.”
“I’m sorry you were scared. There wasn’t time to warn you.”
“It’s okay. I was scared, but I was mostly in awe of what I was witnessing. Hale and Thorn… Wild.”
“I hear Thorn is a maniac when he’s in vampire mode, but I don’t think it compares to Hale.”
“He doesn’t scare you?”
“No.” I feel my cheeks burn.
“Ooh, dude, you’re turned on by it.”
“Shut up, Dimi.”
“Oh my god, you vampire slut.”
“I’m not a—” I end up laughing. “Fine. Hale’s vampire side does it for me.”
“Kinky. I like it. Have you done it with him when he’s like that?”
“I’m not discussing my sex life with you.”
“Which means you have.” He does a little shimmy in his seat. “This is a whole new side of my big brother.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
We laugh together until Dimi sobers and puts his hand on mine.
“Hey. If this is what you want to do, I support you. I’ll get used to it.”
“Really?”
“Heck yeah. You’d do the same for me. I know you would. I want you to be happy, and Hale obviously does that.”
“You can never tell anyone. Especially Mom and Rich.”
He scrunches his nose. “I’m not talking to them anyway. I’ll show Dad that I’m capable.”
“You definitely are.” I squeeze his shoulder. “Your support means a lot.”
“Yours does to me too.”
“You ready to go out there and get the initiation of a lifetime?”
Dimi straightens his shoulders. “Let’s do this. Maybe I’ll meet my very own vampire.”
“This is the place for it. New Onyx happens to be a very queer city too.”
Dimi grins. “Home sweet home.”
We walk out together, and I search the club for Hale, finding him at the bar wearing a different shirt than he had on before. He looks totally pulled together and normal, like he wasn’t shot up less than an hour ago.
He smiles when he sees me, his shoulders visibly relaxing as his face lights up. “Is everything okay?”
“First, how are you?”
“I’m fine, love. Totally healed. Your brother?”
“Shocked at first, of course, but we talked about everything and he’s good now.” I slide my arms around Hale’s waist. “I told him about turning so that I can stay with you.”
His eyes widen. “What did he say?”
“He supports me.”
Hale cups my face. “Does that mean it’s a possibility?”
Smiling, I nod. “I’d rather not wait too long. I don’t want to take the chance of something happening to me.”
“Are you sure, Yannis? I can’t reverse it once it’s done.”
“I know, but I also know you’re the one. This is it for me. It’s you, Hale. Now and always.”
“All the gods. You have no idea how wonderful this is.”
“I have a clue.” I lean in and kiss him. “Whenever you’re ready, I’m ready.”
A slow smile spreads across his lips as he bends slightly, lifts me off my feet, and throws me over his shoulder. I laugh in surprise, squeezing his ass.
“I’m leaving, Ti,” Hale says. “Keep an eye on Dimi.”
“Got it. Have fun.”
I wave as Hale carries me out of the club. I’m pretty sure my whole life is about to change.
I hope I’m as ready for this as I think I am.