CHAPTER FIVE
Torin cleaned and dressed his beloved, and he enjoyed doing it. Taking care of someone was not something Torin was familiar with, for he had only taken care of himself for the entirety of his existence. But taking care of Shae gave him a sense of importance and approval. It was nice.
He'd helped some people along the way, but nothing that interfered with his life or his time. He believed that other people's problems were their own, not his. This was true, except that if those people hired him to handle the problem, he was more than willing to assist.
This right here was the very first altruistic action of his life. He saved this young man, and he would do it again; if necessary, he would do whatever it took to keep him safe. Shae Callahan, hapless masseur, was now the center of Torin's existence. Fate had a wonderful sense of humor.
The legends of the powers of the beloved were fact, and Torin could attest to that.
He had tasted him, and the thrills that roared through him had set his soul on fire.
The energy that surged through him during feeding, and the connection he felt, were deep and marked him permanently.
It was unexpected, but the vampire half of his soul was ecstatic, and the demon half was very interested.
Shae had a lot to learn about Torin and his life, and about real life in general. The supernatural was a subject he never discussed, especially with anyone who wasn't already part of it, so this was going to take patience and finesse, two things he possessed in very small quantities.
He was Torin's beloved, so Fate would grease the track for him a little, but humans could still be tricky and difficult when presented with new points of view. The attraction was spot on for both of them, so he was confident their relationship would continue to progress.
Shae ran his fingers through his blonde hair and straightened his clothes.
He felt awkward in the aftermath of their lovemaking, and Torin did not want that to hang in the air.
"You're beautiful, Shae. Your body was meant for me.
" He stated, and Shae looked at him with a shy smile, but there was a gleam in his eyes.
"The attraction I am feeling for you is fucking fierce. "
"I feel the same," Shae admitted after a period of weighing and measuring the payoff for such a statement.
"I'm not an ordinary man, and I think you know that now." Torin went in the direction of disclosure, but carefully and calculated.
"And you're not just alluding to the assassin part of your resume," Shae interjected and held Torin's gaze as he did so. Torin walked over to the counter, poured himself a whiskey, and brought it back to him.
"Here, take this, and then we will talk." Shae looked at the brown liquid, swirled it a couple of times, then downed it and handed the glass back to Torin. "Good boy," Torin stated, noticing the spark light up again in Shae's eyes. Interesting.
Torin took Shae's hand, led him to the living area, got him seated on the couch, then sat down next to him, their bodies touching. The contact stimulated the bond, and he wanted all the help he could get as he took Shae down the supernatural rabbit hole.
"Were you born here, Shae?"
"Yes, twenty-five years ago. I thought about leaving, but never did."
“How much do you know about . . . the ruling factions here in Pittsburgh?” He casually took Shae’s hand in his and held it while rubbing the back with his thumb.
"I know Mr. Massey owns a lot of businesses, and he has the power to help or hurt people.
" Shea thought for a moment and then added.
"The Hadden Corporation is powerful; they do a lot of good for the town, but unlike Jarod Massey, there isn't one person who takes the credit.
I'm pretty sure Mr. Hadden is the one making all the calls, but he doesn't step up for the praise.
Or maybe he's a recluse or something... I don't know. " He chuckled nervously.
"Good observations," Torin told him and squeezed his hand. Shae responded instantly and turned to him with a satisfied grin.
“Tell me more about Nikolas Hadden.” Torin prompted.
"He owns the Imperial Club, a posh place way out of my budget.
They have a select clientele, and it's an invitation-only sort of place.
I hear that it's stunning." He took a long breath and let out a little appreciative sigh.
"He also owns the Hadden Center downtown, of course.
" He chuckled at himself again. "I've been to the Hadden Center. I went to one of the coffee shops on the ground floor and just sat there soaking up the vibes. It was great.”
“What did you feel while you sat there?”
"Enchanted." He paused briefly. "The air felt magical, like any minute a fairy or a unicorn might happen by. Yeah, I know, crazy." He dismissed.
"That was more likely than you know. Not the unicorn, no such thing as a unicorn, unfortunately.
" Shae gave him side eye that might have killed lesser men.
"You ever encounter something in this town that didn't make sense or was just outlandish, and you wrote it off as a hallucination, a misunderstanding, or just false? "
Shae looked at him seriously, watching his face, staring into his eyes.
He wasn't going to speak until he knew he was safe to do so.
Torin wasn't from Pittsburgh, but he knew the town's reputation.
It was one of the most paranormal locations in the country.
Vampires, wolves, Fae, magics, you name it, they're in Pittsburgh, and with that said, a young man who has lived his entire life here must have seen something.
"There were rumors that I heard when in high school, and I've heard some of the same rumors since, but everyone considers them exaggerations or ramblings." Shae was still testing the waters.
“Continue.” He prompted again.
"There are rumors that Pittsburgh was originally founded by a coven of vampires that were looking for a place to live.
They also say those same vampires still exist beside us today.
Some claim that there are werewolves in the woods and in the hills that surround the city.
" Shae continued to stare, but Torin's face remained unreadable.
"The vampire myth is a strong one. People talk about it, but everyone pretends to not believe it.”
“Do you believe it?” Torin reached up and ran his finger over the scar on Shae’s throat and saw him close his eyes and release a soft moan in response. Realization comes slowly and spreads across Shae’s lovely countenance like a wave.
“You bit me.” The words were soft but not fearful.
"Yes." Torin ran his tongue seductively over his lip, and again there was that flash in Shae's eyes. He wasn't scared, he was excited, and that excited Torin. He bent and kissed the scar, and Shae leaned into him.
"What are you telling me, Torin?"
“I think you know what I’m telling you.”
“Vampires exist in Pittsburgh.”
"They weren't the founders of this city, but they've been here a very long time.
" It was then that Torin focused on his vampire, and he rose to the surface.
His eyes reddened, his face hardened into stark angles, and his teeth sharpened to fin points.
The hand that held Shae's also turned to hard, angular muscle like his face, and his nails lengthen dangerously.
The look was fearsome, but Shae did not back away or panic.
“You’re a vampire.”
“I am.”
“Hadden Center is vampires?”
“Hadden Center is a coven.”
“Is it your coven?”
"I don't belong to a coven. I am not from Pittsburgh. I was born in Savanna, but I have lived in many places."
Silence fell between them for nearly five minutes. Shae remained calm and seemed to be processing the information. Torin felt for him but also wanted to keep the conversation going. He wanted to get all the information out and dealt with.
"You work alone, you live alone, and yet you saved me and brought me here.
I know I'm not crazy when I say that there is something here.
" He pointed back and forth between them.
"I feel connected to you, and the longer I'm with you, the stronger that feeling becomes.
I can see that you feel the same or at least you're feeling something if not as intensely as I. "
"There is definitely something between us, sweetheart, and I feel it just as intensely as you.
" Torin made himself clear. "You are my beloved, my Fated match, my predestined life partner, and you are fast becoming the heart of my soul.
" He moved closer and then gently brushed his lips against Shae's, and he opened for him and kissed back.
This was perfect. He explained the meaning of beloved and the importance they hold in the lives of their vampire. Shae listened and nodded but did not speak until he was finished.
"Fate chooses for you?"
"Bonds are eternal, and Fate brings together perfect matches.
She didn't make me, and she didn't make you, but she knew that we would be great together.
She inspires the union, but she does not create the bond.
We must create and grow our bond and build our lives together.
" It was a lot, considering the day Shae had already had, but this was important, and their bond needed to move forward.
"How do we create the bond?" All good questions, but Torin wasn't sure if he wanted to get into all the details right now. He smiled and just told him.
"Sex creates the bond I spill in you and feed from you, marking you, and our bond ignites."
“Didn’t we just do that?”
"Yes and no. I bit you first and then spilled inside you. The bite must come simultaneously with the climax." Fuck this was a hell of a lot of information and way too much explanation for Torin's liking.
"You weren't sure if you wanted to keep me?" That was unexpected, and Torin turned on him with a tense scowl.