100. Rune
Rune
“I’ve never really thought of it.” I hug Vameer’s neck as we drop toward the earth.
“Never?”
“Not really. I always had the itch to move, so I’d dream about locations, not houses. But… yeah. I’d like a home of our own.”
He purrs, holding me tighter. “Our home.”
I smile and kiss his cheek. “What sort of house do you want?”
Vameer shrugs as we lower through the darkness, toward the empty parking lot below. “I want lots of windows. Volik’s house is practical. And comfortable. But I went too long without daylight. Even if I was asleep.”
Vameer’s bare feet settle on the cracked blacktop, a dozen steps from the doorway to Haruto’s warehouse.
“There’s a bunch of TV shows about people looking for houses. Could be fun to watch.”
He slides my body down his, smirking. “I would like that.”
Volik has been introducing Vameer to movies, so binge-worthy TV is clearly the next step.
I grin up at Vameer as we walk toward the door. “You’re the perfect person to watch TV with.”
“Because you love me.”
I snort. “I do. But that’s not what makes you good for a specific situation of TV watching.”
He takes my hand in his. “Then what makes me good for TV watching?”
I lift my free hand and tick off the points. “I don’t need a blanket because you’re so warm. You won’t eat my snacks. And you don’t fall asleep.”
Vameer lifts his other hand, exposing the heart bracelet he refuses to take off, and holds up his pointer finger. “And because you love me.”
I roll my eyes. But I can’t hold my grin back. “Maybe.”
We step up onto the sidewalk in front of the door, and the handle clicks, unlocking itself.
Vameer shakes his head and pulls the door open. “Dramatic old man.”
“I like him.” I smile as we walk through the short entryway, the ceiling at a normal height. Haruto might be dramatic, but his antics were cracking me up the whole time we were here before.
“You would.” Vameer squeezes my fingers. “But he better have some damn clothes ready.”
Vameer left his sword at home but put his robe over his one outfit. The lights in the warehouse are on low, and the dimness makes the red material appear almost black.
He looks like an old-world Mafia boss while I’m in linen pants and a T-shirt. But no matter how opposite we look, I always feel like his perfect fit.
I squeeze Vameer’s fingers as we wind toward the center of the main room.
He looks down at me.
I stop. “You’re right.”
“Sí.” He smirks and halts beside me. “What about?”
“Another reason you’re the perfect person to watch TV with is because I love you.” I feel our hearts thud.
He reacts like this every time I say it. And it just… It makes me love him more.
It shouldn’t be possible. It’s been barely over a week, but he’s all the things he said a mate was. He’s just… a part of me.
I feel better when he’s around.
And… I let my eyes skim his massive frame.
Vameer knows how to please me. In every way.
I take a step back, letting my hand slip free from his. Then another, as I think about him chasing me through the warehouse.
My thigh muscles clench.
Vameer takes a deep inhale and starts to close his eyes.
Then his brows furrow.
Slowly, he opens his eyes. But he’s not looking at me. He’s looking over me.
I feel our heart thud again. But the intention is not affection.
It’s danger.
“Veniunt,” Vameer growls.
The hairs on my arms dance.
And the room detonates. Gunfire sounds from every direction as Vameer throws his arms up.
I drop to a crouch, hands over my ears, trying to block out the overwhelming noise.
Vameer steps back with his left foot.
Like he was pushed off balance.
He braces himself and leans forward. Palms out. Against a force.
I try to see who’s out there. But there are too many shadows and too many flashes from gun barrels.
People are shooting at both of us.
Trying to kill both of us.
I want to run the two steps to Vameer so I can hide behind him.
But I don’t want to distract him. Or get in the way.
Anger and fear coil inside me.
The gunfire doesn’t slow.
The pressure in my chest intensifies.
Then Vameer hisses.
It’s low and loud and a warning of bad things.
I lift my eyes and follow his gaze.
A dozen yards away. Straight ahead. Four vampires. Ones I’ve never seen before. Stand in a row.
They lift daggers.
They turn their gazes on me.
And they throw.
Vameer roars as he pulls his hands together and shoves forward.
The daggers scatter as the vampires are lifted off their feet and flung backward.
I turn my head, looking away as something catches fire with a burst of light.
And that’s the only reason I see him. Behind Vameer, in the shadows, is another vampire.
Bigger than the others.
Older.
Scarier.
He lunges forward, throwing a dagger at Vameer’s back.
I dart up. “No!”
The weapon is flying impossibly fast. Aimed straight for Vameer’s heart.
I can’t lose him.
Vameer can’t die.
Fear fills every drop of my blood.
I have to get there first.
My next step… I jump.
Faster than I should be able to, I reach Vameer.
Relief hits me, a millisecond before the pain does.