Chapter 24 #3
He wrapped his arms around Tobias and pulled him tight, encircling his narrow frame as if he could protect Tobias from the world. And he would. Alexander Damianos decided, right then and there, that if anything ever happened to Tobias, he would burn the world down to ashes.
Once the water had gone frigid around them, Alexander had gotten them out of the bath and dried them off, pulling one of his jumpers over Tobias’ damp curls and insisting on tucking him into bed.
Tobias had stretched and yawned, unusually quiet, but he’d curled up into a ball and promptly gone to sleep, so Alexander chalked it up to nothing more than exhaustion, stress, and coming to terms with the fact that he was in a house full of immortal monsters.
He’d gone to the orangery to chain-smoke once he was sure that Tobias was fast asleep and wasn’t going to wake up.
The plants he’d so carefully cultivated in his time at Rothburn were looking the worse for wear, and he’d cursed under his breath that the servants hadn’t been following instructions.
Maria’s cat had found her way into the room, dozing on a cushion in a patch of setting sun, and her green eyes tracked him as he walked around trimming plants and feeling their roots for rot, a cigarette hanging between his lips.
With every step, he listened for Tobias, the soft sounds of his breathing and the steady thump of his heart.
The rest of the family would be reluctant to come near Alexander’s rooms after he’d thrown the bloodied corpse of the vampire over the railing into the foyer, causing blood and gore to splash on the walls and several unsuspecting people gathered below.
But that didn’t mean that Alexander wasn’t on high alert, ready to spring into motion to protect Tobias.
Tobias, who now knew all of him, and who was still here.
He’d expected so much worse, for him to have to restrain Tobias and keep him as practically a prisoner, but Tobias had shrugged and said he’d read enough books about vampires that he’d figured that they were creatures that truly existed somewhere in the world.
And he’d still been attached to Alexander’s side as he’d had food delivered, and then made sure Tobias ate it, both of them chasing dinner with a few glasses of wine.
Tobias had asked about what was going on, and Alexander had said that the killer in Oxford was likely a vampire, given what they knew about the condition of the corpses.
He didn’t tell Tobias about the fact that they’d been turned into made vampires – there was only so much one person could take, and he was wary of throwing Tobias over the edge.
But Tobias had just nodded, saying again that that made sense, and making a few jokes about how this would make a great true crime podcast, if anyone believed the story in the first place.
It had all felt normal – almost too normal.
Alexander racked his brain for any hint that he’d given off to Tobias, and yet couldn’t think of any sign he’d given away that he wasn’t entirely mortal.
Maybe Tobias really was that accepting, or maybe he was so shocked that he wouldn’t collapse in a panic until later.
Alexander would have to be on his guard, especially with the masquerade happening the day after next.
In forty-eight hours, he’d have to explain to Tobias precisely what was going to happen during the ball, so that he didn’t have a reaction that could be dangerous to them both.
Watching Alexander be nearly drained by his own father was bound to be a shock, and he’d have to do his best to prepare Tobias for it.
To prepare him for walking into an entire ballroom full of the most vicious, bloodthirsty vampires in England.
If Tobias could manage to play the part of a familiar in thrall to Alexander, he’d be safe.
If he wanted to, Alexander could even steer them away from some of the more…
extreme activities that would be on display.
He stubbed out his fourth cigarette in the ashtray when it burned down to the filter, lighting a fifth and settling down into a wicker chair in the corner.
Maria’s cat meowed, then sauntered over to him, hopping up onto his lap.
Alexander stroked the sleek body with one hand, letting his head tip back and the weight on his thighs settle him.
Now that Tobias knew the truth, they could figure this out together. And figure it out they would, because Alexander couldn’t bear the alternative.
When the sun set completely, Alexander divested the cat from her perch and went to check on Tobias, who was still sleeping soundly.
Stripping down, he crawled into bed behind him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and pulling him back into Alexander’s body, like he should shelter him from danger.
“You’re still here,” Tobias mumbled sleepily.
“I’m not going anywhere, little deer.” Alexander pressed a kiss to the top of Tobias’ head, breathing the scent of him in deep. “Not for as long as I live.”
He could have imagined the feeling of a tear dripping onto his arm, but he ignored it all the same, just holding Tobias tighter and promising to himself that he’d protect Tobias from anyone out to harm him, even at the cost of his own life.