17. Alister
17
Alister
I adjusted the final piece, ensuring everything was in place. The past few days had been filled with the constant thrum of construction noises and a steady stream of workers coming and going. It was a little chaotic and driving my mate crazy with curiosity.
I had to keep reassuring her that it was all for a surprise.
The truth was, that vampires weren’t typically fond of roots or family life, for that matter. We thrived in the shadows and loved being in the center of chaos. City life allowed for just that—where we could indulge in our wildest cravings without notice. But I had been there, done that, and bought the T-shirt as they say.
I had been alone for far too long.
The castle was a testament to that loneliness—the one I had built with the hope of housing a family, a vampire family.
They had come and gone, drawn to the lure of the city where entertainment and food were in abundance. They were too young to understand the value of roots.
Evelyn changed everything.
She awakened something in me that I thought had died centuries ago—a longing for connection, for family. From the moment my eyes met hers, I knew she was mine.
I had heard of fated mate bonds before, rare connections that were said to be life-altering, shaking the very foundations of one’s existence.
But it was more than that.
The moment my fangs sank into her skin, an electric shock raced through me, connecting us in a way I’d never known possible. I felt her presence in my chest—a faint but growing pulse that signaled she was now mine.
From that moment on, she was the center of my universe.
I needed her—needed to be by her side, to protect her, to ensure she was cherished and loved.
The desire to have her, to claim her in every way, consumed me.
Gods, I wanted her.
So damned much.
More than anything, I felt an insatiable urge to avenge every wrong done to her. The bond demanded justice for her suffering.
At the Yuletide party, it took all my self-control to restrain myself when I heard they intended to harm her. My instincts screamed to eliminate anyone who posed a threat to my mate; they were unworthy to even exist in her presence.
She was strong and beautiful, and she was mine.
My lips curved into a smile at the thought of her still sleeping in my bed.
I had waited lifetimes for her, and now that she was here, she was finally my wife.
And then there were the others: Rafe, Lucien, Ryker, and even Chad with his perkiness. They seemed to come as a package deal with my little phoenix. At one time, their presence would have driven me to murderous rage; vampires are nothing if not possessive, and adding a mate bond into the mix only heightens that instinct.
But they were growing on me and becoming…tolerable.
I’m still undecided about Ryker; he’s a possessive one, just like me. However, I couldn’t hate them all too much if they were as keen as I was to keep what I cherished most in this world alive and safe. Maybe it was seeing how deeply they cared for her, how they would risk their lives to protect her, just as I would. Their dedication mirrored my own, and that stirred something within me—something I had to admit was more than just tolerance.
It was respect.
Dinner nights became something to look forward to, learning about each of them and what made them who they are today…Even if Ryker mostly grunted in response, I could sense he was slowly opening up.
I couldn’t imagine life without them now. They weren’t just part of Evelyn’s world—they had become an integral part of mine, too. Even if some of them got under my skin more often than not. I guess that’s what family does—they annoy you, but you can’t imagine life without them.
For centuries, I’d ignored the holidays.
The meaning had changed so much over the years, and I no longer cared about any of it. But what I did love was the chance to celebrate with the people who truly mattered.
Many supernaturals, including myself, had little to do with these traditions, though some blended them with their own.
But this year felt different.
Special.
I glanced around one last time, satisfied.
This could be the beginning of something beautiful, or chaotic. Either way, it would be memorable.