Chapter 26 #3
I exhale, turning my attention to the dancing fire.
Could I really live with Thane? With vampires and werewolves like I had with humans?
Exist in their world without fear of being hunted or tortured?
Not as a pet or a prisoner, but as an equal?
Just the thought of that sounds absurd, but then again, so did their existence, and yet I’ve adapted to that reality over the years.
“Alright, I’ll play along.”
Sienna claps her hands and scribbles something on the pad of paper in her lap. “What’s first?”
“Hmm, I want a car.” Sienna bursts out laughing. “A fast one.”
“Yes, Fallon! This is what I’m talking about!” She starts writing as a proud smirk pulls at her mouth. “Give me more.”
“No collar, no chains, no leashes, no pen, and no dungeon. I get to choose what I wear, and Thane doesn’t get a say in the things I do.
” Sienna continues to write everything down, and I can’t deny a feeling of excitement has begun to bubble up inside me.
“And I want a phone so that I can text you. And I want to have the penthouse in Seattle to myself one weekend a month so that I can have some privacy and time away from the two of them. Oo, and an allowance. A thousand dollars a month, so we can go out and have fun, and I can get whatever I want without having to ask for it.”
Sienna pauses, looking up at me. “Are you sure you haven’t thought about this before?”
I laugh, and so does she. “If I’m going to let Thane drink from me and live in a world full of beasts who killed everyone I’ve ever known, then I’m going to milk it.”
“As you should,” she agrees with a nod. “Anything else?”
“I guess that’s probably enough. I don’t think I should push my luck.” Sienna grins as she stuffs the paper back into her bag. “What’s that look for?”
“You’re coming home.”
I open my mouth but close it, because she’s right.
If I run, where will it get me, and for how long?
I’ve always been stubborn, but I can’t keep trying to convince myself that being on the run and hiding from Thane is some sort of a life.
It’s not. But if Sienna is right, and this contract really is binding, then maybe just maybe I can make a life for myself in this new world.
“Okay,” I say, grabbing a hold of her hands to pull her up from the couch. “Let’s go present a counteroffer.”
When we pull up to the mansion, I half expect Thane and Kole to come rushing down the steps to greet us.
Instead, we make our way inside and find the two of them propped up in the living room, sipping on whiskey and laughing.
In fact, they don’t even notice us at first, and when they turn around and shoot up from their seats, I kind of wish they hadn’t.
There was something almost innocent about the way they had been a moment ago, and I wanted to see more of how they were with each other when they thought no one was watching.
“You’re back!” Thane practically gasps like he had no hope in Sienna.
“We’re back,” she says, digging into her bag and pulling out the list of demands. “But my client has some requests of her own.”
Kole walks over and takes the paper from her, looking it over with a grin that has one of his dimples showing. He passes it to Thane and tosses me a wink, making my heart skip a beat.
After a long moment of silence, Thane looks up. “You can have the penthouse to yourself one weekend a month, but Kole or I have to be in Seattle with you. Sienna can stay with you if you’d like, and you’ll be free to go where you want, but I can’t have you there without one of us close by.”
“Fine,” I agree. “Anything else?”
“You have to spend the night in my room once a week.” I immediately open my mouth to argue, but he holds up a hand to stop me. “I’ll sleep on the chair or in my wolf form on the floor, but I need to be around you.”
I may not like it, but I nod. The need for close proximity is a consequence of the bond, and if we want to keep him from losing his shit, then we have to find a balance.
“You’ll also need to attend celebrations, meetings, and other events that might take place,” Kole interjects.
“Why?”
“Because I’ve publicly claimed you as mine,” Thane answers. “Everyone will expect you to be by my side, and I’ll look weak if you’re not. It’s bad enough you won’t be in chains or sitting on my lap.”
A smile forms on my lips, hearing him say that last part. “Alright, but Sienna gets to attend too, and neither of you get to comment on my drinking.”
Kole quietly chuckles, throwing an arm around Thane and patting him on the chest. “Looks like the two of you have got yourselves a deal.”
“I’ll have the contract drawn up and ready to sign by morning,” Thane says with a bit of a grunt.
I turn to Sienna, who is practically beaming.
“Is this really happening?”
She giggles and loops her arm through mine. “Let’s have a sleepover to celebrate!”
I’ve never been one for sleepovers, but right now, the idea doesn’t sound half bad. If anything, I could use the company to distract myself from thinking about what I’ve just agreed to. In my heart, I know it’s the right choice, but shit.
What has my life come to?