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“I have to make sure you’re taken care of.”

“So Dregan doesn’t chew you out like he did when a bestower passed out from lack of water or whatever?”

My brow furrowed and I frowned. “No, because you’re my True Mate.”

He sucked in a breath, but didn’t reply.

“Surely Christopher talked to you about it?”

He nodded, but still didn’t say anything.

I couldn’t tell if he was upset or overwhelmed or what, so I kept talking. “The first time I saw you, I wanted to know you. I was drawn to you and even spent my nights wandering the island trying to find you.”

“You were looking for me?”

“Yes, but I didn’t have your name so no one knew who I meant when I asked. It was so close to dawn when I saw you that I didn’t have enough time to run over to you. I regretted not doing it anyway and damn the sun because you were all I was thinking about, and I thought I’d lost you. When Remi asked me if I wanted a bestower last night, my automatic answer was no, but something told me to go to the courtyard, and I’m so glad I listened.”

“I-I was looking for you, too. That’s why I started asking around about becoming a bestower and everything. I got asmuch information as I could before I went to Dorothy last night because I was hoping I could find you and have you drink from me.”

I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around his chest. “I’m very glad you were the one in the courtyard last night. I was starting to think I wouldn’t find you again, and that scared me.”

“I’m glad you were the vampire that showed up.”

“Me too.” I kissed the side of his head. “Last night was more amazing than I thought possible. I know we have a lot to learn about one another, but I hope you’ll give me a chance because I already care about you. The connection I feel with you is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.”

“I want to get to know you, too, Dorian.”

I hesitated, but decided that complete honesty was the best way to go. “I hope that you’ll want to complete the mating ritual with me one day.”

He was quiet for a few minutes, then whispered, “You’re winning me over already.”

I smiled at that and squeezed him tight. “Will you drink from me?”

He laughed a little. “Aren’t you the one that’s supposed to drink from me?”

I shrugged. “It’s supposed to go both ways, especially for True Mates.”

He looked back over his shoulder at me. “You really believe we’re soulmates?”

“I have no doubt, my treasure.”

He took a deep breath. “Okay, then I’ll drink from you if you’ll drink from me tonight, too.”

Leaning in, I dramatically sniffed his neck, making him squirm and laugh. Hearing him laugh was a wonderful feeling. I wanted to make him laugh some more, so I said in a really terrible accent, “I want to suck your blood.”

He cracked up and said, “Wow, I didn’t realize vampires could be such dorks.”

I laughed. “I’m sure you’ll get used to it.” He snorted out a laugh, so I held him to me and kept sniffing him over and over until he was giggling like crazy, and I was laughing along with him.

Chapter Seven

Neo

Sitting here with Dorian was amazing. It felt right, like this was exactly where I belonged—no, exactlywhoI belonged with.

When he finally stopped sniffing me—what a cute dork—he bit into his wrist and held it in front of my mouth. This time there was no hesitation. Grabbing his arm, I put my mouth over the bleeding wound, then gulped in as much as I could before it healed. I could feel Dorian growing hard behind me, which surprised me. I didn’t think letting me drink from him would have the same effect as him, a vampire, would have drinking from me.

I licked his wrist clean, then whispered, “Your blood tastes good. It doesn’t really taste like blood.”