Page 1 of Threads of Crimson 2

Chapter one

Benji

“And just like that, he said he was taking you home with him?”

Taking a sip of my margarita, I hummed with contentment. This had to be the tenth time I’d told Rafe this story, but he didn’t get tired of hearing it any more than I got sick of telling it.

“It was the most romantic moment of my life, Rafe.”

My friend sputtered on his own drink, dribbling the frozen goodness down his chin. Working the bar at Velvet Vein meant he was around liquor five or six times a week, but he rarely drank himself. Until tonight, I’d had no idea that he was a total lightweight.

“Only you would find a vampire covered in someone else’s…fluids romantic.”

The events of last weekend flashed through my mind. How scared I’d been, the panic that had consumed me knowing that Lysandro wasn’t there yet, and that by the time anyone went looking for me, I might’ve been—

A shiver racked my body even as a smile spread across my face. Lysandro had been there, and he’d known I needed him. “Yeah, well, fuck that guy. I don’t know who he was, but he had no right to touch me. He was going to…”

Rafe rolled off the loveseat, moving to snuggle into me on the couch, pulling my head onto his shoulder. “I know. I can’t believe that happened. Ronan’s been like a pissed-off lion all week, roaming the bar and glaring at all the vamps while checking in with all the donors. Making sure they all feel like they are safe.”

“That’s good,” I mumbled, stroking my hand through his silky hair. I was really going to miss this, miss him. I’d never had a friend like Rafe before, and I didn’t know if I ever would again.

“Mhm. I thought Damien might close it all down. I’ve never seen anyone as angry as he was after. You know, when he let you and Lysandro use his office, he paced around like he didn’t know what to do with himself.”

It was my turn to snicker. “He might’ve just been mad that he was shut out of his own office.”

Rafe elbowed me. “You know that’s not true. He was really worried. We all were. When they told me what happened…” He trailed off.

I took another sip of my delicious pomegranate margarita, set it on the table, and squeezed him tightly. “I know. I’ve had a few nightmares since it all happened,” I whispered. “But then I wake up and remember that Lysandro saved me. He actually killed one of his own kind for me, Rafe.” Maybe that should freak me out or scare me, but it didn’t. I knew Lysandro would never hurt me.

“And now he’s taking you home.” We sat in silence until he sniffed hard and sat up, wiping at the moisture in his eyes. “I can’t believe you’re leaving me.”

He held up his hand before I could protest. “No, it’s okay. I know this is everything you’ve wanted. I’m just going to miss you.”

Clutching his hands in mine, I said, “But we’ll talk all the time. Lysandro promised that I could still call you whenever I want.”

Rafe frowned. I knew what was coming next. “I guess, but I hate that I won’t know where you are. Literally no one knows where Lysandro lives. What if you hate it there? You won’t even be able to call and ask us to come get you because we literally won’t know where you are.”

My thoughts went back to after the attack. After Lysandro committed murder for me. The way he’d gazed into my eyes and said that he was taking me home with him. It hadn’t been an offer or a request. It just was. I didn’t tell Rafe or Sadie the story exactly like that. They’d worry even more. Worry that he’d compelled me or had somehow taken my free will.

He hadn’t, though. Lysandro would never do that. I wasn’t sure how I knew that, but I was. My sexy ancient vamp was private, but he didn’t seem as mysterious anymore. Not after months of spending time together. “Lysandro will keep me safe.”

Rafe nodded. “I know he will. He’s actually a lot nicer than I expected him to be.”

“He’s the best, Rafe. I swear he is. And I bet…” I licked my lips. “I bet if I ever wanted to leave him and move back here, he’d let me.”

That was an outright lie. There’d be no leaving him once I went with him. He’d made sure I understood that before he left last weekend. There’d never been a real choice, but he’d given me a week to say my goodbyes.

“Your heart wants what it wants,” Rafe said, his smile of understanding tinged with sadness.

I really was going to miss my friend.

Lysandro

I’d lost my mind. From the beginning, I’d known I needed to stay away from that young man. There’d been something about him even that first night that had caused warning bells to go off in my head.

“You put up a good fight,” Damien said.

I scowled, and that bastard chuckled.