Page 50 of Damian’s Conquest

There was stunned silence for a moment, then Naomi asked, “But if anything happens to her, if she dies, wouldn’t that mean that your father will die too, because he’ll starve?”

Damian shook his head. “No. If a blood-bonded mate dies, her surviving mate goes through a change, and he’ll be able to drink the blood of any human again. I know two vampires that this happened to. You met one of them tonight: Luther. Katie is his second mate. His first died in childbirth.”

“Oh.” She contemplated his words, and he didn’t press her. “So, because your father is dependent on your mother for his survival, is that why you said that your mother wears the pants in the relationship?”

“That’s not the reason. My mother would never deny him her blood. She loves him. But she also has him completely wrapped around her little finger, it’s a wonder Dad can breathe. But he’s smitten with her, and would give his life for hers if he had to. I’ve never seen a love so strong than that of my parents.”

“How can she love a vampire?” Naomi shook her head.

“I know it’s a difficult thing to wrap your head around, but deep down my father is a man with more humanity and deeper emotions than any human. They trust each other completely, and despite of what you might think about a relationship between a human and a vampire, they’re equal partners.”

~ ~ ~

Equal partners? The spinning in Naomi’s head became more intense. How was this even possible? Was she really having this conversation? But when she thought back to the housewarming party and the way Damian’s parents had looked at each other, she couldn’t deny what she’d seen: love and devotion. But something else too: desire. Even after having been together for over thirty years, they still desired each other.

“And you were born into this? So you’re still part human?”

He nodded. “I’m as strong as my father, but I’m not vulnerable to sunlight like he is. I can eat human food, but I also need human blood to stay strong.”

She gestured toward the refrigerator. “You drink bottled blood?”

“Most of the time.”

A shiver ran down her spine. Most of the time. She knew what that meant. When he didn’t bite women during sex. But she didn’t want to steer the conversation into that direction.

“The blood is bottled by Scanguards. Why? What does a security company have to do with blood? And where do they get it from?”

She noticed Damian take a deep breath of air.

“It’s not really my secret to tell, but you’re too smart, you would figure it out soon anyway, so I might as well tell you everything.”

She nodded.

“Samson, the founder of Scanguards, is a vampire. Over half of his employees are vampires or hybrids. Some are witches. The rest are humans. Most of the people you saw at the housewarming party are vampires or hybrids and their blood-bonded mates.”

“Hybrids? That’s what the woman was saying.”

“Katie. Yes.”

“Is she a vampire?”

“No. But she’s blood-bonded to one, Luther. And her brother Haven is a vampire. Her brother Wesley is a witch.”

Naomi shook her head, trying to take it all in. “So Patrick and Grayson? They’re vampires?”

“Hybrids. They were born to a vampire and his human mate. You saw Samson and Delilah. They are just as devoted to each other as my parents.”

“And the pregnant woman, Scarlet? She’s human, right?”

“Yes, but Ryder is a vampire hybrid like myself. And the babies will be vampire hybrids.”

At the mention of babies, Naomi recalled what she’d seen when the toddler had laughed. “Harry, the toddler, he’s a vampire hybrid? Those were really fangs, weren’t they? And he really tried to bite me.”

“He did. I sealed the wound before you could see that he actually drew blood.”

“What?” She stared at her finger, but there was no sign of the bite. “That’s not possible. I would have seen it.”

“Remember that I kissed the spot?” He looked at her, and his eyes suddenly shimmered golden again. “A vampire’s saliva can heal small wounds like that instantly, and there won’t be any scars either.” He pointed to her neck. “Just like there are no scars from me biting you last night.”