Page 27 of Bone Collector’s Mate

Before William could answer, the server came over. When I was done ordering, I realized I didn’t even know what came out of my mouth. I’d been so focused on the conversation. It would be a surprise meal.

Pretty quickly, we learned that William had encountered my kind before, saying they were rare, which I knew. But because they kind of existed in a similar space, when they were close to each other, they tended to cross paths.

“And that’s how you knew who I was, because you sensed life and death?”

The vampire nodded. “Just like now, I can sense it. You’ve shifted into your human form, but it’s still there.”

As far as I knew, no one could see through it. Interesting.

“And now I sense something similar in your mate.”

Rook went pale. “No. No. No.”

“Not that your child is dying,” William said quickly. The way William had no idea how to talk to those living a human life would be amusing if this weren’t such a serious conversation. “They’re okay. Perfect from what I can tell.”

“But you said…”

“I said that I can sense their father, and I can.”

“But what is our baby?”

“From what I’m sensing, which could be wrong, they’re wolf and bone collector, and they’re, like, coexisting.” He tilted his head. “Yeah. When your baby is born, they’re going to be both if they choose. And then more.”

“More?”

We started peppering him with questions. Would they have a skull? Would they shift? Could they hear or sense bones the way I did? Would they be called the way I was to wander this earth looking for those bones? Did they have to? Could they reject it? As questions popped into our heads, they poured out of our mouths.

One after another, we just pounded him with questions, not giving him time to answer. He leaned back and held his hand out in front of him. “Slow down. Slow down. I know you have a lot of questions, and I don’t have all the answers. But I’m sensing what you really want to know is, does your child have a choice?”

We both nodded.

“Yes and no. They’ll always be a wolf. That wolf is part of who they are. But bone collector? They can reject that call when they’re older.” He looked at me. “Do you not remember when you accepted the call?”

I did, but only in pieces. And I didn’t fully understand what those pieces were.

“So you’re saying my child could be like me, but they don’t have to?”

“Exactly.”

There had been a time when that would’ve been a fate worse than death in my eyes, but it wasn’t the life or the calling that had been bad. It was being alone, and now I knew I didn’t have to be, and our child wouldn’t have to be. I had Rook and Benji and Whisper Grove. Our child would have all those things and more.

“You don’t seem to know a lot about yourself.” The vampire wasn’t wrong.

“Well, it’s not like we have bone-collector meetings.” I tried to lighten the mood.

The vampire reached out and put his hand on my arm then closed his eyes. “You’ve changed. You’re anchored more strongly to life now than before.”

Then he did the same to my mate. “Interesting. You have changed too.”

“How so?” I asked.

“It’s like he’s anchored to you, but not just because you’re mates. Also, his biology. It’s not completely unlike mine.”

The more he spoke, the more riddle-filled his answers were. After a lot of explaining, me discovering I’d ordered soup of all things, a meal filled with questions and William’s musings, I finally pieced together what he had been trying to say. My mate and my lifespans were tied together. His longer than before and mine shorter, but, honestly, I didn’t want to live without Rook. I was happy to give up those years.

“But, Benji…” Rook was visibly shaken.

“Benji is your wolf son, but he’s not your biological son, correct?”

“Yes.”

“He can still choose if he wants to become a bone collector. His parentage doesn’t impact that.”

“How can he just choose?” Rook asked.

“The same way your mate did.”

Memories long forgotten started to reform. I had chosen. It was hazy as to why, but I had no doubt it was me who wanted this life. And if Benji decided he wanted to make that choice, I’d allow him to do so and make sure he didn’t suffer the way I did. Because, unlike me, he had two fathers who loved him dearly, and we’d make sure the transition was as smooth as possible. Or no transition at all. Because just like our new baby, he would have the choice.