Nix pressed his lips together, then sighed.“No.But I killed you, and I need to forgive myself for that.”He shoved his hands into his pockets.“If you feel up to it, you can come down for breakfast.Otherwise, I can get something sent up.”He looked past Lance.“Although you might want to let someone go in and tidy up.”
His legs were tired, as though he’d been running all night.Maybe it was weakness from yesterday’s misplaced rage.He leaned against the doorframe, but he didn’t want to spend another day in his room alone.
“Can we not share a room now?”He needed to know if Nix was still his.Or if he’d ever really been his.“I’m sorry I was awful.”
“It’s okay.”Nix didn’t meet his gaze, and he kept his hands in his pockets.
“It’s not.I don’t know what came over me.”He’d had no control, and it terrified him; it was the same urge he’d felt when he had Nix pinned beneath him.It was a part of himself he didn’t want to face.
“It’s what makes you stronger and faster, but if you don’t get it under control, it can be destructive.”Nix watched him as though he expected Lance to tear him apart.“It’s a normal part of being turned.”
Normal didn’t make it right.
“Did I bite you terribly and make your dislike of being bitten worse?”He couldn’t see any bite marks on Nix, but that didn’t mean they weren’t hidden.“Did I hurt you?”
Nix shook his head.“No, you were lovely.Mostly scratching and sucking, and I didn’t mind at all, but you need practice.You need to be safe.”He managed a small smile.“We can work on that.”
We can work on that.That was promising.
Lance offered his hand, hoping Nix would take it and bridge the gap that had formed.“Are we okay?”
Nix nodded, but it was unconvincing.
“I swore to the Reids yesterday.”Nix took Lance’s hand and turned it palm up.There was no diamond tattoo marring his skin.“They want to talk to you today.You gave up everything and were a little resentful about it yesterday.They’ll have a few questions for you before you can get marked.”Nix showed Lance his bare wrists.“But we can do that together.If you want.”
Lance grasped both Nix’s hands.“They can wait.I need to know you don’t hate me.”
“I don’t hate you.I love you.You didn’t have to come to the warehouse.You could’ve left me, but you came with me to save me.Then you saved me again when I drank your blood.I don’t know how to repay that.”
“You don’t have to.”
Nix frowned.“I do.”
“You don’t owe me anything.That’s not how love works.I just want to be with you…even if you are trouble.”
Nix stepped forward and hugged him.Lance nearly fell over out of shock before wrapping his arms around him.
“Are you sure you’re okay?The Nix I know wouldn’t hug unless he was planning to stab me in the kidneys.”
“No weapons.I’m practically naked.”
Lance kissed him, trying to be careful not to cut either of their lips with his new fangs and failing.“Maybe after breakfast, I can make that totally naked.”
* * *
Getting naked had to wait.Lance was taken away as soon as they’d had breakfast in the dining room that overlooked the garden.Nix sat there alone, drinking coffee and reading the paper and trying not to be nervous on Lance’s behalf.He finished the paper, then fiddled around on the new phone for a bit, wondering what was taking so long.
He tried to log into the Hadley site only to find his password no longer worked.He wasn’t surprised at all.Tension crawled through him until he couldn’t sit still, so he started pacing.What were they asking Lance?
What if he answered wrong?
After another hour, Garrick turned up.“They’re ready for you.”
Nix followed him to a large lounge room.Fifteen vampires sat or stood around to witness or ward off trouble.In the middle was Ann Reid and another woman who was unpacking her tattoo gun on the coffee table.Lance sat opposite them, and Nix joined him.He stretched his fingers out to brush Lance’s and for a moment they held tight.
“This is a special occasion.Two newReids,” Ann said.“One by blood and one by oath.”
“Put your left arm on the table, wrist up,” Ann’s niece said.
