My Man Is A Vampire I

ive Alek suspicious looks over the rim of her cup. Evelyn appreciated her presence more than she let on. There was comfo

me," she said, leveling Alek with a final glance. "Or text. Or blink

mind," Evelyn sai

hey were a

radiator to break the silence. Evelyn watched Alek move around the apartment with cautious grace, like he wasn't used to being anywhere for long. He paused near he

said, voice bare

d

around herself as if holding in something that might

in soft gold, casting shadows beneath his cheekbo

e wanted, but it was ho

you came ba

tly. "But that doesn'

a knife with a velvet ha

d. But Evelyn... there are things I haven

ut steady. "Then tell me. No

oked younger. More human. "I wasn't alone," he said finally. "Before.

ne lik

older. Stronger. We were bound once-not by c

d. "You think he'l

nce was ans

y. "Why now? Why did

ldn't stay away. I've lived a long time in the shadows, Evelyn. But you..." His voice softened,

s in sunlight. She stepped forward, placing a hand

his own. "I don't know

cide what I'm w

en nodded. Not a vow, not a promise. J

hite movie neither of them were really watching. At some point, Alek had changed into a dry shirt and jeans borrowed from

fternoon to find him staring out t

she said sleepily

"He's getting closer. Not

er hair out of her eye

pa

nally. "To the fold. To the blood covenan

nged

maybe... you reminded me what I used t

nge gravity. "Alek," she whisp

rned-new, furious, lost. He offered control. Purpose. But the price was obedienc

m. "You're not tha

at will be enough to stop him. Casian... he doesn't understand l

a tremor of steel.

e her in a stillness so complete it felt unreal. She watched the rise and fall of hi

wrapped in a blanket, and went to the kitchen fo

[2:

't s

your room. Holding your face like you

something

a long moment. Her fingers hove

n [2:

ethi

not scare

t I'll lose if I d

idn't

came just

s alrea

f the room, fully dresse

rt thudded.

once. "Sta

is hand, but he w

ker than usual-shadows seemed to cling to the corners,

a dark coat that shimmered like oil. His eyes were a

, voice like velvet dra

tightened

ward, but Alek blo

invited in,

ules like they'll save you." His gaze drifted past him, set

speak t

e's quite... luminous. Tell me, girl.

ne straightened, chin lifting

ow and firm. "You

do. You've forgotten what yo

lek said. "And

tilled. "Then y

t blink. "

faded. "You'l

lek said. "Bu

he hallway darkened further as he wal

ed it. Leaned against it l

ed to him. "

r n

reaking behind his eyes. "But you'

down so their foreheads touched

eath. "Then you'll ha