Annabelle’s smile widened, her eyes twinkled as she squeezed Cassie’s hands tight once more before letting go. The tall, slender man that had come with Annabelle stepped forward to take hold of Cassie’s hand. His dark brown hair fell in waves around his handsome, open face. His startling, oddly silver colored eyes burned into her as he studied her carefully.
“It’s nice to meet you,” he said softly in a lilting voice that held the hint of a Midwest accent.
“You too,” she whispered, surprised by the man with the strange silver eyes. He seemed nice and caring, but there was a shy reservation in him that didn’t seem to fit in with the open warmth that Annabelle radiated.
“And this is Chris,” Devon said, drawing their attention away from Cassie. Chris shook hands with them, exchanging quick, pleasant greetings.
“Where are the others?” Annabelle inquired softly.
“Dani should be coming down soon,” Cassie said, surprised to realize that she had not followed them downstairs. “Luther and Melissa went home to pack, but they’ll be back before daybreak. Though I suppose we can’t go anywhere till night anyway.”
“Of course we can,” Annabelle replied airily. “The windows are fully tinted so as long as I stay in the back I’ll be fine. Besides, Julian will not be able to watch us if we depart during the daylight hours.”
Cassie felt the panic set in again as she glanced wildly at Chris, who looked just as surprised as she felt. It was too soon to leave; she had been expecting another full day in her home. At least one more day! Devon stepped closer to her; he wrapped his arms around her waist as he pulled her tight against him. He nuzzled her hair, pressing his lips gently against her ear.
“It will be ok,” he promised.
Cassie managed a small nod, but she couldn’t shake the knot of tension and terror that was wrapping through her chest. Annabelle was watching them closely, surprise and amusement evident in her sea green eyes. She cocked a delicate eyebrow as she turned her attention briefly to Devon.
“I think the sooner the better,” she said softly.
Devon’s arms tightened around Cassie for a moment before he nodded briskly. “You’re right.”
Closing her eyes, Cassie winced slightly. She wasn’t ready to be separated from her home, let alone Devon. Her fingers clutched tighter at him, she buried her head against his chest as she simply struggled to keep on breathing. Whatever amount of time they were apart was going to be pure torture for her.
“Hello.”
Cassie lifted her head as Dani appeared at the bottom of the stairs. Her gold streaked eyes were slightly narrowed as she surveyed Annabelle and Liam. “Hello!” Annabelle said brightly, gliding elegantly over to the tiny girl. Cassie was surprised to realize that even with as small as Dani was, Annabelle was smaller. Annabelle seized hold of Dani’s hands, flashing her radiant, loving smile. “And who are you?”
Dani studied her for a moment, managing a wan smile. “Danielle,” she said softly. “But you can call me Dani.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Dani. This is my mate, Liam.”
“Mate?” Cassie couldn’t help but inquire.
Annabelle flashed a bright grin back at Cassie. Liam moved behind Annabelle, resting his hands lightly upon her delicate shoulders. “Yes, my mate. You haven’t explained this to her yet Devon?”
Cassie glanced sharply at him, surprised by the hard clench of his jaw and the fierceness in his eyes as he stared hard at Annabelle. “No,” he grated.
Annabelle’s frown intensified, her eyes became dark and turbulent as she glanced swiftly between the two of them. “I see,” she whispered.
Cassie’s fingers tightened on him, confusion rocked through her. What was it that he hadn’t told her? What could he possibly be keeping from her? “What is a mate?” Chris inquired, confusion marring his forehead as he glanced worriedly between Cassie and Devon.
“It is what a vampire takes, or the bond that they create, when they find the person, or vampire, that they wish to spend eternity with. It is a very profound experience.” Annabelle’s eyebrows were furrowed with worry as she met Devon’s gaze again. “And it is binding.”
“So, it’s like, vampire marriage?” Chris asked in surprise. “Cause that sounds a little strange.”
“And why is that?” Liam inquired in a low, gravelly tone.
Chris shrugged; he ran his hand through his hair as he tugged nervously at it. “I don’t know. I mean you’re dead and all, and you do live forever, seems a little strange that you would want to be with the same person that whole time. Hell, I can barely contemplate thirty years with the same person, never mind an eternity with them.”
“Chris!” Cassie scolded shaking her head at him. What Annabelle was describing seemed like a very intense, private experience. It didn’t sound like something that should be taken lightly, or mocked. And it sounded like something that she desperately wanted to experience with Devon.
“What?” he inquired defensively. “It’s true!”
Annabelle merely grinned at him while Liam shook his head. “When you find the one person you can’t spend the rest of your life without you will understand, and believe me thirty years will seem like a second,” Annabelle replied. “And the taking of a mate is not something that is entered into lightly. As I said it is binding, and unbreakable. You are tied to a mate forever.”
“So both mates have to be vampires then?” Chris inquired continuing to stare at Cassie, and then Devon.
“Well yes,” Annabelle said softly, her forehead furrowed in confusion. “The bond is created through the sharing of blood and sex.”
Cassie felt as if someone had kicked her in the gut as the air rushed out of her. Everyone else remained silent as Annabelle’s words sank in. Cassie turned toward Devon, tilting her head to look up at him. He had taken her blood, but she was acutely aware of the fact that he had not shared his. And neither had they forged a bond through sex. It was not that she was afraid to anymore, not that she still had doubts that she wouldn’t be enough for him, because she knew that she would. She just wanted it to happen when there was no one out there trying to kill them.
Although, she realized now that may be the impossible dream. It was very possible that there would never be a time when someone wasn’t trying to kill them, and she did not want to die without having shared that experience with him. But the sharing of blood, well that was something that they may never be able to experience. She was surprised by how disappointed she was by the realization. She thought she should be repulsed by it, but she wasn’t. Not if it was Devon’s blood. Devon glanced down at her, dropping a quick kiss on her head.