The Way You Bite(66)

Emotion flickered across his face. “I wanted to. But your mother made me vow to stay out of your life well before you were born. She thought you’d be safer if no one knew your parentage, most of all you. We fought about it. I think she planned to tell you when you got older and let you decide what you wanted to do.”

“So why didn’t you do that? Tell me. Let me make a decision. Leaving me there… I would’ve been killed, and not in a gentle way.”

“I made a vow, and however bad it was, I had to stick to my word.”

“Yet, you’re here now. A wolf breaking his vow?”

“You were about to shift. All would’ve gone smoothly with Lexan evacuating you to Europe, but you and Lexan decided to double suicide yourselves on silver toxicity.” He shook his head. “Someone had to save you from his idiocy.”

“Am I supposed to be forever thankful?”

“I like the sarcasm.” He grinned. “I can see why Dominic resorted to violence when he couldn’t intimidate you. That’ll keep you alive.” His eyes crinkled with the depth of his smile.

“Why’re you here now? What’s your motive?”

“I want what’s best for you.”

“Right,” she drawled sarcastically. Her eyes narrowed. She gave mind reading her best effort, coming up with zilch. “You want what’s best for the mutant? If we weren’t related, even you might be reluctant to trust me or care about my fate.”

“You’re not a mutant. You are a legitimate mixture of two great species. I’ve met many demisangs. They’re survivors.”

A non-answer. “I belong nowhere.”

He wiped his hand across his face and took a deep breath. “You’re so young. In time, you’ll figure out where you fit. That sounds so bloody condescending, I know. But even a pureblood wolf or vamp takes centuries to be comfortable in his own skin. You might take longer. I’m making a shitpie of this. I can’t do heart-to-heart crap.” He blew out an agitated snort. “I won’t lie and say I won’t continue to worry about you and follow you, especially with the virus that’s floating around. When Dominic finds out about you from Trace, he may use you as a guinea pig to play with the virus. So, I’ll be around. Should you need help—”

“I would contact you how?” she interrupted.

“I’ll be around.”

“Well, that makes me feel so much better to be stalked by my bio-dad. Besides, what of Lexan’s mark? Doesn’t that make my future a done deal?”

“Lexan’s mark is only complete when you bite him back.” He advanced on her and lowered his voice. “You take this mark lightly, but this is unexpected and species-shocking news. As far as I know, he’s the oldest of our kind. He remembers that which none of the rest of us do. He understands the intricacies of the old ways of our species and that of vamps. He—”

“He’s old fashioned. I get that.”

“Don’t interrupt. He remembers traditions even I barely comprehend. He’s our loner king. The one who has never chosen a female.”

“He was married.”

“An arranged affair. Both of our people still follow the archaic custom, especially among the older families, as you are well aware. Lexan thought it a necessary and useful way to quiet unrest in an old family always at odds with him. He met Rachel on the day they married. As far as I heard he never marked her and was never possessive of her, not like he is of you. Lexan threatened me when I tried to take you from him.”

“Oh.” Was that her heart exploding because Lexan got possessive? Even if so, it didn’t resolve her dilemma over his plans for her. She needed the freedom to live her life and use the skills she’d studied long and hard to develop, primarily her love for medicine.

“I probably should let him reveal all this to you. Perhaps, this may help you understand the incomprehensibility of this situation. Lexan was nervous about allowing a vampire to drink from him. Given his past, I understood well. While enslaved, Mercutio and other aristo vamps tortured Lexan. I won’t go into details, but it was a dark time. I, too, was a slave and know well the resentment that level of torture leaves behind. He may play cordial with vamps, but deep down that kind of hate doesn’t disappear. The fury comes in waves and plagues the mind. He—”

“How could he ever really move beyond my being half vampire with that level of simmering hate?”

Blay scowled, clearly not used to anyone continuously interrupting him.

She bit her lip against a smile. Annoying ancient males, whether it be vamps or werewolves, entertained her. Someone needed to knock these guys off their all-powerful high of being the big cheese.

Blay inhaled a deep, aggravated breath and blew it out. “Let me finish. Lexan helped you at my request. I had no motive for the two of you to…be mated. I simply wanted the most ancient werewolf blood in your body to facilitate the transition. To give you, the only surviving child of the two descendants of the originals for our species, the best advantage possible. My blood is old, but Lexan’s is at least a century older. Then Lexan lost his mind to bonding enthrallment. That only happens when the stars align. I do not jest.”

“We decided it wasn’t going to work. It was a fluke.”

“Lexan, the man, may let you go for now, and convince himself it’s some sort of altruistic move. But the wolf in him will hunt you. That’s what the bite means. He will respect your ultimate decision, should you decide to be apart from him. However, his inner wolf made its decision. He chose you. This is forever, not a fleeting fancy.”