Page 85 of Vampire's Cupcake
“Despicable female."
Eli snorted.“She said there will be another shop, a membership store of some kind, and certain criteria must be fulfilled.She didn't say it outright, but it was clear she meant I won't be approved."
Thano wasn't sure what it meant.
“I'll starve--"
“You'll come home with me like you were meant to.We'll have a garden, we'll trade for meat from Ciar and Draven."He scrunched his nose, though Eli wouldn't be able to see it.“Or I guess I could hunt for you, but I hate to get blood on my suits.They're not easy to clean, you know."
Eli barked a laugh, then his hands gripped the back of Thano's suit jacket in a desperate grip.
“Let me take care of you, honey.No one starves on The Moonlight Ranch.We have cupcakes."He shrugged.“Or whatever we're to call them.Romeo was thrilled, and the crows were so pleased.I wish you could've been there to see it."He had.Everyone had been happy, but Thano hadn't been able to enjoy it.He'd missed Eli.Eli should've been there.He'd helped plan the whole cupcake business.
“I feel guilty for abandoning the people here.I can't just...Elijah needs me, and Rosie, and Lisa-Mae, and did you see the old couple that was in a little time ago?"
Thano had, he'd heard everything Eli had told them.“You're too kind."
“They won't be able to afford food, Thano.They can hardly afford it now, they're too old to work, and if I'm not here, I can't look out for them."
Thano didn't like his reasoning.“And it's important to you?"
“I hope someone will look out for me when I'm old.I don't have a family, I don't have any children, and I never will.There won't be anyone to take care of me.If I can't rely on there being kind people around me, I won't make it."
Thano snorted.“You won't grow old."
Eli raised his head and frowned.“What?"
“You're mine.Once we're bonded, you won't age.You'll share my life span."
Thano frowned when Eli's face turned blank.It was good news, wasn't it?
“Bonded?"
“Yes.Bonded."
“And how...wait..."He shook his head, and Thano sighed.
“We'll create a blood bond.I'll drink from you at the same time as I feed you my blood, and we'll be forever linked.You can spend centuries helping the people in Last Hope if that's what you want to do with your life."
“Centuries?"Eli slapped a hand on his chest.“It's so fucking weird to have this conversation without being able to see you.I can't tell if you're serious or not."
Thano huffed.“I'm serious, but there is a man outside guarding the shop.I can't drop the shadows without risking him shooting you."
“Shooting me, not you?"
“I'd have the good sense of moving out of the bullets' way."
Eli huffed.
“Eli."Thano cupped his elbows.“Be mine."
“Yeah, but what do you mean with centuries?Are you immortal?"
“No, not immortal.Vampires can be killed, and most often we die naturally somewhere around five and seven hundred years."
Eli looked a little pale, which was worrisome.
“Did you eat today?"Maybe he needed food.
