Page 86 of Vampire's Cupcake
“The cupcake."
“It's afternoon, and all you've eaten so far is a cupcake?"It was too little.Way too little.“We need to close up and get some food into you."
“Five hundred years.How old are you?"
Thano shrugged then remembered Eli couldn't see him.“I'm not sure.We don't count days in the wild country.A hundred and fifty maybe."
“Huh.And how many others are you blood-bonded to?"
Thano stared at him, unable to name the feeling welling up inside.“We only ever have one mate, Eli.You're mine, and you'll never have anyone else.You're mine."
“Oh, I'm yours, am I?And I don't get a say?"He was too relaxed for Thano to believe he was angry, but he sounded a bit annoyed.
Thano pulled him close and went up on tip toe to nip at his earlobe.“Mine."
Eli shivered.“You know what?"
Thano studied him, not sure what to make of the expression.“No."
“I think it's the best offer I've had today, so I'll take it."
Heat washed through Thano, and a grin stretched his lips.“You never had a choice."
“Idiot."Eli pinched his side.“I can't leave yet, though.I need to have the shop open tomorrow, then I need to go to the bank and...close my business, I guess.Probably best to close my bank account too."He was quiet for a moment.Thano wasn't sure, but he believed it was sorrow shining in his eyes.“What will I do with Mom's house?"
“Leave it for now.Humans are fickle creatures, almost worse than crows."
Eli snorted.
“You might want to come back to the house at some point."
“Yeah, but I have to pay for electricity and such.If I leave it unheated, it will be destroyed."
“It'll be fine.Now close up so we can feed you."
“Just like that?Leave everything.Abandon everyone."
Thano hugged him tighter.Eli was too kind for his own good.“Just like that.Leave Last Hope and help everyone from the outside.You can reach Fisherman's Lake by going around the lake instead of across it.I'm sure Joshua or whatever his name is will be willing to continue to trade with you."
“Trade when I have no money."
“Who says you can't have money?Simply because you don't have them in the bank doesn't mean you can't have money.If you want to have a market stand along the road leading out of Last Hope, people can give you money for your goods, and you can give the money you get to Joshua."
Something close to excitement glinted in Eli's eyes, then it died.“But what about taxes?Business licenses and--"
“We don't have taxes.Nothing to worry about."
Eli stared in his direction, but not straight at him.Thano glanced out the window.The man was facing away from the shop.He dropped the shadows, and Eli jumped, instantly making himself as big as he could to shield Thano.It was sweet.
“You can do whatever you want."Thano held onto his gaze, willing him to understand that Thano would make sure he'd get to do whatever he wanted to do.If it was to feed every last idiot in Last Hope, then so be it.“I'm the leader of The Moonlight Ranch.If I say you can do something, you can do it."
Eli laughed but shook his head.“It's not that easy."
“Make it easy.Come with me."
For a second Eli didn't move, then he nodded.“Yeah, I'll come with you, but tomorrow."
“Fine.I'll live in the shadows until then."He pulled Eli close and kissed him.“But tomorrow we head back home."
