Page 41 of Protected by the Vampire

Voices drifted into the room, and Coms appeared with a woman at his side.

Riker ducked out of Razor’s grip and yelled, “Mom! Everyone, this is Ruth, our mom. Mom, everyone.” He rattled that off as he ran at her and hugged her tightly while she smiled warmly down at him.

“Hello, sweetie. I have a group out front healing those who got injured. Their minds will be wiped, and the area will get tidied.” She eyed the rest of the room before asking, “Now, what have I missed?”

Riker, Nox, and Deacon quickly explained what had happened and then about Dashiel and Landon.

While they talked, I muttered to Soren out the corner of my mouth, “Mom? She looks like a sister.”

He smiled. “Shifters age slow, pet.”

After Landon heard the full explanation, he said in a strained voice, “This is really happening?”

Monkey clasped his father’s shoulder. “Yep.”

Landon paled slightly and glanced up at Dashiel, who smiled warmly, before looking away.

Riker perked up and offered, “I can show you, Landon. I’m a fox. Dashiel is an elf, Soren is a vampire, and my family are shifters too.”

Landon released another choked sound.

Ruth hugged Riker against her. “Maybe a bit later, yes?”

Riker pouted and crossed his arms over his chest. “Fine.”

“Okay,” Ruth said, her gaze moving between Landon and Monkey, “I must let you know, Landon, that your decision will affect more than just you.”

Monkey stilled.

“How?” Landon asked, eyes wide.

“If you accept the bond, your connection to Dashiel ties you to our world. That connection then extends through you to your son.”

Monkey’s eyes widened. “Meanin’?”

“Meaning,” Riker said, unable to keep quiet, “you don’t get your memory wiped.”

Monkey let out a breath. “Thank fuck.”

A few quiet chuckles broke the tension, but Ruth lifted a hand slightly.

“But that’s only if the bond is accepted,” she repeated. “If it’s not… then we proceed as we normally would.”

Monkey’s relief faded just a fraction, and he flicked his gaze back to his father. “So… no pressure,” he muttered.

Landon huffed something that might’ve been a laugh if it wasn’t so strained. He dragged a hand over the back of his neck, looking between everyone.

When his gaze landed back on Ruth, he asked, “Can I have time?”

“Of course. You’ll have a month. After that, even a vampire’s power won’t work to extract the memories,” Ruth said.

Landon exhaled slowly, relaxing a little, while still clearly trying to wrap his head around something that didn’t fit into the world he knew.

He looked up at Dashiel and asked, “You’re okay with me having time to process all this?”

Dashiel inclined his head. “Take whatever time you require.”

“And… you’re okay with, ah, Fate picking me for you? Do you even like guys? I’ve never….” He trailed off, blushing.