Page 42 of Protected by the Vampire

“You are already my beloved, but I would never want to pressure you into anything you do not wish to do.”

Landon nodded, and I noticed his gaze kept shifting up to Dashiel’s ears. Their tips peeked out, but they were mostly hidden behind his midnight-colored hair.

“What about me?” Coms asked.

“Who are you?” Ruth questioned.

Shit.

Could I lie and pretend Coms was a blood brother?

But before I could, Monkey said, “Coms is my half brother.”

Landon’s eyes widened, and he thinned his lips.

It was a bold-faced lie, but could it work?

Ruth’s gaze lightened with humor. “One thing you should know about shifters. We can scent a lie.”

Fuck.

Monkey went to say something, but Ruth held up her hand. “Just don’t do it around anyone other than the people here. Coms, you assisted in this night?”

“Yeah,” he replied.

“We’ll see the outcome of Landon’s choice for the three of you and organize a date in the future for the decision.”

Holy shit. She was giving them a chance, but it all depended on Monkey’s dad, who was back to staring up at the tall elf.

“Pops, don’t make a choice just because of us either. You need to be certain,” Monkey told him.

“Agreed,” Coms said.

Landon nodded.

“I would like for us to get to know each other,” Dashiel offered.

Another blush rose in Landon’s cheeks. He cleared his throat. “Ah… yeah. Yes. I guess we could do that.”

Dashiel looked thrilled.

That was when Razor clapped his hands once, sharp and decisive. “Right. Well, now that Fate’s done its thing, everyone smells like blood and looks like hell. Go clean up.”

That got everyone moving again.

“Yeah, I’m not sittin’ in this shirt any longer,” Monkey muttered, already backing away. “Pops, you’re comin’ with me.”

Landon nodded absently, though his eyes lingered on Dashiel for a second longer before he let himself be dragged off.

I glanced up at Soren. “You good?”

His gaze softened slightly when it landed on me. “I am now.”

Yeah, he’d been beyond worried.

I would’ve been as well.

Our forever had nearly been ripped away from us.