“No,” she whispered, her voice breaking. Astra cleared her throat. “No, it’s not a problem for me. But…” She trailed off.
“But what?” he murmured, leaning closer.
“It might be an issue for my family. They expect me to date Vikings or fae males. They also like to give the men I date hell. I’m worried it’ll be even worse when they find out you’re a vampire.”
“Does that mean you won’t see me anymore?” he asked. He really hoped her answer was no, but he knew that it could be yes.
“No, it doesn’t,” she said immediately. “I love my parents, but I learned a long time ago that I can’t base my life on their expectations. They love me but they don’t always know what I need.”
Rune relaxed.
“But, if this continues between us, you have to know that they will be…a giant pain in the ass.”
His hand covered hers. “If it won’t bother you, it won’t bother me.”
She stared at him with those beautiful, changeable eyes and he had no idea what she was thinking.
Until she leaned forward to kiss him again.
This time, when their lips met, it was gentle, searching. This was a first kiss—tentative and sweet.
“Well, well, well, Astra. I’d say you really do like this guy after all.”
Astra yanked away from him so fast, he nearly fell over. As one, they looked toward the doors. Rune knew right away he was looking at one of her sisters. Her hair was more strawberry blonde than red, but her build was the same. The way she carried herself and the way she held her head were eerily similar to Astra.
He’d told her he didn’t care if her family had a problem with what he was or not, but he hadn’t expected to deal with it quite so soon.
“Sylvie, what are you doing here?” Astra asked, getting to her feet.
Rune followed suit, ranging himself next to her. Sister or not, he wouldn’t allow her to be hurt.
Sylvie’s eyes looked him over from head to toe, snagging on his mouth and then his eyes. “Vampire, huh, sis? Well, when you decide to rebel against the ‘rents, you sure do it right.’
“Dammit, Sylvie,” Astra said, but there was no fire in her tone.
“Right, right. You don’t rebel because you don’t follow their expectations.”
Rune was beginning to dislike the antagonistic tone in Sylvie’s voice.
“Quit acting like a complete ass for a few seconds so I can introduce you to Rune,” Astra said.
The other woman laughed lightly, the surly expression on her face morphing into a mischievous smirk. “I was just having a little fun. I wanted to see what he would do.”
“You should be more worried about what I was gonna do,” Astra said as her sister sauntered closer.
“I don’t know, Astra. He looked like he was about ready to rip my head off for a few seconds there.”
They both turned to study Rune, and he suddenly understood what a bug under a microscope might feel like. While Sylvie’s eyes were blue green rather than hazel, the intensity of her stare could rival her older sister’s.
“Hi, Rune. I’m Sylvie, the youngest of the Falk sisters. I’m also the best, which is why my parents stopped after me.” She held out a hand to him.
Astra rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything.
“Hi, Sylvie. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“You bet your ass.”
“Gods, Sylvie, please act like an adult,” Astra snapped.
