Did that mean Myel was a werewolf? After he’d bitten me, I’d thought he was a vampire. Maybe he was? Maybe werewolves bit people too? I think I’d read that once.
Mostly what I got out of what he’d said was:shifters are real, and elves are controlling douchbags. Turned out this world was just as messed up as the one I’d come from.
“I’m a chiroptanthrope.”
“Kyroptin-what-now?” I tried to sound out the word he’d said.
“Bat shifter.”
Oh. Yeah, of course. Myel was a bat shifter… sure. He could turn into a bat. Yup, that was normal. No wonder I got a strong vampire vibe off him.
“And you need blood?”
“I’ll come to that.”
I had enough to process, so I could wait a bit for that detail. Though something from way back at the beginning of this conversation had caught in my mind so I had to ask,
“This bond thing, it’s… safe?”
“As long as we continue to satisfy it, yes. If we’re apart for too long, we’ll both get irritable and go a little nuts. The more we… give in… to the bond, the less it will hold sway over us.”
“And by give in, you mean?—?”
“Sex, lots of sex. Like what just happened. We may be able to stave it off just by being close to each other, but eventually, we’ll need to have sex. Sorry.”
There he went apologizing again.
“Is thisyourfault?” I asked. “Didyoucause the bond to happen?”
“Nope, all fate.”
“Then don’t apologize.”
He gave a heavy sigh and leaned against the tree next to me. His shoulder brushed mine and it felt… good, comfortable, like he belonged next to me. He slipped his hand into mine, fingers interlaced. A soothing contact. His hand should be there, needed to be there.
He’d said this bond thing would make me comfortable around him. At least now I knew why I felt so serene and euphoric when he was near.
I wasn’t even too worried about the whole unprotected sex thing. He’d said he was safe, and I believed him. I trusted him. And that was huge for me; I didn’t trust anyone, especially men. It must be the bond.
“I’m glad you understand.”
“Understand, yes. Am I happy about having my choices taken away from me? Not really. Though when I’m near you, I don’t really care so much. We’ll see if I freak out later.”
“You can still… be with others,” Myel said softly. “That won’t affect the bond.”
Oh?
“And… perhaps you shouldappearto be with others.” That was very liberal of him. “If only to hide our relationship,” he rushed to add. He didn’t sound happy about it.
When I looked over, his eyes were shadowed. He didn’t want me to be with others, but he knew it would keep us safe.
Poor man.
“Who…canI be with?” I asked, since I didn’t even know what sort of being I was. Until this morning I’d thought I was human. Though… given what I’d been noticing about my eyes and ears and hair… beingsomething elsemade sense.
“Other nymphs.”
“Nymph? I’m a nymph?”
