“To be fair, it’s been a while since I’ve actually dated, and homosexuality was not exactly something most smiled at or simply accepted during the last seven hundred years, until recently…and even then, it’s still bad in many places. To add on, a few just found out what I was and freaked out.”
Though…it wasn’t as if those relationships had been going well before that.
“Just cowards then. If you are going to be a boss, or a criminal in any capacity, what’s the point unless you are doing exactly whatever the fuck you want? If you are offing people, might as well off enough to seal every mouth that's trying to move against you. As for the vampire thing, just another form of cowardice.”
“Can’t say I disagree.”
Harlow pursed his lips. “So…exactly how many boyfriends have you killed?”
Foxx gave the man a hesitant smile. “It’s best I not say.”
It was more like he didn’t know. Foxx had lost count, and decided it was best to try to block out the experiences andmemories. It had worked for one trauma, why not all the rest?! Well…it had worked until recently—ugh.
“You don’t know, do you?” The dhampir chuckled.
Foxx huffed. “Just don’t attack me and you won’t find yourself in the ground with the rest of them!”
“You don't have to worry. I’d never hurt you…” Harlow grimaced and added, “On purpose.”
“I know.” Foxx's heart fluttered happily. And he did know. It was something he knew even before they started dating—Harlow wouldn’t hurt him… And if he ignored threats of murder at the beginning of their friendship, not to mention the man wanting to fight him, there were no red flags in this relationship! It’s not like the man ever actually tried to kill and/or fight him. Thought…the fighting thing may happen eventually, followed by probably the hottest sex he’d ever had.
“Anyway, they need to hurry up, so I can talk to my best friend again, and so we can stop bloody hiding!”
“I mean…them fucking around has given me time to figure out how to fully fake being a vampire.”
Which was good and all, as now, Harlow could pretty much fake it well enough to fool even Foxx’s senses if he wanted to. But… “You’ve gotten better, I’ll admit. And your normal mimicked state is a hell of a lot better than it once was…but to stay at a level that would a hundred percent fool someone of my age…it still takes too much effort on your part. I think you’ll get to that point soon enough in your normal state. Maybe a few more weeks, or months, of practice… As for mimicking humans…well, you are getting closer, I guess.”
The man could fake the heartbeat pretty well now, but his scent was still an odd mix, and the heartbeat took too much concentration for Harlow to really benefit from it. The dhampir couldn’t keep it going for longer than ten minutes at a time, and in a fight…there was no chance in hell he could fool anyone.
“Changing my heartbeat was easy…and somehow the smell thing vampire-wise came quickly…but human-wise… It’s just not…” Harlow grimaced.
“You’ll get it… Either way, I just wish the council would hurry the fuck up.”
“Maybe I should be trying to figure out how to get into blood burn state instead? That way we’ll be extra ready for the council.”
Foxx grimaced. “I’m not sure how safe that would be. We’d probably manage to get you there…but you wouldn’t be in control.”
Harlow sighed. “You mean I’d likely attack you…again.”
“Possibly. Me and everyone else.”
“I came back to myself when I realized it was you.”
“True…”
The day of the turn, it wasn’t like the dhampir had been in a safe environment to change. And the change itself had added to how out of control he’d been. It was possible that next time something in Harlow would recognize Foxx enough to not attack him, even if he wasn’t completely in control. It wouldn’t protect anyone else, of course. But that would only matter if there was more than just the council around. Foxx doubted the council would start a fight in the middle of a crowd though, so…
“Maybe we…could attempt…but—” He cut off when his phone started to ring.
Pulling it from his dungaree front pocket, he hesitated on seeing it was Alastair. The fact the man was calling him during the day was odd…even if he ignored the current issue separating them. After staring for a moment, his phone continuing to ring, he answered.
“Yes—”
“I already know, so let me come over!” Alastair snapped, cutting him off.
His eyes narrowed on Harlow accusingly, but the man just shrugged. Foxx sighed. “Fine… Come over.”
Hanging up, he glared at Harlow. “He knows,” he stated, making sure his tone was as accusing as his stare had been.
