Page 96
Chapter 23
Oh no, he didn’t.
Kenton had seriously pulled out the nuclear line, one she wouldn’t have believed even if he were human. After so many centuries, he had seriously never, ever loved a woman?
I don’t think so.
“I can see you doubt me,” he said with a little smile, “but you must understand. Loving only means losing to me. And after what happened with Rowan’s mate, I only ever turned humans out of necessity, choosing it over killing innocents unnecessarily.”
She kind of didn’t want to know what he was talking about. But what the hell?
“What do you mean?” she asked, the words spilling out.
“The only way to turn a human into a vampire is by draining their blood to their very last heartbeat of life, and then stopping to apply something called the Nine Herbs Charm. As you can imagine, it took many years for us to discover that fact and many more to actually accomplish it. Even now, there are only a few who have the skill to see it done.”
“The Nine Herbs Charm? What is that?”
“Once, it was an actual charm. But now only the herbs, not the words that accompany them, are needed. Apparently it was a favorite remedy of Lady Isobel’s. When Torr, Lawrence’s brother, nearly accidentally killed a woman he cared for, Lady Isobel administered the charm and poultice on the wound from his bite. Coupled with the near draining, a human will wake after a full day’s slumber a full-fledged vampire. We learned all of this years later, a story for another time.”
“I see. Kind of. So just how many of you are there?”
Kenton licked his lips in thought.
Please don’t do that.
“Hundreds. Thousands. It’s difficult to keep track, but not as many as you’d think after so long. But as I said, it can be . . . tricky.”
She took another long swig and wished the waitress would come back.
“Still. You’re telling me that in all of the years you’ve been alive, you’ve never, ever fallen in love with a woman?”
He didn’t hesitate.
“No. At least, you’ve made me realize the answer is no.”
Jesus Christ.
“Out of fear of getting too close?”
“Yes.”
“Or of having them be killed by a . . . by one of us?”
“Yes.”
If only her brother were here. Having a human lie detector would come in handy.
“Never. Kenton Morley has never, ever been in love?” It was too incredible to fathom.
He stood so quickly, Alessandra only realized his intention when he came to a stop next to her chair. The black of his hoodie made his eyes appear even bluer than usual.
“Once,” he said, spinning her chair toward him. People were likely looking at them now, but Kenton didn’t seem to notice.
Or care.
“Once I fell in love with a woman so beautiful, I could not tear my eyes away from her. She laughed and danced with her friends, life oozing from her as surely as death had settled its cloak over me. And then I kissed her and knew, although I fought it valiantly, nothing would ever be the same for me again. I watched this woman allow herself to come apart in my hands and then, on a most endearing train car, to learn her own strength. She was kind enough to take me along for the ride, and that’s when I knew. I love her and I never want to leave her. The only question is . . . did I tell her too late?”
She couldn’t breathe.
