I threw myself back in my seat, letting out an exasperated sigh. Vampires were the absolute worst. “It matters because you had a bond to me I couldn’t understand, and you could have explained it to me but you didn’t. It matters because you kind of hit on me a lot, and knowing we share blood, that creeps me out now.”
Sig smirked, and there was a predatory edge to it that made me shiver. “Why do you think you appealed to me so much when we first met, my dear? It is difficult to resist the call of my own blood in others. I like to see what it is I do to those I’ve helped make. You’re ruthless, sometimes, which is something you come by…naturally.”
“Are you seriously saying you hit on me because you could sense your blood in me?”
“You are not unappealing physically, either.”
Wow. That might have been the single most insulting compliment I’d ever received. The creepy factor of his flirtation took on a new edge too. Had he wanted to bed himself by bedding me? Talk about messed up. Clearly I couldn’t understand the inner workings of a two-thousand-year-old vampire’s mind.
“Ugh.”
“I don’t see how this is of any concern. We never coupled.” He shrugged. “And had we, it is hardly out of the ordinary for those of the same bloodline to share intimacies. Holden, you lay down with Rebecca, did you not?”
I pivoted my attention to Holden. Though this was not a new consideration for me, it also wasn’t something we really discussed. My vampire was rigid next to me, giving Sig a none-too-friendly glare. “We did.”
“See?” Sig said, as though this made his point. “And Rebecca likely bedded her sire.”
“Well, I didn’t bed my sire.” I shuddered.
“Your sire was your biological father. That is most unusual. I also believe it is the only reason you find this entire situation as repellent as you do. You are confusing his human tether to you with the vampiric one you share with me. They are different things. For you and I to have consummated something, it would not be anything like the incestuous relations you seem insistent on comparing it
to.”
“Can we stop talking about you sleeping with Secret?” Holden asked.
“Yes, please,” I added.
“What foolishness.” Sig shook his head. “And such a Puritanical point of view from a woman who is sharing her—”
“I dare you to finish that sentence.” I glowered at him, inching forward on my seat. I’d been dying to give him a good slap ever since I found out he’d been hiding our blood connection. If he felt like sneering at my love life now, it might be enough to make me do it.
“Very well. But you are the one who wanted to know what I am to you.”
“I do.”
“I am not your grandfather. I am not your sire. I am much more, Secret. Something I was willing to let you go your whole life without knowing.”
I sure didn’t like the sound of that.
“I will give you one last chance to continue living in ignorance. I suggest you take it.” He was rolling up the sleeves on his dress shirt, as if he were about to conduct surgery. The mere thought of surgery made my throat swell up. I looked at the door, desperate to escape.
Take the out, my inner voice screamed. Take the out. Live in ignorance.
It would be the easiest thing. And I’d never have to know what it was Sig was about to share with me. But then I wouldn’t know what he was, or who I was by extension.
“I want to know.” My voice was so small I wasn’t convinced of my own words.
“Secret…” Holden put his hand on my leg. “Maybe you don’t need this.”
He was probably right. This might be a terrible mistake. But my life was already in shambles, I somehow doubted what Sig was about to say could make it any worse.
“Very good.” His smile was downright chilling. “There is a great deal you failed to learn from your sire. But I can show you. Have you ever wondered how it is I am able to slip into your dreams, my dear?”
My gaze darted to Holden once more. I’d never shared that little tidbit with him. Besides, they weren’t sexy dreams. Just weird ones.
“Yeah.”
“And I’m sure you’ve been curious how it is I’m able to find you, no matter where you are. How I could find you even when you ran away.”