I’m so out of my league right now. There’s a vampire and a shifter in my living room.
“You understand this vampire might just sell you out?” Apollo’s question makes it sound like I’m super stupid.
“He’s telling the truth,” I insist because this sixth sense has never betrayed me. “Besides, you were the one lying until a moment ago. What’s the difference?”
“You’re my mate!” Wow, he’s mad.
“Like hell, she is,” Donatello barks back and makes to pounce him again.
“Stop! Take it outside, at least!”
“I would love to,” Apollo hisses at Donatello, baring his teeth as they circle each other. He motions for the door. “After you, bloodsucker.”
Bloodsuckeris so nineties, though. Doesn’t he have anything more interesting to insult Donatello with?
Donatello shakes his head. “I have no intentions of being incinerated today.”
“Alright. Then let’s solve it like rational human beings,” I offer.
“No human beings in here,bella,” Donatello shoots over his shoulder. I want to insist I am a human being until the opposite is proven, but Apollo barks a laugh.
“You are willing to die today, bloodsucker. I don’t know whatthatmeans, but it sounds like a compliment. Don’t you fucking dare compliment my mate.”
And we’re back to fifth grade. I move closer, and Donatello opens his mouth, and I know he’s going to call mebellajust to see Apollo blow up. Pulling air in, I jump between the two.
“Stop,” I say, my gaze snapping from one to the other. “Enough of this. I’m getting bored with this alpha shit. Too much testosterone.”
Apollo frowns. “I don’t need to be an alpha to want to protect my mate.”
“Your house isn’t a safe place, Cassandra,” Donatello tells me, eyes wide with warning. “This is the first place anyone would look for you.”
That’s obvious now that he mentions it, but my plans involved only a quick grabbing of clothes and money. If there wasn’t a vampire scooting next to my bed, none of this would have happened.
Crowning Donatello’s warning, a siren wails in the distance.
“Fuck,” I breathe out and snap my gaze to Apollo. “Nice try, but I’m not surrendering.”
He scowls at me. “You seemed like you were almost giving in. You know the right thing to do.”
I turn to face him, giving Donatello my back. I feel him relaxing behind me as if he thinks I chose him. But I have other plans. “This Chosen One thing is shitty, Apollo. They won’t be fair just because I give in. It’ll be hell, and you know it.”
“We need to go,” Donatello murmurs against my hair. When did he get this close?
I shake his presence from my mind, even if it almost intoxicates me. “Apollo. You said I’m your mate.”
His shoulders drop an inch. “You are.”
“Then come with me,” I offer, knowing this might go south so fast I’ll be fucked before noon. And not in a good way.
Apollo seems as surprised as Donatello, who tenses behind me. The shifter shakes his head in disbelief. “It was a white lie, but I did lie to you. I don’t know what the Council will do. Why would you want me to tag along?”
I felt something in him. A connection, a warmth. A call to belonging. But I don’t tell him any of that. He doesn’t need to know a part of me wants to trust him. Wants to trust the two of them.
Instead of telling him my thoughts, I offer my hand, the siren getting ever closer. “If I’m your mate, would you ever hurt me?”
His jaw grinds. “No. My animal would never allow it.”
Truth. The thing I want the most.