apologize . I ’ m used to being around other vampires. I ’ ll try to watch my movements so as not to startle you. ”
“ Yeah, as much as that might suck for you, it might be best. At least until I get used to this situation . ” I s a nk into my comfy , overstuffed red chair.
“ This situation being me? ” he asked quietly.
“ Yeah, well , no . ” I r a n my hand through my hair and gestur ed for him to take a seat on the adjacent couch . “ It ’ s not you personally, Tristan. It ’ s being the sovereign of a vampire. It ’ s living with someone. I haven ’ t lived with anyone since my sophomore year of college. I ’ m used to it being just me. I ’ m brand-spanking new in the paranormal community, and now I have my own vampire. Which reminds me, how do you feel about all this? ”
“ The fact that you care enough to even bother asking me how I feel about it makes me happy that you are my sovereign now. Vlad might have cared deep down, ” Tristan answered me thoughtfully as he leaned back against the couch cushions . “ But asking me would be a sign of weakness among vampires. Plus , you work for the FBI . I know you will never ask me to do anything amoral. ”
“ That brings me to something else, ” I said carefully, taking another big gulp of my drink before continuing. “ We need to set some rules. I don ’ t know how you lived before, and it ’ s not really any of my business. From now on though, no feeding on unwilling humans, no breaking the law, and no killing anyone. You live with a Chief of the FBI . I can ’ t have someone living with me that does anything illegal, okay? ”
“ That is not a problem with me, ” Tristan answered, giving me that gorgeous smile again. “ I prefer it that way actually. ”
“ Okay, well that ’ s good. Also, I ’ m assuming you heard enough of my conversation with Vlad and then my Chief to know what I accidentally did, minionizing you , isn ’ t supposed to happen. ”
“ I could have told you that, Sera. ”
“ I figured, but you get we need to keep it a secret, right? ”
“ For your safety, of course. ”
“ I ’ m not trying to be a bitch or act like I ’ m ashamed of you. But I really don ’ t want a target painted on me for other vampires, okay? ”
“ I understand, probably better than you do. ” His eyes got dark , becoming almost navy, as if he foresaw having to protect me a lot. Right, I could take care of myself. Except when I was exhausted and mostly focused on food and sleep it seemed.
I also wondered if the eye color changing thing was a paranormal thing. Since I ’ d been made a wolf , I ’ d noticed my own had gone from regular blue/green to midnight blue. I ’ d also seen them go almost black when I was pissed. Just another change to add to the growing list of how I was now special!
“ Fair enough . ” I n odd ed , because he probably did understand better than I did . “ Look, Tristan, I don ’ t want a minion , do you get that? I understand somewhat that however I tethered us, you need to be close to me now. But I want you to still have your life. Still have your job, or whatever it is that you do. Act more like roommates, does that make sense? ”
A smile broke out over his face. “ It ’ s highly unorthodox, but I understand your meaning. ”
“ That ’ s a start, I guess. Do you have a job? ”
“ Yes, I work at The Cat ’ s Cradle , one of Vlad ’ s clubs , as a bartender, ” he answered me.
“ Did you work there because Vlad made you? Or do you like working there? ”
“ Originally, because Vlad makes all of his vampires work a t one of his places or another, ” Tristan replied. “ But I actually like it. It ’ s fun to interact with others, and I make decent money. Keeps me from getting bored, plus there ’ s always many willing blood donors. ”
“ Okay then . ” I chuckled, wondering if he understood how bad that sounded. “ I guess you can talk to Vlad tomorrow and see if
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