He was Jelisette’s dream come true.
Emery strode over to a wooden trunk pushed up against the base of the bed and lifted off a pile of books. He reverently placed them on the floor, opened the lid, and withdrew a glass bottle. Amber liquid sloshed as he poured two servings before extending a glass to Jelisette.
She took it with a smile. “Thank you.” Cocking a brow, she glanced at the glowing crystals. “Is this your home?”
His lips twitched up into a smile. “If I said yes, what would you say?”
She made a show of looking around, first at the books, the crystals hanging from above, and the massive bed. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think this was better suited for a dragon shifter than a vampire, but who was she to judge? She lived in a plain apartment in Golden City.
Like most vampires who’d lived for several centuries, Jelisette had accumulated a significant amount of wealth. However, she’d never truly found a use for most of it. She kept her money in Golden City Bank and lived in a modest one-bedroom apartment. Most of her money was spent on acquiring blood.
“I think it’s beautiful,” Jelisette admitted. It felt comfortable and safe, away from the world. She liked it. “Much better than my apartment. But I’m sure all the women you bring here say that.”
Emery eyed her for a moment. “Would it surprise you to hear that I don’t have many visitors?”
Jelisette stared at him. Was he lying to her? She studied him, searching for any signs that he was lying. There was an undeniable connection between them, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t deceive her.
She didn’t see any signs of untruths on his face, though. Eventually, she nodded. “I… yes, it would.”
Jelisette had assumed that Emery would be bringing a new woman back here every night. There certainly were enough willing elves,shifters, werewolves, even humans in the Republic of Balance. After all, Jelisette had never seen a vampire as stunningly beautiful as Emery.Shehad been dreaming about him every night since she first saw him across Starless Lake.
He smiled and lifted his glass in cheers. “To surprises.”
She echoed his phrase, chinking her glass against his before sipping the amber liquid. It burned as it slid down her throat, the liquid gloriously smooth. Alcohol like this didn’t affect vampires—she was as alert as ever—but it tasted delicious.
Jelisette drank, studying Emery carefully. Her shadows continued to sing, and that feeling of safeness had only grown since they’d come here.
Perhaps a younger vampire would’ve finished her drink and left Emery with her number, but Jelisette had lived far too long to let the opportunities of life pass her by.
If there was one thing she’d learned over her centuries, it was that most things in life could be bought, stolen, or found. But true connections? Relationship?Love?
They rarely happened. And when it did, when someone was lucky enough to find a person they connected with, they were to hold onto them with all their might.
Jelisette had never been in love, but she’d witnessed what it did to others. This wasn’t love—she wasn’t stupid; she knew one didn’t fall in love in a night or even a few weeks—but there was something here that promised… more.
She wanted to explore it. She needed to explore it. How could she leave this cave and go back to her dreary life from a few weeks ago?
Since finding Emery in the alley, she felt more alive than ever before. More vibrant. More… real.
Whatever this was, she wasn’t prepared to let it go.
With that thought in mind, she placed her now-empty cup on the ground and stepped towards Emery.
CHAPTER 4
Consider My Home Yours
Emery could not believe how this night was turning out. When he had followed the call of his shadows and invited Jelisette back to his home, he’d known there was something special about her.
He never brought other people here. It was his sanctuary and had been for years.
But she fit in perfectly.
There was something about Jelisette that made all of him pay attention. His shadows stirred, his heart raced, and his eyes followed her across the room.
He'd heard of vampires making connections like this, but he had never known it for himself. Never even thought it was possible.
He finished his drink as she stepped towards him.