“I wasn’t. I mean, I did think you were a vampire, but I already knew I couldn’t kill you. You’re freaking irresistible and you know it.”
“True,” he said, just to goad her.
Smiling, she shoved him in the shoulder with her free hand.#p#分页标题#e#
He laughed.
“I hear what you’re saying.” Her face grew solemn. “But I know now that you’re immortal. That you’re just like me, only infected with a virus. I know you won’t go crazy. I know you don’t prey upon innocents. I know how the virus works. Sean has spent every night with Dr. Lipton and explained everything to me in excruciating detail. I just think this is the best solution. The only solution.” She tightened her hold on his hand, her face earnest. “If you transformed me and made me immortal, I could keep hunting and hold my own better against vampires. And I would heal without Sean’s help if mercenaries shot me.”
The thought of her being shot made him lose his erection. He hated the idea of her getting hurt.
“Sean would be safe. You would be safe, knowing I could take care of myself—”
“If you think I would stop worrying about you if you were immortal, you are mistaken.”
“But you would worry about me less, right? Because a bullet wound or two or four wouldn’t kill me or endanger my life.”
Yes, damn it.
“Right?” she pressed.
“Yes,” he conceded.
“Then . . . what do you think? Will you do it?”
He hesitated. “I just don’t want you to rush into anything. I know seeing Sean collapse shook you, but there are other healers among us to whom you could go when—”
“I can’t keep depending on someone else to patch me up. I want to be able to heal on my own. Like you and the other Immortal Guardians. I want to be able to continue hunting vampires. I want to be able to help you defeat your enemies.”
“They’ve tried to kill you three times. They’re your enemies as well.”
“I know. And I’m vulnerable, facing them as I am. I want to be strong like you. I don’t want to have to settle. I don’t want to have to stop hunting and become a Second.”
“Seconds fight in battles, too. I’ve lost more than one in the past to vampires’ blades.”
“But they don’t actively hunt.”
No, they didn’t.
Étienne studied her. He wanted to be objective here, to look out for her best interests instead of going with his own. Did he want her to transform? Absolutely. They had made no promises to each other yet, but they had each admitted they were falling in love and . . .
He couldn’t deny that an eternity spent hunting alongside Krysta sounded blissful. An eternity laughing with her and teasing her. Making love with her.
But those were all his wishes.
This was a decision which, once acted upon, was irreversible.
“Let me read your thoughts,” he requested.
She frowned. “What?”
“Let me read your thoughts. All of them, not just those you send me. I need to know you really have considered this thoroughly and have no doubts. No reservations. That this isn’t a knee-jerk reaction to Sean collapsing.”
She hesitated.
“Seth will insist on doing the same before he renders his decision.”
“We have to ask his permission?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“He’s our leader. That’s how it’s done.”
She didn’t look too pleased.
“You’ll have to answer to Seth if you transform, Krysta. You’ll have to obey the rules like the rest of us. And his orders.”
“Well . . . I kinda already am, so . . .”
He arched a brow.
“Okay. I won’t lie. It’ll be hard. I’ve been doing my own thing for years. But you did say he’s the wisest among you.”
“He is.”
“That will make it a little easier.”
“So? Your thoughts?”
She bit her lip. “I’m not hesitating because I have doubts. I’m hesitating because there are things up there that I’m not sure I’m ready for you to see.”
He supposed he would feel the same way. But Étienne wouldn’t approach Seth with the request until he was sure she wasn’t merely panicking and grasping at straws after seeing her brother collapse, pale as death, after healing her. Or panicking over having to give up hunting. Or just plain panicking. She could have been killed tonight. Again.
“Fine,” she said, thrusting her chin forward. “Read my thoughts.”
As soon as he sensed she had let down her guard, Étienne explored her thoughts. There was guilt and concern for Sean. Guilt and concern for him. Conviction that transforming was the best course of action for her. A lot of lust for him. And . . .