Surrendering(58)

That made him laugh. “No. I have no spell on you, my love. It’s the mating bond that calls to us both, drawing us together like a moth to a flame. You are the flame, my dear. A light so bright I’m blinded by your goodness. I can assure you, a vampire has no compulsion ability over their mate. I knew you were mine from the moment I laid eyes on you, but the fact that I couldn’t compel you only confirmed what I already knew.”

She frowned. “You tried to compel me? When?”

He simply stared at her, waiting for the pieces to fall in place. She whispered, “You tried at the station, didn’t you? I remember feeling a weird pressure in my head. What were you trying to get me to do?”

“Agree to come with me. It’s true that you are in danger Kate. For more than one reason, but I’ll get to that.”

That determined, stubborn look that he’d come to know so well emerged. “Tell me everything. Start first with why I’m in danger.” Her eyes pleaded. “Please. I have a right to know.”

He nodded. “You’re what’s called a dreamwalker—”

“A—”

“Let me get this out before you ask questions, okay? I promise that you will know everything that I do when I’m finished.”

Her lips formed into a thin line, clearly displeased. She nodded anyway and he couldn’t help but grin. She was magnificent.

“As I was saying, you’re a dreamwalker, which is a special human female who can either enter another’s dreams or witness events that are happening in real time while in a dream state. Only human females can be dreamwalkers and they are very rare.”

Kate couldn’t help it…she interrupted anyway, raising her hand like a schoolchild, which earned her a big sigh from Dev.

“Olivia is a dreamwalker, isn’t she?”

“Yes. That’s why I had her come. There is much you can learn from her. You haven’t even begun to tap into the full capability of your gift, Kate.”

“Curse is more like it,” she mumbled. He ignored that comment, as it wouldn’t do any good to argue with her until she experienced the good her gift could do.

“As I said, dreamwalkers are very rare and, in the vampire world, they are revered and protected. In the human world, they are misunderstood and often labeled psychotic. Olivia is the bonded mate of one of my club’s general managers, Monti Morton. She’s had many, many years of experience honing her skills. As I said, she can teach you much.”

Interruption number two. “How many years of experience has she had?”

He thought for a moment. “I believe well over a hundred.”

Kate started laughing. “I think you need your eyes checked, Dev. She doesn’t look a day over twenty-seven. Thirty tops.”

“I’m sure she’ll be pleased you think so. But she has been bonded to Monti for over ninety years and I believe she wasn’t quite thirty when that happened.”

She blankly stared at him, her eyes blinking rapidly.

“If you’d let me finish without all of the interruptions, I’ll get to all of this.” She cocked her head to the side gifting him with a fine-I’ll-shut-up look.

“Vampires only bond with humans, not other vampires, especially since most vampires are male. Only bonded human female mates can carry a vampire babe. When vampires do bond, their human mate stops aging and will live the same longevity as their vampire mate.”

“And I’m your mate, like…your wife?”

Dev’s eyes were instantly glowing with desire. He no longer tried to hide his true nature or how much he wanted this woman. He answered thickly, “Yes, but a Moira is much more than just how humans define a wife or husband.”

Electricity cracked like lightning between the two of them. “How do you know I’m your Moira?”

“I already told you, a vampire knows when they’ve met their Moira. Instantaneously. You’re mine, make no mistake about that.”

“And how old are you?”

“Five-hundred and thirty-five years old.” He waited for her to freak out, to run screaming for the door. Instead, she continued to surprise him.

A slight smirk turned up the corner of her mouth. “Don’t you think you’re a little old for me? I mean, over five-hundred years is a pretty big age gap.”

He stalked toward her, grabbing her hand to pull her close as she squealed and tried, unsuccessfully, to scoot around him. Leaning down so their lips were inches apart, he whispered, “Ah, but I bring with me a wealth of experience, love.”

“Hmmm…I’ll just bet you do. But I’m not sure you’ll be able to keep up with a youngster like me.” She winked.