A wave of sadness stole over Claire and she swallowed against the emotion rising in her throat. Talk about surreal. This wasn’t a conversation she ever thought she’d have with another person—er, uh, sort of person. Well, a sane one, anyway. “You’re seriously the only vampire on the entire planet? I mean, there’s not even the slightest possibility there’s one that you don’t know about? Like a tribe of them in the rain forest or something?”#p#分页标题#e#
His mouth quirked in a half smile, but the expression didn’t reach his eyes. “I would know. There are no others.”
Mikhail was orphaned, just like Claire. True, they were adults, hardly waiting for the magical day they’d be adopted, but still. She’d always felt such a profound loneliness that the burden of it was almost too much to bear. To know that Mikhail might’ve experienced that same sense of detachment forged an even stronger sense of connection to him. “I’m not exactly an endangered species, but I’ve been alone for as long as I can remember. And my mom took off when I was sixteen, so I’ve been on my own for a while now. It’s a horrible thing not to have someone—anyone who knows you. Not like people who see you every day, but people who share your past and history. You can be surrounded by people and be utterly alone. Know what I mean?”
Mikhail’s gaze met hers, his expression so full of unspoken emotion that it caused Claire’s heart to stutter in her chest. “I do know.” His rich voice reached out with twining fingers that penetrated past skin and bone, burrowing into her soul. “There is nothing so crippling in this world as isolation.”
A quiet moment passed between them and Claire tried to center her racing thoughts. She was supposed to be working him for information, not sharing her innermost emotions. But she couldn’t help but trust him, couldn’t quell the feeling of rightness that seized her when she was close to him. Or the urge to get a hell of a lot closer.
“Ronan is a dhampir, is that right?” Claire steered the conversation back to the gathering of information. She couldn’t afford an emotional attachment. Not when she wasn’t sure whether she was staying or not. “What is that exactly?”
A territorial growl erupted in Michael’s chest and Claire took note of the sudden change in his demeanor. “He is, though not for long. Now that you’re here, I will turn him and the vampire race will finally be replenished after two centuries of near extinction.” He set the pan on the burner and the gas flame jumped to life. As it heated he mixed a little melted butter and milk into the pancake batter, whisking it until it was smooth.
“I still don’t understand what any of this has to do with me.”
“I see the doubt in your eyes, Claire. You tethered my soul and your blood awakened my power. You are inexorably mine. What has been forged between us cannot be broken. You are rodstvennaya dusha. My mate.”
Mikhail’s explanation was brief and to the point. Abrupt. Just like him. But this business about her being his … “Mate? Animals mate. Humans, not so much.”
Mikhail poured a ladleful of batter onto the buttered pan and it sizzled. “Humans mate.”
“Humans date. They get married. They divorce. What you’re talking about sounds a hell of a lot more permanent than what humans do.”
“We’re all animals, Claire. Some of are simply closer to our more primal instincts than others.”
A chill shivered down Claire’s spine. Hadn’t she attacked him like a feline in heat right on his living room couch? And hadn’t she wanted him to bite her? To sink his fangs into her like some wild thing? There was no doubt in her mind that Mikhail was a dangerous predator. Every bit the animal he professed himself to be. One that wouldn’t think twice before ripping out his enemy’s throat. “Tell me about the priest.” No way was she ready to think about this whole “mate” business. That little tidbit was going to have to go on the back burner for now.
Mikhail kept his back to her, his attention fixed on the pancakes. He transferred one from the pan to a plate and poured another ladleful of batter on the hot surface. “What’s the matter, worried I can’t handle it?” At this point, nothing could shock her. “Was he a werewolf? Zombie? Or maybe a disgruntled hellhound?” Mikhail let out a soft snort of amusement. She was tempted to pat herself on the back, chipping at his stone exterior for however brief a moment. Instead, Claire decided to put herself to good use and ventured around the island in search of coffee. “If these guys supposedly want to kill me, don’t you think it’s only fair I know who they are and why?”#p#分页标题#e#