Royal Blood(43)

"I didn't see this coming," Alexander confessed. "I knew when they were arriving here that they'd cramp our style, but never to this degree."

Then my despair turned to anger. "Why didn't you trust me with this news? I don't understand why you didn't tell me right away, I had to read about it in the paper."

"I didn't want you to hear about it at all."

And then I faced him head-on, exposing the saddest part of my soul to him. "You want to leave, don't you?"

Alexander grasped my shoulders. "Don't ever say that-not for a minute-don't you ever think that. My home is here, with you.Now and forever."

I fell into him and we held each other,

"This is why you were keeping your parents away from me?"

"I needed time."

"I can't even bear the thought," I began. "This isn't possible! Well never see each other again. I'm not letting you go! You should have told me."

I knew Alexander's parents had missed him. Their only son, several time zones away.Left alone to be attended by a single butler. This wasn't what they wanted for him. He was supposed to be hiding from theMaxwells , not falling in love.

"I was trying to figure out a plan."

"I'm all about figuring things out. And in this case, I think I know exactly what to do."

"Yes?"

"A solution to your problems and mine."

"Okay..."

"We're on sacred ground."

"Yes we are."

"I'd be yours forever."

"No- that's not an option." Alexander stepped back.

"It's our only chance," I said, tugging on his shirt. "I would be just like you-and your family. Then they won't worry about you being the only vampire in town."

"It's not time-"

"Is there any other time better than this? Is there any better reason? If not now... then when?"

Alexander gazed down at me. His eyes were loving, yet sad. "You don't understand what you are asking me to do."

"I absolutely do. If I become a vampire, we will be bonded forever-together for eternity. If I stay a mortal, I'll never see you again."

Alexander paused. He was as dreamy as the first time I saw him. His hair blew in the breeze. "My home is here," he said, "with you the way it is now."

"You're the one making the decision for me," I challenged. "Maybe I should make it for myself."

"What would you do if it was the other way around?" he suddenly asked me. "And there was some way I could be justlike you-a mortal.Then what?"

Take the vampire out of Alexander? I hesitated. I pondered the thought of changing Alexander. I never realized the strain and burden I was placing upon him to fulfill my dream. What if I changed him and he didn't like being a mortal? What if it changed his personality? What if he was bitter and unhappy and, most of all, blamed me?

I never thought of it that way.

"Do you only like me because I'm a vampire?" he asked.