"Meaning the flame imps are now part of whatever I am?" He smiled. "Don't sound so horrified."
"Why shouldn't I be? I'm not human anymore. I'm not vampire. I'm not any thing, because no one seems to know exactly what I am."
He pulled her close again and brushed a kiss across her nose. "What you are is the warm and wonderful human being I intend take home at the end of this day and ravish in the comfort of our bed." Home for the moment was the penthouse apartment he'd bought a few months ago. With Nikki and Jake both undergoing long-term training here, it made more sense for he and Nikki to have their own home rather than using the Circle's apartments, as Jake currently was.
Her sudden grin was both mischievous and saucy. "And what if she doesn't want to be ravished in bed?" He briefly kissed her sweet lips, wishing he could kiss her more fully. But he didn't dare when there was blood in her mouth. The demon within was under control, but he wasn't about to take a chance when it came to Nikki. "Then she may choose anywhere else she pleases." She raised an eyebrow, amber eyes twinkling as she pressed herself closer. "Anywhere at all?" He smiled, wondering for perhaps the millionth time how he'd ever survived without her light in his life.
"Anywhere at all," he agreed softly.
"Cool." She glanced past him for a second, and in that moment he became aware of the others in the room. Of Jake approaching them.
"So tell me," she added, her expression becoming serious again as her gaze came back to his. "How is it possible for a creature like the flame imps to become part of my soul?"
"How is possible for a human to transform into an animal?" He shrugged. "There is some magic in this world that just is ."
"In other words," she grumbled, "neither you nor Seline can explain it, so I just have to accept it." He laughed softly and squeezed her fingers again. "The day you accept something without question is the day I'll stop drinking blood."
"I don't question everything, " she said, her tone haughty but a grin twitching her lips.
"You don't?" Jake said, appearing in front of them. "Since when?" His gaze raked her as he added, "Are you okay?"
"Besides some bruises and cuts, yeah, I'm fine."
Jake's gaze met Michael's. "So why in hell was Lenny trying to kill everyone?"
"I don't know yet."
"You want me to take Nik down to medical, so you can stay here and find out?"