Well This Sucks - CoraLee June Page 0,76
pushed her too far. I’m shocked she could even do it. I feel her power, Asher. She’s unlike any fledgling I’ve ever met. It’s almost like she’s a natural born vamp.”
Asher chewed on his nail and stared at his desk. “I think you should announce it. People find hope in that sort of thing, and any rebellions forming need to know that you’re even stronger now that you’ve found a mate.”
“Am I truly stronger? Or is she a weakness? And there is more to it. I can’t tell everyone. Not yet.”
“Why not?” Asher asked. “This is the sort of thing to be celebrated, and it can help cement your position here. We haven’t had fated mates in so long. People will want to protect her.”
“Because she’s skittish. She is extremely uncomfortable about the idea of mates. I don’t want to scare her off.”
“That is tricky. Hmmm,” Asher said, raising his fingers to his temples. “Want me to talk to her about it? I’m pretty good at talking to people, and I’m an excellent listener if she needs someone to talk to. I don’t want to brag, but Sigmund Freud used to call me all the time just to talk and unload his days. Claire isn’t the only one with connections to him. I also know everything there is to know about fated mates. And relationships. And women. She needs someone who understands her. I understand everything and I’m the most qualified—”
“No, thank you.” I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes again. I was going to get eye strain from this conversation. “I appreciate the offer, that’s very generous. But I was thinking she might feel more comfortable talking to Claire. They’ve really seemed to hit it off.”
“That’s a great idea, Diego,” Asher said, barely containing his disappointment.
“I’m actually meeting her for lunch, so if you will excuse me? It was great catching up with you today, I appreciate that you made time for me unannounced.”
“Anytime. Don’t be a stranger. And don’t worry, we will deal with Graham. You have a lot of support on the council and from your people.”
I left Asher’s office feeling exhausted. But at least it took my mind off Drew’s feelings, even if only temporarily. He did give me something to think about. Exposing Drew and myself as fated mates might be perceived as positive. I added it to the list of things I wanted to talk to Claire about.
The sushi restaurant was only a ten-minute walk from the compound. I met Claire in the lobby, and we headed over to grab a table. It was a nice day outside, and we took our time walking, enjoying the breeze and the beauty of the trees along the trail that led to the town outside the compound. Claire chatted about a rogue vampire in the UK who was compelling humans to go streaking at major sporting events.
The shaded path was calming and peaceful. It gave me a chance to think about the events of the day. Graham overstepping his position, Drew’s ability to compel other vampires, and Asher’s suggestion to use the truth about Drew as a power move.
By the time we got to the sushi restaurant, I was more than ready to talk it all out with Claire, who thankfully, picked up on my contemplative mood.
“You look like someone gave you bad blood,” she said with a smile.
“I think I scared off Drew yesterday. Again.”
We both sat down at a corner booth, and the waiter poured us both a glass of the house wine. The restaurant was packed and bathed in neon blue light. To my right was an oversized aquarium filled with hundreds of fish, covering the expanse of the wall. A couple to our right was whispering naughty words while feeding each other raw rolls.
“At the rate you’re going, you should probably plan on a lifetime of it, Diego. You’re an all-in sort of man. She’s slow and steady with the emotional aspects of her relationships. If a relationship was built solely on sex, I think you’d last a lifetime though. I swear you both are practically bathed in tension when you’re in the same room. Just thinking of it makes me sweat.” Claire grinned while adjusting the strap of her black bodycon dress.
“We do have incredible chemistry. It’s one thing we can agree on,” I grunted while sitting down.
“Then why don’t you focus on that for a while?” Claire asked while lowering her sunglasses and waggling her eyebrows.
“What do you