“I didn’t know you’d been trying to reach me.” Lifting my phone, I wiggled it. “I forgot this at Thana’s home last night.”
My mom gasped and stared at my hand. “Where did you get that ring?”
“I gave it to her,” Athan answered, tugging me back to pull my body into his side.
“Impossible,” my mom hissed, shaking her head. “That amethyst is unmistakable. It belongs to our family and was stolen from us several generations ago.”
6
Athan
I barely had time to process what Selene’s mother had said before she reached out and snatched her daughter’s hand and attempted to pull her away from me. No way in hell was that happening.
“Do not touch my consort,” I said in a low, menacing tone. Selene’s mother flinched and dropped Selene’s hand. I slipped my arm around her waist and dragged her back against me. Then I curled both arms around her in a protective and possessive gesture.
Her mother’s eyes widened as her gaze bounced back and forth between my mate and me. “Consort?” she whispered. Her tone was unmistakably horrified.
Selene stiffened and muttered, “Oh, crap.” I buried my face in her hair to hide my smile and held in my chuckle. She was so fucking adorable.
“You have to come with us, Selene,” her mother demanded shakily.
Selene’s father beckoned her with a gesture and a demand. “Come with us, Selene. You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into.”
“He-he’s a—”
“I know what he is.” My girl straightened her posture, and her head tilted as she lifted her stubborn chin. “I’m not going anywhere.” Seeing her stand up to her parents and exhibit such strength was sexy as fuck. She would definitely be getting extra orgasms later.
“Selene!” her father hissed. “You can’t believe anything he says. He’s just trying to lure you in so he can kill you.”
I scoffed and shot him a withering glance as I responded in a voice that was pure steel. “I would never hurt my Selene.”
“He must be a thief,” her mother added, though her argumentative stance had faded, making room for fear and hesitation. “How else would he have your great-great-grandmother’s heirloom? Her husband had that made for her and picked an amethyst that was the same shade of purple as her eyes.”
I was about to explain when Selene spoke first. “Look around you, Mother,” she said with a sweeping gesture. “Do you really think Athan has any reason to steal? Besides, you said it was stolen generations ago. It’s bound to have changed hands since then.”
Her mother shook her head, and I rolled my eyes. I was already bored with these two and wanted them out of my house. “I found the ring in a little shop a century ago. Something about it intrigued me. Now, I know it was because it belongs on the finger of my consort, with eyes that match it perfectly. Just like the original owner.”
I kissed the top of Selene’s head, and she melted back into me.
Her parents sputtered for a minute; then something must have occurred to Selene because she cocked her head to the side. “How do you know what a consort is, Mom? And that Athan is a vampire?”
Her mother’s lips twisted as an expression of disgust harshened her features. “Your aunt was supposedly a ‘consort,’” she said, using air quotations as she spit out the word. “Her mate”—she glared at me with hatred in her eyes—“killed her. They’re monsters. Murderers. And if you choose to stay here, I have no doubt you’ll meet the same fate.”
This was an interesting development. “Are you sure it was her mate who killed her?” I asked softly.
Selene’s head fell back, and she twisted her neck to look up at me. “Didn’t you say something about nightwalkers hunting consorts?”
I nodded and brushed her hair behind her shoulder so I could run a finger over the mark on her neck. As though to make sure it was still there. But it was also a reminder that Selene was still in danger as long as she was unturned.
“See?” her mother shrieked. “They hunt down their supposed mates and drink all their blood until they’re dead.”
Selene looked at her parents once more. “Nightwalkers.”
“Exactly,” her father piped up. “Besides, who would want to live a life condemned to darkness?”
“I think there’s been a misunderstanding,” Selene interjected.
“I’m so glad you understand now,” her mother sighed. “Let’s go.”
I was about to threaten them when Selene patted my arm and minutely shook her head. She was silently asking me to let her handle this. I would never deny my consort anything in my power, except when it came to her safety. I could have pushed the protection angle in the current situation, but I knew she would be much more tactful and patient with her parents than I would. If she wanted to continue to have a relationship with them—such as it was, considering she’d barely seen them since they’d sent her to boarding school in Switzerland—it was far more likely to happen if I wasn’t threatening their lives and throwing them out of our home.
“No,” she said gently. “The mistake is yours, Mom. I’m gathering that you aren’t aware of the different breeds of vampires?”
Her father snorted with derision. “They all drink blood, don’t they?”
“You drink scotch, which I find disgusting, yet I don’t judge you for it,” Selene snapped. Once again, I hid my amusement with my face in her silky tresses.
Her well-played rebuttal had him pausing long enough for her to forge ahead before he could try to argue her point. “Athan isn’t like the vampires in books. Or the one that killed Aunt Lola. I do not doubt that a nightwalker hunted her. But Athan is different. His kind are called daywalkers. He was born, not bitten.” She went on to explain the differences between the types of vampires, and it impressed me that she’d retained everything I’d told her in the last twelve or so hours. And it had been a lot to take in.
When she finished, her parents remained stubbornly silent, and Selene sighed. “I know you two aren’t big on relationships”—she’d attempted to keep her tone neutral, but I picked up the thread of resentment in her voice—“but I’d like to try to maintain one with you. However, Athan is my mate. I’m choosing him, and if you can’t accept him, or what I’ll become once he’s claimed me...well, you found your way in, so you can find your way out.”
Fucking hell. I was harder than a damn baseball bat and on the verge of throwing Selene over my shoulder and marching off to find a private place to fuck her. Her delectable little ass wiggled against my hard-on, and I growled in her ear. “Watch it, love.”
Her breathing picked up a fraction, and I almost forgot her parents were there until her dad grumbled, “I can see that you aren’t going to be reasonable about this. But we love you, and we’ll do our best to accept you.”
“And Athan,” Selene demanded.
Her mother sniffed and glared at me. “As long as you’re still alive...or whatever you’ll be.” Then she spun around and marched out of the room. Her father’s parting glance was a little less frosty, but certainly not the loving response one should receive from their father.