Chapter Six

What would a human eat? Not a question Silas had asked himself since… well, ever. But he would learn, because his female needed sustenance. It was the middle of the day, which meant he would have to brave the sun's rays in order to get Esmae proper food. He suppressed a grimace. No matter; seeing to her needs mattered more than his discomfort.

He hadn't always had a vampire's weakness to sunlight. It was worse than he remembered. Quick strides, unnaturally fast, let him cross the mountain to the forests below. To his shame, Silas's other form had been lost to him when he'd turned into a vampire.

The forest provided a number of options. Rabbits, deer, plump birds that were too slow in flying away. Among his treasures was an enchanted cold box he could store the food in, so it wouldn't go to waste. He wasn't sure what his mate favored, but he'd provide options and learn her favorites. He looked forward to learning everything about her.

Even in just a day, she'd captivated him. The moment when he'd sensed her on his mountain, he'd grown curious. When she slipped and hit her head, he felt something that he'd thought he'd long since evolved beyond: fear.

And after staying at her bedside for two days, waiting for her to awaken—when she finally had, she hadn't hesitated to attack him. Such things could be forgiven, since she didn't know she belonged to him. It heartened Silas at the time to see his female hale and hearty, hair wild with red strands as she tried to paint her knife the same color with his blood.

Being that she was his mate, his twin flame, that also meant she was the one creature that could harm him. Even if he'd lost his other form, the other traits of his species remained .

A need to provide for his female. To keep her safe. To win her affections.

Silas wasn't practiced in seduction, but for her, he'd learn. Eagerly.

He returned to the Cliffs, using his fine velvet cape as a tarp to haul several hundred pounds of animal meat. The kills had been quick and painless. The journey back, slowed down by the weight as he trudged through the sun, was not.

It would be worth it. Seeing her cared for would be worth it.

He returned directly, following the path he knew well on quiet feet. Esmae's voice echoed through the cavern, catching his attention. Who is she talking to?

"What else do you know about the vampire?" she asked.

Who dares talk to my mate?

His strides grew longer until he was nearly running there. But the only answer he heard in response was a series of whimpers. More food for my female to eat.

Esmae jerked back from the spot in the cavern she'd wandered to when Silas returned. She held an animal of some kind in her hands. A creature that should've known better than to intrude on his territory.

On reflex, he bared his teeth at the animal.

She clutched a wriggling gray lump to her chest.

"Don't scare him!" she chastised.

Silas blinked, realizing what he'd been doing. I'm jealous of a rodent. The thought was too undignified to voice.

"I'm not scaring him."

A whine. "You are," she insisted, once more pressing the fuzzy thing to her chest protectively, as though it had earned enough of her loyalty for her to shield it. "For no reason. We get it, you're bigger and stronger with fangs. He's just a little mole."

Though he was taller than her and more muscled, his little witch squared her shoulders and stared up as if she were the predator in the room. No, not a predator, he corrected himself. With her soulful brown eyes and pursed lips, stance wide as if unsure if she'd charge at him to run away with the creature, she was a protector.

"You're irresistible like this," he rasped.

She opened her lips to argue.

He took advantage of the opportunity. Moving faster than any mortal could, he cupped the back of her head, tilting it to him.

Mine .

The taste of mayberries threatened to overpower him. Her lips were soft, widening in a gasp as he licked her, barely resisting the urge to devour her. She moaned against him as he deepened the kiss, the sound spurring Silas onward. His other hand slid lower, clutching the curve of her behind as he pressed against her. The rodent had disappeared, and now it was he that pressed against her chest. Flames, he could feel the stiff peaks of her breasts, even through the fabric. His weariness was forgotten, electrified by the proof of his mate's desire. He wanted to put them in his mouth. Suck them until they ached, then pierce them with his fangs. He'd make her come just from that.

Her two delicate hands fisted his own shirt, gripping him. I'm yours, he thought. As you are mine, for eternity, I belong to only you .

But just as she pulled him in, she seemed to come to her senses. Far too quickly for Silas's hopes. Madness in her embrace was better than sanity alone. Her mouth stopped moving against his. Her very muscles stiffened within his grip, where they'd just melted.

She pushed him away.

He let her.

Her eyes were aflame with her ire.

Worth it. For the proof that her body knows what her mind does not yet.

"You brute!" she snapped.

The little mole next to her squeaked as if bolstering her argument. He resisted the urge to curl his lips and growl at the interloper.

"You enjoyed it. I can scent it."

The darkened red of her cheeks was either from shame or fury. Likely a mix of both. It made her no less lovely. Silas saw two paths before him: he could argue the truth she knew deep down—but his female would never admit it, and forcing her to confront such feelings could push her away rather than coax her to cleave to him. Or he could let the subject drop—for now—and win her in other ways .

The latter path was wiser. Even though part of him wanted to take her again, to fill her with so much pleasure, she had no choice but to surrender.

Later. Proceed with caution, and I shall have her forever. Rush, and I risk my undoing.

"I brought food." With all the grandness of a king unveiling a feast, he set his velvet cape down and displayed his haul. A deer, three rabbits, and two plump birds of various descriptions.

He waited for his mate to express her gratitude. Women liked a male who could provide, didn't they? And none would do better by their mate than Silas. It would be the second step to winning her over. The first had been displaying his vast wealth and knowledge. She'd enjoyed looking at his maps. Surely, with some food and tender words, she'd see how right they were for each other.

"You… you brought meat."

He cocked his head. "Of course. It would be most filling." A skinny thing like her would benefit from some hearty meals. Perhaps no male had provided for her before? It pleased him to think he was the first, but the answer didn't satisfy him. He considered, confusion marring the pride he'd felt at presenting his haul. Then, realization. "Worry not, I'll of course skin and prepare the food. I simply didn't have a chance."

But his mate's expression turned from stunned to… disapproving? "I don't eat meat."

"You don't eat meat," he repeated, not comprehending. In fairness, Silas didn't consume meat either, since he was a vampire. But he certainly had before! After how he'd spent ages in the sun, hunting and dragging back the food?

She shifted on her feet, uncomfortable. He should've checked. How would he win her over if he couldn't even feed her? He heaved a frustrated sigh. The sound drew her attention from the pile of perfectly good food wasting on the floor to his body.

"You don't look well." She frowned. "Did you go out in the sun… for me?"

Her concern was touching. Perhaps she could care for him? But again, he'd failed.

"I did," he confirmed. He'd step into the sun over and over if it meant getting her what she needed. Which, since that wasn't freshly hunted deer meat, he'd be doing again shortly. It wouldn't kill him, but it was exhausting. He'd need to feed far sooner than he'd planned. "I leave again directly. You will not go without in my presence."

He turned to go, but her delicate fingers snapped on his wrist.

He immediately stilled.

The first time his mate had chosen to touch him. Well, with something other than a blade.

"Wait." Her voice was tentative. "I have another idea."