Lysander, Alyssa’s mate and maker, was sitting on a chaise lounge by the window, he looked up and his eyebrows scrunched together. “Good evening, Fallon,” he said and set aside a book he’d been writing in. I had to admit, though I had no attraction to vampires what-so-ever, Lysander was a pretty hot guy. Nothing like my Aiden, but he too had a rugged handsomeness about him. The stark contrast between his dark messy hair and his pale blue-gray eyes really drew you in. It was hard not to stare at him. And, just like with the wolves, it was a bad idea to look a vampire in the eye. You never knew when one might try to dip into your mind—or one of your arteries. As quickly as I met his eyes, I looked away.
“You’re looking a lot better,” I said to Lysander. He’d spent the better part of the last month disembodied and trapped within a soulstone, but by the looks of him now, you’d never have guessed it. Gone were the wrinkles and singed skin. His hair had all grown back nicely too.
“Thank you.” He stood to greet me, and gave a little bow. Mr. Proper. “I am still getting used to being back in my own skin, but I am, for the most part, back to my old self. What brings you to visit us?”
Before I could answer, Nicholas strolled in from the kitchen doorway. “Oh, look, the human’s here for a visit.”
“Hello to you too, vampire.” If there was one vampire I had no fear of, it was Nicholas. Sure, he could be a cold-blooded killer, just like the rest of them. But he always gave off more of a big brother vibe to me. It might have had something to do with the fact that although he made it a point to threaten my life on a regular basis, he usually ended up being the one to save it. Either way, I knew the short, scruffy-looking vampire was more bark than bite. “Looks like I’ll be moving back in with you guys,” I said, addressing the rest of the room while putting on a brave face.
Lysander gave me a quizzical look.
Nicholas let out a sigh. “Is this going to be one of those sappy my-boyfriend-left-me cry-it-out moments? If so, can I be excused?”
“Ignore him,” Alyssa said.
“I usually do,” I replied.
Alyssa gave Nicholas a taunting glare and then turned to me. “What’s wrong?”
“Remember to keep it short, human.” Nicholas waved his hand to move the conversation along. “We may be immortal, but we don’t have all night. Beginning, middle, and end. Punch line if applicable.”
“I’m really not interested in becoming a wolf. And Aiden can’t be the leader if he’s with me and I don’t have a fur coat.” I stared right at Nicholas. “Was that short enough for you?”
“Nicely done, human,” Nicholas replied.
Lysander nodded. “Ah, yes. Wolves have very rigid rules.”
“I’m caught between a rock and a hard place.” I sighed. “There’s no way around it. Either I become a wolf or I leave him.”
“Why don’t I solve your problem and just turn you myself?” Nicholas offered, but there was less snark in his voice this time. “Then you won’t have to worry about being a wolf, you’ll be one of us.”
“That really doesn’t solve the problem. It just creates a new one,” I said.
Nicholas shrugged. “I offered.”
Lysander motioned for me to sit on the couch. “What, may I ask, what is so bad about becoming a wolf?”
I sank into the plush cushions of the large L-shaped couch facing the fireplace. “It’s just …” I met his eyes briefly before turning away. I didn’t have the words. I stopped and thought for a moment. Being a wolf wasn’t really that much of a change. I’d still be able to have a normal-ish life. If I survived.
“I see.” The corner of his mouth quirked up. “You fear death. If I recall correctly, you were pretty frightened when I offered you the option of immortality.”
“Quit reading my mind. You know you vamps freak me out when you do that.”
“My apologies,” Lysander said, half smiling. Unlike the way Nicholas spoke, there was no hint of ulterior motives behind his words. “It is second nature for me. Please continue.”
“See, this supernatural stuff. It weirds me out a little. And besides, you all wanted to turn me into a vampire. No offense, but I would never consider that.”
Nicholas huffed. “That was our first mistake. We gave you a choice.”
Alyssa rolled her eyes at his comment. “I can’t complain. I didn’t really have a choice, but given the other option—death—it all worked out. It’s not a bad way of life, once you get used to it.” She plopped down next to me on the couch.
“That’s the difference, as Nicholas clearly pointed out. You didn’t have a choice. I do,” I said. “What if I make the wrong choice?”
If Lysander was offended by my disgust with the option of being a vampire, I couldn’t tell. He remained calm. “I understand your trepidation,” he said. “It is risky. There is no guarantee that the transition will work for either species.”
“You see? That’s pretty scary. I’d be risking my life on a fifty-fifty chance of death.”
“Fallon, you are so focused on death,” Lysander said. “Let me ask you this. If the transition were less risky, and you were guaranteed to survive it, would you change then?”
I shrugged. “Maybe.”
Lysander’s eyebrow arched. “A guarantee, and yet still you waiver. Is it the transition you fear, or is it the unknown of werewolf life?”