Death Bringer by Derek Landy Page B

safer place to wait?” she asked, hooking her thumbs into her pockets. “People like you really shouldn’t be hanging around the waterfront, you know. If you swallow any sea spray, your throat’s going to close up and you’ll die.”
    â€œAnd would you be sad?”
    â€œSure I would. I once lost a gerbil. I’d imagine the pain would be similar.”
    He moved closer to her. “So I’m your pet, am I?”
    â€œOf course. You’re my vampire.”
    He was right in front of her now, and he leaned in and they kissed. “And are you my human?” he whispered.
    â€œSo long as you’re OK about sharing me, sure,” she said, and they kissed again.
    His hand went to her face. “I don’t like sharing things.”
    â€œAnd I don’t like being called a thing, but life isn’t fair.”
    â€œYou should be mine alone.”
    She gave him a smile. “Have you taken your serum tonight? Because you’re sounding awfully territorial.”
    He stepped back. “The serum is not to be joked about. Without it, I would tear off my skin and devour you.”
    â€œSounds tempting, doesn’t it? But I can’t tonight, dear, I’m on babysitting duty, which I’m actually quite looking forward to, and then it’s bedtime.”
    â€œThen I will remain beside you while you sleep.”
    â€œMy folks would love that,” Valkyrie said with a chuckle. He didn’t smile. “You’re not going to watch me sleep.”
    â€œI have made up my mind.”
    She looked at him. “Eh, what?”
    â€œI don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you, Valkyrie. But you needn’t worry. From this moment on, you are mine to protect.”
    â€œI’m a little stuck for words here,” she said. “I’m just trying to get my head around it, trying to find the right way to… OK, yeah, I have it now. Caelan, cop on to yourself.”
    He blinked his beautiful eyes. “I’m… I’m only doing this because I care so much. I’m here to protect you.”
    â€œSee, that’s where the problem is stemming from. I don’t need you to protect me. I’m not saying I don’t need protection. My God, the amount of trouble I get into, I could use all the help I can get. But my protection comes from people like Skulduggery, and Ghastly, and China – you know, people who are powerful enough to protect me from the things I can’t protect myself from.”
    â€œYou… think I’m weak?”
    â€œI think you’re grand. And I acknowledge the fact that you’re a vampire – that’s very impressive. But let’s face it, your real power kicks in when you turn and, unfortunately, when you turn, you tend to forget who’s a friend and who’s a foe, so that’s not a whole lot of use to any of us.”
    â€œI would never hurt you.”
    â€œAw, that’s sweet, but, really, you’d never get that chance. Caelan, you’re not my protector, you’re not my guardian angel and you’re not my boyfriend.”
    His perfect jaw tightened. “But I love you.”
    â€œHere we go.”
    â€œWhen will you admit that you’re in love with me too?”
    â€œI swear, talking to you is like talking to a really good-looking and mildly stupid brick wall. Look, I like you, OK? I do. I know I shouldn’t, I know it’s a cliché to fall for the bad boy…”
    Caelan frowned. “I’m a bad boy?”
    â€œBut it happened,” she continued, ignoring him, “and that’s it. I think you’re cute. You could probably ease up on the brooding and self-loathing, though – that stopped being attractive a while ago. But I mean, on the whole, I like you, and you like me—”
    â€œI love you.”
    â€œYeah, well…”
    â€œYou make my heart want to beat.”
    â€œThat’s nice