The Ties that Bind (The Forever series, Book Five) by Eve Newton Page B

course you do,” he replies.
    “All of my own stay unharmed, you don’t even look at them
funny and you tell me everything. Everything,” I reiterate.
    “Done,” he says. “Just make sure I know exactly who ‘yours’
are. You know… just in case.”
    “Cade,” I warn him.
    “What? I don’t know, do I? Seems I am quite in the dark when
it comes to you. You are bewitching.”
    Bewitching?
    “Everyone who is here with me is one of mine, and my husband
of course.”
    “He doesn’t need protecting from me. Is that all? I wouldn’t
want to accidentally happen upon someone.”
    He still doesn’t know about Cole? This is just bizarre.
    “Well, we are a tight-knit group. It’s us and that is all.”
    “So the rest are fair game?”
    “No! I didn’t say that.”
    “I know, I am just messing with you. You are so easily
riled, it amuses me.”
    “Humph.”
    “I will do what I said I would do. I will protect you from
those that wish you harm.”
    “I am still curious as to why you would do this? It goes
against everything you were taught,” I say. Not one to poke the bear or
anything…. 
    “I know when to choose a side. Your rise to Power has
shifted everything. And yet I still get to do what I was born to do,” he
corrects.
    “Kill Vampires?”
    “Yes.”
    “Let’s just be clear on something, Mr. Sinclair. You will
not harm any Vampire, any being, unless they pose a threat. Do you understand
that?”
    “Yes, Mrs. O’Dell. I am quite clear on that. But you should
be aware that there are those out there who oppose you.”
    “I know. I just want you to know that if we do this, you do
it on my terms.”
    “Of course. So do we have a deal?”
    “Yes.”
    “Unopposed?”
    “Mine is the only vote that counts.”
    “I see. A sole ruler. Good to know that I won’t have
enemies.”
    “I never said that,” I say slyly.
    “Hm, I see that you will ensure that I don’t. My job is
risky enough as it is.”
    “Of course. You will be one of mine.”
    “One of yours? That doesn’t sound very appealing to me,” he
says.
    “You will be one of mine so I can protect you. Otherwise it’s
up to you.”
    There is a pause as he thinks it over. “Do you think I will
need protecting?”
    “Cade. You are talking about being my security, protecting
me against any threats that come to me. That puts you in a dangerous position.
I will place you in my protection so I know you will be safe from undue threats
from those who know differently.”
    “You want me safe?” he asks with a smile in his voice.
    “You can’t protect me if you aren’t.”
    “I think I will like working for you. You are a straight
shooter. And very different from what I thought.”
    “I get that a lot. Can you tell me one thing, though?”
    “You want to know the Vampire I killed,” he states.
    “Yes.”
    “His name was James. British, like you. Hated you. I took
great delight in killing him.”
    “James?” I stammer. “It was James?”
    “Yes. You didn’t hold any affection for him, I assume, with
the amount of hatred he had for you.”
    “I…I killed his sire. He had every right to hate me,” I say
sadly. There was no love lost between me and James at the end but we did once
feel something for each other.
     
     
     
    Dublin, Ireland, 1825 – Leah
     
    “Don’t look now but there is a gentleman staring at you
from across the tavern,” Devon said to me.
    “What does he look like?” I asked, patting my perfectly
coiffed black hair vainly.
    “Not really your type,” he answered.
    I turned then, intrigued, and my green eyes landed on a
bright blue pair belonging to a very handsome man with light blonde hair. No,
not my usual type, but I was in the mood for some fun and I sensed as he got
closer that he was also a Vampire.
    “May I?” he asked, pointing to the empty seat next to me.
I looked at Devon who shrugged. “I’ll leave you alone,” he whispered to me. I
smiled gratefully at him.
    “Please,” I said, “I