Chapter Text
Dark curls were matted to a sweaty forehead as brown eyes roamed around behind shut lids. There was a persistent and unavoidable ache that blanketed Ethan’s body, particularly around his throat. He groaned, turning over in the bed that he didn’t even remember getting into. His eyes felt puffy and he could almost believe that there was actual cotton stuffed in his mouth. He peeked one eye open, bringing up a hand to rub at it. He was in his room.
There was a moment of silence before panic started to permeate through the seer’s body. Flashbacks of the night previous flooded his mind and he could feel himself heat up. In anger or in embarrassment, he wasn’t sure. Maybe a mixture of both.
The memories ended at Jesse sinking his fangs into Ethan’s neck. A heaviness settled into his stomach, rocks of dread at the realization that he could be a fledgling by now. Spying his phone settled on his desk, Ethan lunged towards it, opening it with urgency and pressing Benny’s contact. It rang a couple times before his best friend picked up.
“Hello?” Benny’s voice sounded hoarse and slightly muffled.
“Benny! I need your help!” The magician groaned at his loudness. Suddenly, Ethan’s room door slammed open and he whirled around to see his little sister standing in the doorway, shaking like a leaf and tears in her eyes.
“Uh,” Benny squeaked, seeming nervous all of a sudden, “I’ve got a little situation here. I’ll deal with it and head to you as soon as I can, okay?” Ethan pursed his lips but voiced his agreement. There wasn’t anything he could do if Benny had a situation.
“Fine. Come as soon as you can.” He hung up and turned his full attention towards Jane. “Jane,” he started cautiously, his sister sniffing and her tears filling her eyes, dangerously close to spilling over, “what happened last night?” At that, she was sent over the edge. Jane rushed forward and latched her arms around her brother’s waist. “Are you okay?”
“I thought you were dead when he brought you in!” She cried, her voice wobbly and Ethan froze. He pushed her away and knelt down, eyes serious.
“When who brought me in?” Although he already knew the answer, he wanted it not to be true. Tears still streaked down her face.
“That guy you were fighting with! He said his name was, uh, Jesse?” Ethan sighed. Jane continued, babbling in her misery, “he said you were okay, but I didn’t believe him! I tried to make him leave and he wouldn’t let you go! And-” Ethan paled.
“Don’t tell me you invited him in.” Jane looked guilty, eyes large and watery and Ethan had his answer.
“I had to,” she whispered. Brown eyes softened and he stood back up, gathering his sister back into a hug.
“It’s okay, Jane. But if you ever see him, you either ignore him or run away, got it? He’s my problem, not yours.”
“Well that’s not nice.” Both siblings jumped at the foreign voice and Ethan turned around to see the absolute bane of his existence lounging on his window sill, perfectly balanced. “I never knew I was just a problem to you, my dear.” Ethan stiffened and pushed Jane behind him, completely covering her. Amusement shone on the vampire’s face and the seer bristled.
“What are you doing here, Jesse?!” Said man turned himself, putting his legs inside Ethan’s room and swinging them, looking at ease and actually quite content. “Jane, go back into your room.” He felt his sister hesitate. “Now!” He snapped and she left right away, running back into her bedroom and locking the door. He waited until he heard the lock click before lunging at the nearest weapon, a Swiss Army knife his dad had gotten him for his tenth birthday laying on his dresser.
Before his fingers could even graze the handle, Jesse had him in his arms, crushing Ethan against his chest and pulling him away from the knife. His arms were immobilized at his sides, one long arm with superhuman strength keeping him in place, and a large hand clasped at his back, locking him into his position.
“Now now, beloved,” he felt more than heard Jesse say into his ear, “there’s no need to get so harsh with me. I realize you’re upset, but there’s no need to be so violent.”
“Upset?! This is upset to you?!” Ethan yelled, bucking his body forward in an effort to dislodge Jesse’s grip. He was not successful.
“What else would it be?” The vampire backed up and felt the edge of his mate’s bed hit the back of his knees. He let himself fall, switching his and Ethan’s position at the last moment so he was on top, pressing his beloved beneath his weight. Doe brown eyes stared up defiantly into his and Jesse felt his hunger grow.
‘Delectable,’ his mind said, and Jesse’s more animalistic part couldn’t help but agree. Though most dominant vampires preferred a docile and submissive mate, Jesse couldn’t be more than happy that his own was strong enough, brave enough to stand up to him. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Let me go,” Ethan snarled into the vampire’s face and struggled with more fervor after seeing amusement and what seemed like adoration lighting up the dark brown orbs of Jesse Black. “Let. Me. Go!”
If only to get his unruly mate under control, Jesse let his fangs pop out and pressed them down, scraping against the bite mark he had left last night, reopening the wound that had scabbed over. Ethan gasped and his head fell back in pleasurable surprise, baring his neck unwillingly to his mate. Jesse licked at the droplets of blood that fell from the open wound and continued to press and scrape his fangs over the bite. The seer moaned lightly at the pleasure that seemed to spark from the area, waves of a sort of erotic feelings crashing throughout his body.
Jesse felt his mate’s body relax against his own, and a tendril of content wormed its way around his heart. Though the feeling abated when he remembered that it was only due to the mating mark and nothing of Ethan’s own accord.
“Never,” he whispered, watching as the haze in his mate’s eyes slipped away and the body under his stiffened, “I’ll never let go.” Ethan glowered up at the vampire and he was about to answer when-
“Ethan!” His mother’s muffled voice from downstairs called. “Benny’s here!” Doe brown eyes became wide and suddenly, the air above him was clear. He sat up quickly to see Jesse climbing out the window.
“We’re not done talking about this. I’ll see you at school.” With that, he was gone. And just in time as Benny bounded up the stairs in a hurry, bursting through his door and ignoring the open window.
“Dude, we have a major problem.”
‘Tell me about it,’ he thinks bitterly as he watches his best friend go into a panic.
“What happened?” Concern was evident in his tone. The spellmaster ran a hand through his hair, looking guilty and stressed.
“So you know how last night you called me and told me to help you?” Ethan nodded, feeling a little annoyed now that Benny mentioned it. “Well, I called Rory, Erica, and Sarah over to help bring some things since they’re so strong right? Well, I let them in, Rory and Erica, I mean. Sarah didn’t come. I let them in and all of a sudden, I’m in the kitchen and two rabid vampires are on me! Before I know it, they’re both biting me in the middle of my kitchen and I pass out. I woke up in my room this morning with Erica and Rory in my bed, and you can guess how awkward and panicky I felt and I still feel!” Ethan stared up at Benny as the spellmaster paced across his room.
“They- They bit you?” Benny nodded, hair bouncing with the movement and pulled down his typical polo shirt to reveal two bandages in the same place on either side of his neck. “Huh.” Benny grimaced.
“Is that all you can say?!” The cry was loud and Ethan glanced towards his door, afraid his parents were going to come up.
“Shh! Benny!” He reprimanded lightly, and Benny looked slightly sheepish. “Well, at least we’re in the same boat.” Blue eyes squinted in confusion. Ethan sighed and reached for the neckline of his T-shirt, pulling it down to reveal the bite mark that Jesse had left. The confusion left his orbs, and they filled with horror. “I know. And you’ll never guess who left it.”
“It wasn’t Sarah?!” Ethan shook his head and winced. How was Benny going to take the news of Jesse being back? “Who was it?!” There was a pause before Ethan reluctantly told him.
“Jesse Black.” A moment of silence before disaster.
“WHAT?!”
The boys arrived at White Chapel High School, both extremely nervous. Ethan surveyed the courtyard and relaxed slightly when he saw no trace of Jesse. Benny, however, moved behind Ethan when he made eye contact with Rory and Erica, who were leaning against a pillar of the entrance. He turned to his best friend.
“Ethan. I’m gonna take the back entrance and we’ll rendezvous at your locker, alright?” Benny didn’t wait for a response before dashing towards the side of the school and eventually leaving Ethan’s line of sight. He sighed.
‘Guess I’ll just have to go it alone for a bit,’ he thought, feelings of wariness growing as Erica and Rory straightened while he approached.
“Where’s Benny?” Erica asked, eyes full of amusement. Ethan shrugged, not willing to give up his best friend’s position and bypassed the duo. A gust of wind blew at him from behind and he looked back to find Rory gone while Erica smirked, pressing her tongue against her teeth. Ethan’s eyes widened.
“Where’d Rory go?” Erica shrugged and chuckled, leaving Ethan behind as she went inside. Ethan clenched his teeth and he finally entered the halls of White Chapel High.
It was a relatively fast paced walk towards his locker and once he was there, it was even quicker to put his things away and get ready for class. From down the hallway, Ethan heard Benny’s voice calling to him.
“Ethan!” He turned to see the spellmaster wave at him. Benny started towards him when a pale hand stretched out to grab Benny and yank him into a room. The seer’s eyes widened was about to run towards where he saw his best friend disappear but a leather-clad arm slammed the locker next to his, stopping him in his tracks. Ethan jumped and turned around to stare into the eyes of Jesse Black. He fell back towards his locker in surprise which turned into fear when he realized who it was.
“Jesse,” he gasped, clutching his backpack’s straps. He reached an arm behind him to slam his locker door closed before trying to duck underneath the vampire’s arm caging him in. That same arm followed Ethan’s movement and clutched the seer’s elbow, bringing him back into that prison, without any room for escape. The seer knew that any movement to get away would be counteracted by Jesse’s vampire superspeed and strength. Ethan grunted as his backpack met the locker’s metal surface and he glared up at Jesse who stood close.
“Going so soon, dear heart?” Ethan rolled his eyes.
“These nicknames are going to have to stop. They’re nauseating.” Jesse smiled. A genuine one, to Ethan’s shock.
“And if I don’t want to?” He was about to say something but stopped. That’s right. He had no leverage over the vampire.
“I’ll, uh- I’ll leave!” He grasped at straws but the instant those words came out of his mouth, Jesse’s eyes darkened, starting to glow bright blue. Ethan gulped.
‘Shit,’ he thinks, knowing he fucked up.
“I’d like to see you try, mate.” He leans in closer, eyes menacing and lips curled back enough to where the seer can see his fangs peeking out. “I will always find you. If you run, if you hide, you better know that I’ll be tracking you down. I won’t stop until I have you back where you belong.” Ethan glowered, not liking the implications that Jesse set.
“And where do I belong, Jesse? With you?” The vampire didn’t relent.
“Exactly. You belong with me. Safe, warm, and cared for.” Ethan scoffed.
“Do you even know how to care, vamp? Did you know I still have the scars from where you bit me at the dance? And how about last night, huh? Did the first time not satisfy you enough, you just had to make me a full one?!” By now, Ethan’s voice was louder and higher, but damn it, he couldn’t get past the anger he was feeling. On top of that, panic ran through his system like a tornado, twisting up his insides until he couldn’t find where he began or ended. Jesse narrowed his eyes.
“I mean, unless someone else bit you while I was gone, you’re not a vampire, Ethan. Hell, you’re not even a fledgling.” Ethan sneered. Normally, he would’ve shrunk away at the sight of Jesse’s face but his anger was taking control of him before he knew it.
“I know the implications of being bit by a fucking vampire, Jesse. Okay? I’m not an idiot.” Jesse raised an eyebrow and damn, if it didn’t want to send Ethan into a fit of rage and rain his fists down against that pale face.
“Not this time, Ethan. How I bit you was different.” He scoffed again.
“Okay, different how?” Just then, Jesse’s ears perked up and he pushed himself away as fast as possible.
“I’ll tell you later.” Ethan huffed, annoyed with the ambiguity.
“No! Tell me right-”
“Principal Hicks,” Jesse interrupted, flashing a meaningful look Ethan’s way before tacking on a smile. “How’re you today?” The principal paused and Ethan could see the man’s eyes glazing over. He breathed in shock.
‘Is he compelling him?!’ Ethan pushed at Jesse’s shoulder, causing the vampire to look over at him. The seer glared and Jesse rolled his eyes, exasperated. Reluctantly though, as to not further anger his mate, he let his compelling go, releasing Principal Hicks from the spell.
“Sorry, Principal Hicks. We were just on our way to class.” A large hand grabbed his shoulder and steered him away from the dazed principal, going down the hall and disappearing around the corner. Ethan pushed back from Jesse’s hand as they approached an end with two hallways splitting in opposite directions. He surprisingly let him.
“My class is this way,” he muttered, his voice quiet in the now empty halls. He went down one end while he just knew that Jesse had to go the other way.
“Remember, beloved,” Jesse’s voice was also quiet but it still held a note of power in it, “we have to talk later. I’ll meet you at your house after school.” Fear lit up Ethan’s entire body. He shook his head violently that Jesse was actually afraid that he might manage to dislodge it. “What?”
“Not at my house,” demanded Ethan. His doe brown eyes were wide and the vampire could already tell what he was thinking, mate-linked or not.
“I’m not going to hurt anyone, dear heart. Especially not your family.” Jesse sighed as he saw the distrusting and scared glint in his eyes. “Alright,” he assented, “where would you like to meet?”
“I’d rather not meet at all,” he muttered and of course, having his super hearing, Jesse heard. The vampire frowned.
“Not possible,” he said, as if knowing his demands were going to be followed, “I told you we needed to talk and we’re going to as soon as possible. Even if that means kidnapping you right when school lets out if I have to. Don’t force my hand, love. I will do what needs to be done.” Ethan gritted his teeth.
“Fine, have it your way.” He huffed and turned around, starting to head down the hallway. “Find me after school. We’ll go somewhere then.” He paused before turning his head and adding, “and if I even get a hint of something that puts me in danger, I’m leaving. If this seems to be a trick, I’m leaving. Anything suspicious, I’m leaving. Understood?”
Dark brown eyes shined with slight amusement. The vampire saluted.
“Yessir.”
The rest of the school day, Ethan was nervous, his leg bouncing up and down underneath his desk. Benny had shown up late to their first class, eyes weirdly glazed over. They hadn’t spoken for the rest of the day, which was suspicious.
By the time the last period had passed, Ethan’s heart was jackrabbiting in his chest, anxious to go and get this meeting over with. After stopping by his locker and gathering his stuff, he set off towards the exit where Jesse was probably waiting, and it was obvious that Benny was a bit preoccupied. He’d ask later. For now, he had something else to deal with.
Just as Ethan suspected, Jesse was leaning against the metal frame of the front door of White Chapel, sunglasses over his eyes. A startling, genuine smile stretched across his pale face as he made eye contact with Ethan. It made the seer flounder a bit before he recovered and turned his head away, a blush forming across his face.
“Let’s just go,” he grumbled and walked forward, not seeing the adoring look sent his way. Jesse quickly caught up, his shoulders brushing Ethan’s as the smile stayed on his face.
“Where are we gonna go?” Ethan shrugged, separating himself away from Jesse’s touch, averting his eyes when the vampire clearly frowned.
“I don’t know. The park maybe?” Jesse snorted.
“The park? I thought you’d have put some thought into your place of choice.” Ethan shrugged again, not knowing how to respond. He didn’t want to think too much about this anyway, so who can really blame him for not deciding quick enough? Jesse’s frown deepened before an idea struck him. “My dear? Are you hungry perchance?”
Before Ethan could properly respond, the vampire pulled the seer closer by the waist, a hand coming up to span across his shoulder blades. Faster than he could comprehend, Jesse had swept downwards and cupped a hand behind the backs of his knees and hoisted him into a tight and humiliating bridal hold. Luckily there was no one around to witness this.
“What are you doing?!” He whispered, horror coating his tone. Jesse glanced down and smirked at his horrified and still somehow cute mate.
“Getting us there faster.” Ethan sputtered.
“We have all the time to get there. I’m sure it’s not even that far!” Jesse smiled down at him, amusement evident in his eyes.
“I thought you’d want to spend as little time with me as possible?” Despite the teasing note in his tone, there was also hurt which tugged oddly at his heart. He shook his head, trying to will that feeling away.
“I do,” he scowled, “but I’d also rather walk. On my own.” Ethan gestured to his cradled body, and Jesse rolled his eyes.
“Well, the quicker we get there, love, the quicker you’re free. Don’t worry, I promise to put you down when we get there,” Jesse purred, and while Ethan wanted to protest further, he knew now that the vampire was unlikely to put him down. So with a red face, Ethan settled back into Jesse’s arms and waited to be taken to wherever the vampire had in mind. Satisfied with his mate’s clear acceptance, he smugly smiled. “Excellent choice, dear heart.”
If possible, Ethan’s cheeks became even redder. He buried his face into his hands as Jesse’s grip on him tightened.
“Let’s just go,” he grumbled, fully aware how Jesse could hear his jackrabbiting heart.
Jesse was right, Ethan thought with slight annoyance. It was a quicker way to get there and he had put him down the second they arrived in front of Al’s Ice Cream Shop, quickly enough that no one noticed anything.
“Ice cream?” Ethan’s voice pitched. “Isn’t it bad to eat dessert before dinner?” Jesse looked back with a smile.
“I won’t tell if you don’t.” The seer rolled his eyes and barreled forward, passing Jesser and entering the shop with a ring.
“Welcome!” The way-too cheery cashier said as soon as they walked in. Ethan’s face didn’t change from its slight scowl while Jesse grinned and said thank you. Underneath her hat, the cashier blushed at the vampire’s handsome face. Ethan scowled further and approached the cashier.
“Hey,” he greeted, “can I get a strawberry and matcha on a waffle cone?” She nodded, still obviously staring at Jesse. She punched in the order and said his required pay.
“$5.89, please.” He was about to hand her his debit card but Jesse held an arm in front of him, stopping him from giving it to her.
“What?” Ethan asked, confused. Jesse smiled charmingly at the cashier again.
“I’ll be adding my order to his and I’ll be paying.”
“Sure,” she simpered and Ethan could hear a bit of a wistful sigh in her words. Though incredulity filled him, he kept his face carefully blank (save for the slight scowl). Instead, he turned back to Jesse, who was so close that Ethan’s nose nearly brushed the vampire’s neck. Reeling a bit, he tried not to react.
“I can pay for my own things.” Jesse tilted his head, eyes softening. It sort of looked like a puppy dog look.
‘If that puppy dog was a vicious, blood sucking monster,’ he thought sardonically.
“I know, mate, but you’re with me. When you’re with me,” he started to whisper, “you’ll never have to worry about anything again.” Ethan clenched his jaw.
“Whatever.” Jesse nodded before turning to the cashier who watched the exchange with suspicious eyes.
“Order’s for Jesse Black. Thanks.” He then put a hand at Ethan’s back and gestured towards the seating area with an elegant movement. A blush appeared on Ethan’s cheeks but he walked forward with head held high, not turning to look if Jesse followed him. He already knew that he did.
Sitting down at a random booth, Ethan was quick to look outside, if only to avoid Jesse’s eyes. He observed, noting if there was any exit or protection that could be offered to him in the case that Jesse went feral on him.
“So,” Jesse started, making Ethan turn his head towards him.
“So.” He said simply, face carefully blank. “What did you mean earlier when you said your bite was different? How could it possibly be different?” Jesse cocked his head, eyes mirthful.
“Doesn’t that spellmaster friend of yours have a book on this?” Ethan narrowed his eyes, a sneer on his face.
“On ancient vampire mating rituals? No. He’s been a bit, uh,” he paused to think carefully about his words, “preoccupied.”
“Oh? How so?”
“He just is,” the seer replied coldly, sneer turning into a scowl. “And this is something that you just thrust onto us. Onto me. You can’t expect me to do something about it right away.”
“And why not?” Jesse asked, dark brown eyes no longer mirthful but curious. “You did so before, when I was after Sarah.”
“Because it wasn’t me that you were trying to catch. It was Sarah. Speaking of Sarah,” Ethan cleared his throat, “why switch from her to me? The last I remember, you were saying something about ‘being what you’re meant to be’ to her?” Finger quotes emphasized what the seer was sure was verbatim words. The vampire grimaced, looking away.
“Yeah, I wasn’t proud of that.” Ethan raised an eyebrow.
“I didn’t know you could feel regret, Black.” Dark brown eyes turned back to him, their gaze sharpening onto him.
“I’ll let that slide because we’re in public, my love, but in private, don’t hesitate to call me by my name.” Ethan glowered.
‘Honestly,’ he thought to himself, ‘if I keep making faces like this, it’s going to stay that way permanently.’
“But-” he was cut off by the cashier from earlier calling Jesse’s order.
“Hold that thought,” Jesse said, flashing a quick smile and getting up to receive their order. He only brought one cone back to the table, however.
“Didn’t you get anything?” Jesse looks down at Ethan with warmth, as if his question endeared him.
“Vamps don’t eat, remember? At least,” Jesse started to correct, a devilish grin overtaking his face, “not the same food you humans eat.” That grin made Ethan shiver but he decided not to comment on it, what with so many people around them at the moment. He only took the ice cream cone from the vampire’s hands, cautious and slow before starting to lick at the frozen treat. A slight smile appeared on his face. He always liked ice cream.
Jesse, on the other hand, watched his mate hungrily as the seer started to kitten lick the ice cream that he provided, the motions going straight to his dick. Honestly, he really shouldn’t have brought Ethan to an ice cream shop, especially when their bond was so new. That coupled with the innocent and purely erotic things his tongue was doing made Jesse want to whisk Ethan far away from where anyone could look upon his mate freely, without consequence.
The possessive beast within wanted nothing more than to forcibly take its mate away and make him theirs. Of course, Jesse knew that this kind of situation needed more delicate planning. He knew that, like a little mouse, the seer would run away if provoked too much and he couldn’t risk that. So he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
‘Oh well,’ he thought with an amused smile, ‘at least I get to spend some time with Ethan.’ It was unbelievable how whipped he was. The things that mates do to you.
Ethan paused in eating his treat, glancing at Jesse, who was staring back at him with a slight smile on his face.
“Thanks for the ice cream,” Ethan said slowly. He didn’t like the vampire but God forbid his parents learn that he didn’t say thank you to someone who bought him something. He was raised better after all.
Jesse beamed. The more primal part of him preened at being recognized by its mate for providing for him. Even the more reasonable part of him purred at Ethan’s words.
‘He doesn’t even know what he does to me,’ Jesse thought, watching as Ethan’s eyes became wide.
“You’re welcome, beloved.” The seer grimaced at the nickname.
“Seriously, Jesse. The nicknames are so obnoxious.” Jesse shrugged.
“You’ll have to get used to them.” Ethan’s shoulders slumped.
“I can’t get you to stop?” The vampire pretended to think about it before shaking his head with finality.
“Nope,” he said, popping the ‘p.’ The seer’s shoulders slumped.
“If that’s the case, I reserve the right to call you a pretentious dick.” The smile slipped right off Jesse’s face. He leaned in close and Ethan had to resist the overwhelming urge to shrink away from him.
“That’s fair, mate. But don’t make the mistake of saying that in public. The results won’t be as you’d imagine.” Ethan gulped, eyes wide.
“F-Fine.” Jesse leaned back and Ethan finally relaxed into his seat. “I don’t want anything to do with this, Jesse. Why choose me?” A sardonic smile was put on the vampire’s handsome face.
“Darling, vampires don’t choose their mates. They are a predestined inevitability.” A thoughtful look crosses his face. “Well, that’s not true. An inevitability is quite an overstatement. Vampires don’t meet their destined mate all that often. I just happened to be back in town when my aura fully matured and found you.”
“So your mates are found by your aura? You have an aura?” Jesse nodded, watching Ethan finish off his ice-cream greedily, and spied a little extra residue of the frozen treat at the corner of his lips. Quite boldly, Jesse reached forward, quick enough that Ethan didn’t see it coming, and wiped it away with his thumb, bringing it back to taste the cool sweetness of the ice-cream combined with Ethan’s naturally sweet scent.
A blush crossed Ethan’s pale face, to which Jesse smirked. “Everyone has an aura, dear heart. Humans have the weakest, followed by the supernatural. Vampires have one of the strongest when they’re fully developed.”
“How do you develop an aura?” A strained smile came from Jesse, as if the next sentence he would speak was physically painful to tell him. Truthfully, it was because he knew what Ethan would think when he said it. However, not wanting to leave his mate questioning or lie to him, he would still tell the truth.
“You develop an aura by taking those of others.” Ethan’s doe brown eyes widened and horror dawned on his face. Jesse was quick to add, “you can’t fully take away someone else’s aura. It would cause them to die, but you can drain it, add it to your own and then they have to grow their own auras again.”
“S-So, when you bit me the night of the dance,” he trailed off, heart starting to palpitate. Jesse shook his head, knowing exactly what he was thinking.
“It doesn’t take any aura to turn someone. It wasn’t my intention to take your aura that night at all. “However, even if I took some, it wouldn’t have damaged you at all.” That made Ethan pause. He tilted his head slightly, heart still beating rather quickly.
“It wouldn’t have?” Jesse licked his lips, a wry smile curling at his lips. The, admittedly adorable, obliviousness to how much power the seer actually holds was astonishing.
“Seers have among some of the most powerful auras in the known universe, on par with vampires, werewolves, and magicians.”
“And what does it mean to have a ‘powerful’ aura?” Ethan was painfully curious, and though he knew he should’ve been cautious about lies the vampire might tell him, he somehow felt that Jesse wouldn’t do that. Maybe once upon a time, but not now.
“An aura is characterized by the power that the holder wields, and the amount of life they can live. Humans have the weakest auras, so they aren’t very powerful and live the shortest lives. Seers, like you, and vampires, like me, live long lives and are some of the more powerful species on the planet.”
“Who’s more powerful then, me or you?” Jesse huffed a laugh, amused at his mate’s forwardness. If it were anyone else, they wouldn’t be able to get away with it.
“Me, darling. For now, me. However, I can see promising things in the future.” In an uncharacteristic moment of playfulness, Ethan rolled his eyes.
“You sound like a fortune-teller who’s telling me I’m going to do great things and meet the love of my life.” Jesse frowned.
“First of all, you are going to do great things. Second, you have met the love of your life.” Ethan stared at the vampire across from him in disbelief.
“Jesse, if you think I’m the type to fall for someone because I’m their ‘mate’,” the word was accompanied with finger quotations, “you’re about to be sorely mistaken.” The statement itself didn’t even make sense to him.
Seemingly having enough of this conversation, Ethan stood abruptly and turned, not caring to watch Jesse get out of the booth himself. He rushed out of the shop, only hearing the sound of footsteps following him above the chatter of others, and made his way down the street, wanting to get home as soon as possible. It wasn’t until he was about a block away from the shop and underneath the shadowed height of a large oak tree that he was swept up into another bridal-carry, eyes widened as he tried to comprehend what just happened.
Jesse quickly glanced down at him, as if to make sure he was okay, then looked away, and suddenly, they were off. Ethan’s eyes closed as everything and everyone rushed around him.
He only opened his eyes when he heard the sound of a window opening and he realized they were back in his bedroom.
Jesse didn’t relinquish his hold on Ethan until they were near the bed, gently placing him on the soft mattress. After his arms disappeared from beneath him, Ethan scrambled towards his head board, not missing the hurt look his supposed mate sent his way.
He hated the guilty feeling that permeated his chest when he did. It wasn’t fair for him to be the one to feel guilty.
“We’ll stop discussing this today, darling, but we will continue. Soon.” As much of a promise as it was, it was also a threat. It told Ethan that if he did something unsavory, consequences were to come. There wouldn’t be any harm towards him or his family, he was more sure of that, but he knew that Jesse could inspire people, and lead them to do exactly what he wanted. He could manipulate and lie and that made Ethan worried about those around him.
“You can’t tell me what to do, Jesse,” he said petulantly, fearfully holding his gaze when black eyes narrowed.
“Careful there, dear heart. It would only tempt me.” Despite the burning desire in his eyes to do upon those temptations, Jesse moved towards the window, pushing one leg to steady himself against the pane. “Remember, don’t do anything stupid. I would hate to have to take you away from here, if only to stop you from running away.”
“You can’t do that either,” he blurted before mentally chastising himself for keeping the vampire longer than he really wanted to be here. He was so close to leaving too. Jesse stepped back from the window.
“You’re telling me a lot of things I can’t do, darling.” Ethan stupidly continued, knowing that he already started the ball rolling and wouldn’t be able to stop it.
“Because you can’t,” Ethan whispered as his ‘mate’ approached the bed he was huddled on. He leaned over the mattress, barely pausing when Ethan tightened himself against the headboard. A hand grasped Ethan’s ankle and yanked, pulling him underneath Jesse’s larger form. Two arms pinned him and prevented him from rolling away as glowing blue eyes peered down into him, seeming to penetrate his soul.
“Oh, but I can. Don’t you know, beloved? Under vampire law, should the mate of a vampire resist, regardless of them being a vampire or not, it is allowed that the vampire do anything necessary to get the mate to accept them?” A finger trailed down the soft skin of Ethan’s face, cold to the touch and yet terribly tender. However, the possessive and frigid expression on Jesse’s face counteracted the gentleness. “I can do whatever I please. No one will stop me. No one can.”
“My friend’s can,” Ethan spat, having enough of this man’s power trip. “We can stop you. We have before.” The expression melted into a mocking smile.
“How sweet. You thought you beat me? Darling, I left because I wanted to. I got what I wanted. There was no need for me to be there anymore. And your friends? I can’t believe you didn’t notice until now, but they’re working with me, beloved. Your friends won’t help you here,” he crowed, obviously triumphant. Horror showed on Ethan’s face, somehow knowing Jesse wasn’t lying to him. Benny couldn’t possibly be working with Jesse so that only left Sarah, Erica, and Rory. They were working with the enemy.
The betrayal must’ve shown on his face because Jesse’s smirk gentled, but was no less possessive.
“You can’t go anywhere, dear heart. You’re trapped on all sides by people who will work to get you to stay where you belong. With me.”
“Get out,” Ethan said, and Jesse reluctantly got off his mate, sensing his capitulation. He moved towards the window again, glancing back to see Ethan still laid out on his mattress.
“I’ll be back soon, Ethan,” the sound of his name rolling off Jesse’s tongue made him curl inwards, turning so his back was towards the vampire. “Goodnight, my love.”
A gust of wind sounded. Jesse was gone. The conversation left him with an emptiness in his chest and feeling tired more than anything. As if his limbs were made of lead, he stood from his bed and changed into his pajamas.
Ethan got back into bed, not bothering with his homework or any other chore, and pulled the covers over his shoulders and tucked it beneath his chin. The last thought before he fell asleep was,
‘What am I going to do?’