Page 61 of Protected by the Vampire

He shivered and blinked slowly. “Fuck. Sorry. I just don’t want anyone in here. This is our space. If I smell another…” A rumble rolled out from deep within his chest.

Smiling, I kissed him. “It’s okay. I understand. We’ll deal with the cleanup later.” I understood his fierce need to keep our sanctuary to ourselves. Newly born vampires’ emotions were heightened for a few years after being reborn.

His possessiveness over me would ride him. I would have to warn Razor to make sure no one went into his room at the compound.

He relaxed under my hold and nodded.

After we’d showered and dressed, we made our way downstairs, hand in hand.

My club was already alive with music pulsing through the space. Bodies moved under dim lighting, the air was thick with arousal and energy.

But the moment we moved from the last step, everything but the music stopped.

Heads turned and then were lowered.

They could sense the change and power in Theo. Respected it in a way that meant they wanted to give their submission because now he truly did stand beside me.

Every patron within sight dropped into a bow.

Theo stilled slightly beside me, his awareness sharpening as he took it in.

“Are they gonna do this every time?” he asked quietly.

There were a few chuckles. One was my own. I hugged his arm with both of mine, sliding one hand down to clasp his again. “They just might.”

He swallowed, nodding. Accepting it because he knew he was a part of this world now. He stood beside an elder, and these creatures were here for our protection.

But Theo would always come first. Like I knew I would for him too.

He went to say something, until movement cut through the crowd, gaining our attention.

Cellie.

She approached quickly before dropping to her knees in front of me with her head bowed low.

“Eminence,” she said, her voice tight. “I’m sorry.”

Confusion had me scrunching my brows.

She reached out and gripped my wrist, pressing her forehead to it. “I didn’t think…. I didn’t know what Patrick would do. I only told him about your fated because I thought?—”

I stilled, fury engulfing me. “You thought wrong,” I said coldly.

Her grip tightened slightly. “I swear my loyalty to you. I won’t?—”

She didn’t get to finish because Theo had had enough. He blurred into action. One second, he was beside me, and the next Cellie was gone.

She’d been thrown across the room with so much force, she crashed into a table, splintering it beneath her.

Silence slammed down over the club. This time, even the music stopped.

Theo was already moving again, flashing forward before anyone could react, closing the distance between them in less than a human heartbeat.

He grabbed her, dragging her up just enough to make sure she saw him. “Don’t touch him.” His voice was low and deadly in a way I hadn’t heard before. “Don’t ever fuckin’ touch him.”

The room held its breath, and even I stared on in awe. He had a right to rip her apart for touching me. That was our way. But even at such a young age, he showed such amazing restraint.

He leaned in and roughly clipped, “That’s my fated mate. No one is to touch him.”