Page 64 of His Eternal Temptation

Lane reached for him, craving touch, craving connection. His hand tangled in Rowan’s hair, and like he’d been waiting for permission, Rowan’s arms wrapped around his waist. Lane breathed more easily. Eternal. “This is a lot. I’m not gonna lie.”

“I know.” A ghost of a smile graced Rowan’s lips.

“I’m not saying no, just that I’ve never considered being a vampire rather than a witch. But let me be clear: I want you, Rowan. As my partner. My lover. Mine to take care of.”

Rowan buried his face against Lane’s stomach. “I’ll offer anything to be yours. Maybe I should have started smaller than forever.”

“I like that you didn’t, even if I was surprised. It’s very you, my needy boy.”

Rowan tipped his face upward, cheeks flushed dark.

Lane wanted to say yes. Throw himself into this headfirst. Did he place such heavy weight on being a witch? Was it more important to his identity than what he might build with Rowan?

Before he could throw out everything he’d said about magic, Rowan spoke. “Don’t answer yet. Choosing immortal life shouldn’t be done lightly, and if you’ve never given it serious thought, a great deal needs to be considered. Especially if even a part of you wants to say yes.”

“A big part of me does want to say yes.”

Rowan squeezed him. “Then think about it. Talk to other vampires. And in the end, make sure your choice is for you, not me. I’d hate anything else.”

“Wait. I’m not conflicted about immortality. Eternal life on Earth isn’t fundamentally different than going to the afterlife.” Witches only had one life, unlike humans, who reincarnated. Lane would be Lane forever, no matter what realm his soul resided in. “If being a vampire didn’t mean I’d lose my magic—changing who I am and the essence in my soul—I’d say yes now. No hesitation.”

“Really?”

Lane shrugged. “It’s probably a little soon, but fuck it. I’d love an unending future with you, and I won’t see you in the afterlife, so I should probably stick around.”

Rowan’s mouth fell open, his eyes wide.

Lane bit back a laugh. “That can’t be a surprise. Isn’t it how you feel about me?”

“Yes, but I’m clingy.”

“And you jump into forever with everyone?”

Rowan’s flush spread down his neck. “No.”

“Didn’t think so. I don’t jump into commitments either, but with you, it feels right. Like this has been coming for the last ten years, and we’ve finally got our chance. We’re good together.”

SEVENTEEN

ROWAN

They were good together, but Rowan hadn’t realized offering Lane forever was asking him to give anything up.

Rowan hadn’t been a witch. Or maybe he had, he wouldn’t know. Cris had said he was a human who’d fallen in love and asked to stay by his side without end. They’d left Rowan’s hometown—to this day, he still had no idea where he’d been born—so he could “escape” a difficult life. By the time Rowan suspected Cris had fabricated the whole story, it had been too late to search for anyone who might have known him.

To Rowan, none of it mattered now. Whether Cris abducted or seduced him. Whether he’d been human or a witch.

With Lane, it all mattered. Rowan wished there was a way to keep his witch at his side forever, like Onyx had with Nico. Bonded fated mates. Nico hadn’t transformed when he linked his soul with the demon’s. He remained a witch, and the humans mated to other demons had remained as they’d always been, their immortal life supported by their bond.

But Rowan wasn’t a demon and only possessed the smallest fraction of their powers. Vampires didn’t have fated mates. No one had mates except Eternals and the demons who’d fallen to Earth when Lucifer brought magic to the Human Realm.

All Rowan could do to keep Lane was ask him to become a vampire.

“We are good together,” he agreed, letting the rest go for now.

Lane grinned, as if Rowan’s agreement meant the world. “Why don’t we start with what we want our relationship to look like? Then work our way to a future together.”

“Start at the beginning? How logical.”