Dietrich

I informed her parents that if they wanted any deals with me that it would have to be up to their daughter. They had shown that she was not respected, and to me that was unacceptable. Their tunes had changed immediately to one of platitudes and compliments about Evelyn, but they were not aware that I could hear their thoughts. They were filled with trying to remember all the little things that made my Evelyn special. Having never let her flourish, they had very little that they could tell me, but it didn’t stop them from trying. I held back my ire because I had been moments away from butchering her parents in a room full of people.

My father jabbed me in the side, then smiled with a tilt of his head toward the stairs. I turned my head and couldn’t catch my breath. Down came my mate with my mother. She looked like the devil’s favorite sin. I wanted her with every step. Throwing patience out the window, I was moving others out of my way and taking her hand as she reached the bottom.

“You look ravishing, my Evelyn. Would you do me the honor of dancing the waltz with me?”

“It would be my pleasure. Although, I don’t really know how,” she confessed with the deepest blush. Her auburn waves swayed with the slight shake of her head. I placed my thumb on her chin and lifted her gaze to mine. The sparkle in those emerald eyes demanded I take control. I would always take the wheel, but never suffocate her.

“I will show you, my other half,” I whispered so others wouldn’t hear.

The crowd watched as I guided her to the center of the floor with my hand on the small of her back. Taking her hand in mine, I spun her around and back to me, her chest hitting mine and sending a jolt of longing through me. And from the telltale look in her eyes, the longing struck her just as hard. I gave her a grin and the band started. Immediately it was as if we were the only two in the room. She glided along with me as if she danced this every day. We moved effortlessly around the large dance floor. Halfway through the number, my parents joined in followed by others, but I was focused on her.

When the song came to an end, I led her away from the middle and to the side. I was just about to escort her to get her things when a drunk man grabbed her wrist. “Wow, sexy Evie, I didn’t know you could move like that,” he exclaimed. “You know I have much more to offer you than him. I’ll pay you for a horizontal tango.” My eyes and nostrils flared, my dark side steadying itself for the attack when one of my friends grabbed the man’s shoulder and pulled him roughly away. Since we were vampires, he understood that the man had committed a death sentence in my eyes. He insulted and degraded my mate, basically calling her a paid whore, and wanted to do things to her that were only for me.

She ducked her head, ashamed of what just happened, but I wasn’t having any of it. I started toward the stairs and rushed us up to her room. Closing the door behind us, I wrapped her up in my arms. “He crossed the line, Evelyn. You are mine, and no one dares touch you. Are you well?”

“Yes, but I hope you know that I…”

“Evelyn, my sweet. I know that you’re mine and that we’re going to be together until the end of time.” I took her lips, stealing the gasp of surprise from her. Her hands pressed firmly against my chest, feeling her way around. I growled out a sigh when she touched me. It was natural and welcomed. My hands slid down her back and cupped her bottom through her dress. She thrusted her hips forward into my hardened length, and I was ready to claim her on the spot.

A cough that only I could hear came from the other side of the door. “We’ll be on our way out in one moment.” She gave me a strange look.

“Okay, but remember to take the mirror with you.”

“Sure.”

“How did you hear them? I was so lost. Well, I suppose this is normal for you. You’re the first man I’ve ever kissed.”

“And the only,” I grunted out, giving her a clear warning that she was mine. She arched her brow at me, then slapped her hands on her hips.

“What if…” she started to say, but I placed my index finger against those pouty red lips. She tried to nip at the finger, but my little mate would learn soon enough that she had other ways to nip and I would do more than that to her tender flesh once I made her mine.

I shook my head at her with a smile. I could feel her body wanting me, I could smell it, but her human brain resisted. Common sense was telling her to back away, but her nature was summoning her to me. “No what ifs, Evelyn.”

She smiled up at me, the look of anger completely removed. “You know, until you called me that I hated the name?” she questioned.

“I could call you Eve if you like. After all, it is All Hallows’ Eve and I’m claiming you as mine.” I pressed my hand to her jaw then ran it down her slender neck, grazing her pulsing vein that I wanted to taste.

“Come on, kids,” my mother said with a grumble.

“Coming,” I called out. I released my hold on Evelyn, regrettably.

“Let me get a bag.” She stopped herself, pressing her hands to her face and tearing off the mask. “I can’t even believe I’m doing this,” she muttered. Shaking her head, she walked to her closet and pulled out a small suitcase and began filling it. I looked around her room. It looked like a unicorn who ate too much cotton candy threw up in here. It was pink madness. Somehow nothing in this room seemed reflective of her. That was until I saw the mirror. I stared in amazement.

“Your mother knew the history of this mirror. It’s my favorite possession.” She gave me an innocent smile before going back to packing. This was perfect. The more I looked at her, the more I wanted to be inside of her. If that was even possible. I wanted to claim her from the moment our eyes first connected, the burning desire only tempered by her parents’ disrespect.

I turned back and stared at my reflection, internally beaming with the insane coincidence. “We’re taking it with us.”

“Thank you. I was hoping we could.” The joy in her eyes made me want to carry it out on my back. I pulled her cover from her bed and threw it over the mirror to protect the glass from breaking. A few minutes later we were walking out of her parents’ home. My father stood alongside me, taking her suitcase as we made our way to the valet who brought up their SUV. I already messaged my driver to just go home and that I was going with my parents.

The crowd had still been in the other room, which helped us avoid the questions. Some already understood why I was leaving with Evelyn in such a hurry and would probably joke about it later. I knew Falcon and Draco were having a field day about it.

After loading the mirror and suitcase into the vehicle, I helped Evelyn into the backseat. My father drove and my mother rode in front. Our home was an hour away from here in a massive, well-guarded estate. She played with her hands, looking down at them.

“Evelyn, I promise all will be well.”

“I know, Dietrich. It’s kind of weird, but I can feel it in my soul that I’m doing the right thing. Yet, my brain is like stranger danger.”

“Oh, my love, I am dangerous, but never to you.”

She gasped before I crushed her lips with mine, kissing her. I wanted to take her in the truck, but I never wanted anyone else to be a witness to it. She was mine and only mine.

“Dietrich, we’re here,” my mother said. My father pulled up and entered the code and let us through the gate. I released my hold on Evelyn. She looked dazed, then shook it off. As soon as we parked, I exited the vehicle and pulled her into my arms, carrying her up the stairs to my bedroom. There was nothing left to do but make her one with me, one like me. All I needed to do was tell her the truth. Now—how to tell her that when I meant she was mine forever, I meant forever.