Chapter 145
Chapter 145
The Councilor seated in the middle, in the throniest of all the thrones, stond, looking dosen on the crowd. She was a short woman, with light brown skin and long black hair in a single braid laid over her shoulder. From this vantage, it was hard to tell her mustal age, but Chine guessed she’d been turned at some point in her twenties, maylie early thirties
“Amos Hansen. The woman’s voice carried across the chamber with all the weight and resonance of the room itself.
Amos stiffened beside Chloe.
You are called before the Council,” the woman declared.
“Is this us?” Chloe asked nervously.
“No,” he said, frowning. “I don’t know what this is. Stay with Etta and Fran p>
Chloe watched as Amos wove through the crowd, coming to stand in the open space below the Councilors.
“Word has reached the Council that you had an encounter with werewolves very close to the city p>
Chloe didn’t realize how stiffly Etta had been holding herself until she suddenly relaxed.
“What’s going on?” she whispered.
“It’s fine,” Etta whispered back. “They just want details about the wolves. There’s not supposed to be any packs near here p>
Chloe listened restlessly as Amos answered the Council’s questions about the werewolf attack, detailing his memory of that night. It lined up with Chloe’s memory exactly–except where his senses had gleaned far more than her mortal ones ever could.
“Very well,” the Councilor finally said, nodding her head. “The Council thanks you for your testimony p>
Amos bowed, and even from this distance, Chloe thought it looked a little sarcastic.
“Since we have you, why don’t you begin the presentations with your bloodmate,” the Councilor asked, mild bemusement in her tone. Either she’d noted Amos’s sarcasm and it amused her, or something about Chloe’s upcoming presentation amused her. Chloe desperately hoped it was
the former.
A second later, Amos was at her side. She accepted his arm and allowed him to lead her through the crowd toward the central aisle. She let herself sink into the feeling of her beautiful gown, of the clicking heels she rarely had reason to wear, and strode up the aisle like a queen. When she stood before the Councilors with Amos, she felt the weight of their stares like prickling insects all over her skin. She resisted the urge to fidget, standing tall and still.
“What is your name, mortal?” the lead Councilor asked.
“Chloe Vargas p>
“And how old are you, Chloe Vargas? ”
“Thirty–three p>
“And do you come here of your own free will p>
“Yes p>
“Why do you wish to be Amos Hansen’s bloodmate p>
— Mour I’m His – No Escape.
52.2 %
Chloe faltered. She hadn’t prepared herself to pour her heart out in front of a massive crowd of undead strangers 1
“It’s okay.” Amos said quietly. “You don’t have to p>
“Because he’s the best man I’ve ever met,” Chloe answered firmly. “And I would be honored to be claimed by him p>
Amos’s mouth clapped shut. He stared at her, eyes dark with unspoken emotion.
“Very well,” the Councilor broke into their moment. “To the Council, I ask those in favor to speak now. ”
A chorus of voices called, “Yea p>
“And those opposed p>
A single voice replied, “Nay p>
The lead Councilor cast a look down the length of the pulpit. The single opponent was none other than the Andalusian vampire who’d disdained Chloe earlier. Apparently her snark hadn’t been appreciated.
Flicking her gaze back to Amos and Chloe she pronounced, “The ‘yeas‘ have it. Amos Hansen, the Council grants its blessing to your bloodbond with Chloe Vargas p>
By the time they left the Council chamber, there were only a few hours left to the night. Chloe’s earnest declaration was still ringing in his ears. …the best man I ever met. And I would be honored to be claimed by him. He couldn’t help but shoot discreet, speculative glances at her over
and over again as he turned her words over and over in his mind. Was she ready to accept? If he asked now, would she say yes? He’d promised her before the Council presentation that it didn’t mean she had to accept his claim right away. But how much longer did he have to wait before asking? Etta had courted Fran for a year before asking. Did Amos have to wait that long? Despite his lifespan, a year seemed entirely too long to
wait.
He and Chloe walked slowly and nearly aimlessly through the city, gradually and indirectly making their way back to her house. The hemline of Chloe’s beautiful dress fluttered around her feet while the rest clung faithfully to her generous curves, revealing peeks now and then when the lapels of her jacket flapped open in the wind. Her heels clicked crisply against the pavement, a strangely satisfying sound.
“Are your feet sore?” Amos asked.
“Weirdly, no. And you know what else? I used to always have a sore back and heel pain at the end of a shift, but since I started seeing you, that’s
gone away p>
Amos smirked, pleased. “That’s due to my venom p>
“Ah, that makes sense. Speaking of which… are you going to feed tonight p>
“No, not tonight. I don’t like to feed from you if I don’t have time to hold you and make sure you eat properly afterward p>
Chloe quirked a smile at him. “How can you be such a badass and also such a softie p>
Amos was torn between flattery and dismay. As much as he’d love for Chloe to think he was a ‘badass,‘ he didn’t want to give her false expectations. “I’m not a badass. Don’t listen to Etta p>
“So you aren’t freakishly strong for your age p>
“Freakish‘ is an unflattering word,” he grumbled, but he didn’t deny it
“Will you tell me about the vampires you killed?” Chloe asked cautiously.
Amos was quiet for a moment, contemplating. How to tell her without horrifying her. How much to tell her. Where to start. “What do you want to know p>
Chapter 145
“You said they were turning children. That’s a crime for vampires p>
“The age of consent is twenty five. But it’s not just a question of being turned–it’s why they were being turned p>
Chloe paled as she processed the implication.
“You remember what I told you about thralls p>
Chloe nodded.
“So, it’s a form of turning, or siring, a vampire. But a thrall isn’t a full vampire. Because of that, they can still he fed on by their sire. Vampires who turn children usually enthrall them rather than turning them fully p>
“I see,” Chloe said grimly. She swallowed convulsively, lapsing into a fraught silence. After a moment, she changed the subject. “So why is the age of consent set at twenty–five p>
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