Forever His True Mate

Chapter 6

          A couple of days later, Conor was still thinking of his lost loves and waiting for Camille to call him. He had looked in the mirror and sure enough, he found the beginnings of the mate mark. It was different this time though. Instead of the Celtic hearts of his past two mates, this one was of an infinite symbol that was completed with a black raven’s feather and in one side of the loop were two small dots that resembled the bite marks of a vampire. He was puzzled as to why it would be different. He would have to find out. He was sure that he could find a friend or two that would know. With eternal life came time for the acquisition of eternal knowledge.

          Daniel burst into Conor’s bedroom. “Dammit man! Haven’t you heard of knocking!?” Conor snapped as he was pulled from his musings. “Sorry dude. Chill! So, My boo and I are hitting the town tonight. She has a really hot friend. Wanna come?” Daniel wiggled his eyebrows at Conor. “Naw. I don’t think so. I kind of met this girl and she is my true mate.” He confided in his best friend and brother. Daniel’s jaw dropped. “Are you sure man? I’ve never heard of a vamp finding a true mate more than once and here it is you’re on number three! Some guys have all the luck!!” Daniel began to chuckle until he saw the look on his friend’s face. If a vamp could die, the look would’ve killed Daniel. “I would have gladly taken the one and lived the rest of my eternity in bless. I would have gladly taken a stake through the heart than to have either of them die. It is hell to lose a true mate. This isn’t like a breakup. If I could die, I would have gladly taken it to the pain of losing them!” Conor fumed. Daniel raised his hands in defeat. “I’m sorry brother. That was insensitive of me to say.” Daniel said in a soft tone. He had never found a true mate. He figured he was broken. After six hundred years on Earth, you would think that he would have found her. “It’s ok. I'm sorry I snapped. You wouldn’t exactly understand the pain.” Conor said in an equally soft tone. The two looked and nodded to one another. “Well if you reconsider, we are going to The Spot.” Daniel said as he left Conor’s room closing the door softly behind himself. Conor lay back on his bed and closed his eyes with a sigh.

***Flashback***

          Conor could hear her heart beating as Stephanie ducked low in the stale of the horse stables in one of his more secluded homes. “I’m getting close!!” he called out, silently creeping towards the stale. Good thing it was an empty one. The horses didn’t much care when vampires got too close. He had been courting Stephanie for six months now and he had yet to reveal his true nature. She had escaped her family through the guise of spending the night with a friend. He planned to tell her tonight. It was time he saw if she would accept him. It was obvious that she loved him just as deeply as he loved her. If only he were still a man. This would be just as simple as asking her father and then asking her.

          Conor used his super speed and strength to silently hop over the wall of the stall. The horses in the closest stalls protesting to his presence. “Surprise!!” He shouted while grabbing at her waist. Stephanie turned and swung her mean right hook and he dodged it like he always did since the evening she dislocated half her fingers. “How in God’s name did you come up behind me like that?” She gasped as he tried to tickle her. She laughed and squirmed in his arms. “I have to ask you something my love.” He straightened himself and her up then held out his hand for her to grab. She took the hand and they strolled out onto the moon bathed grounds.

          He led her towards a small bubbling stream that ran through his property. The night was warm while the sky looked as though it held unfathomable secrets as the stars twinkled bright and clear. He had servants set up a small picnic with a couple of thick pillows and warm blankets which were only needed to sit on so as not to dirty their clothes. The two settled down. “What did you want to ask my darling?” Stephanie asked and she took a small cheese from a small basket on the blanket then reclined on a pillow to gaze at the heavens. Conor cleared his throat. “We are meant to be together.” He blurted out then immediately berated himself for being so tactless. “Oh really? Noticed that did you?” She replied with a soft breathy chuckle that always drove him wild. An involuntary smile crossed his face. “Will you accept me for who I am? Everything that I am?” He looked into her eyes as he asked. She looked back. “Yes.” Her response was quick and sure. She didn’t ask for an explanation and was fearless. “Im a vam…” Stephanie put her finger over his mouth. “I had you looked into. I have a general idea of what you are. Something that shouldn’t exist. An abomination in the eyes of God… But, when I look into your eyes, I see a soul. It burns bright and it loves me. I am yours Conor. For as long as I live. Is what you are the reason why I got this strange mark?” Tears stung her eyes as she finished. When she had employed a private investigator a month ago, she never expected the report she received. She swore the family investigator to secrecy and thought long and hard about what. He could be the only reason that the outline of the strange Celtic heart had appeared on her rib cage the day that he had fixed her hand after she landed a solid blow on what felt like a solid metal mountain covered in beautiful man. Conor nodded as he raised his shirt to reveal an identical outline to her own. She smiled. “Does that please you love?” he asked with his own smile. “Actually… yes it does. Your mine.” Her smile widened as she said the words. “Not 100%. Not yet.” He said and felt like a heel as her smile faded. “What do you mean?” she asked. “Well we have to complete the mark.” He replied looking her square in the eyes. “Meaning?” she looked puzzled. Then it seemed as though a light came on. She knew about s*x, though she had never had it. The ‘OH’ on her face made him smile. “I’ve never.” She looked at the ground as she made the confession. “That’s not all.” He said taking her warm hand in his cool one causing goosebumps to rise on her arms. “What else? Do I have to drink the blood of a goat?” she chuckled. “Of course not. I just have to drink a little of your blood.” He said it softly afraid that she would run away screaming for the hills. “Oh. Will I become,” she said softly. “No. Not unless you want to be.” Conor replied softly. “I would have to think about that.” She replied firmly. “Ok” she suddenly said with determination in her voice.

          Stephanie looked deep into Conor’s emerald green eyes. He leaned over and kissed her softly. Her body responded like never before. He continued to kiss her as he removed his clothes. Stephanie could hardly think through the assault that he was laying on her lips. It wreaked havoc on her usually calm and in control demeanor. She barely felt as his hands work to free her overly warm body from the confines of the dress and corset that she wore. After she was free, he used his centuries of experience to bring her to her first completion. In the height of their love making, Conor let his fangs release and sank them into the soft hollow of her collar. She screamed with pleasure as the pain took her over the precipice. As he drank her blood, a flood of emotion and thought hit him. He could hear her. He could feel her. She stopped moving in his arms and her head c****d to one side. “What is that?” she gasped. Pleasure and pride were assaulting her mind and she knew it wasn’t coming from her. “That is us my love.” He said with a smile. She looked into his eyes still puzzled. “But how?” She hadn’t moved her mouth. “We are connected now my love. You only have to think of me hearing you and I will hear you.” He explained through their mental link. “Well if that’s true, what am I thinking?” she asked aloud. Conor closed his eyes for a second and snapped them back open with a mischievous smile and a growl. Some time later, Stephanie lay on Conor’s chest under the thick blanket to ward off the chill that his cold skin created. “I have to leave. I have to go to the America’s. I want you to come with me.” He suddenly blurted out. He hadn’t planed on asking her like this. But the time to wait was over. After he had finished the job for the witch he had been seeing, he was being looked for. He had already told the witch he was leaving. Now it was time to escape with his heart. After a couple of minutes of silence, Conor chanced a peek at her. She was gazing at the stars. “Yes.” she whispered as a tear slid down her cheek. “Look.” He thought through the mind link. She looked at what held his attention. It was the Celtic heart completed. Conor took a small box out of the food basket that had been all but forgotten. “Here.” He said removing a diamond ring with a single simple diamond and a slim golden band. Tears flowed faster as she allowed him to put the ring on her finger. “I love you.” Was all she thought as he kissed her deeply and made love to her again.

****************************************************************

          Conor snapped out of his daydream reluctantly as his phone rang. He looked at the screen as he tucked his pain away. Unknown number. His brow furrowed as he answered. “Hello?” A second passed before he heard a sound. “Hey lover.” A feminine voice purred before the line went dead. Couldn’t be, he thought to himself. Before he could ponder the implications of the call, his phone rang again. This time a number showed, but he did not recognize it. He wasn’t in the mood to be bothered by telemarketers. He answered the phone with a harsh “Hello?” The was the sound of laughter before a cheerful voice said, “Hey there!” He would recognize this voice from anyone. It was Camille. He immediately forgot about the random phone call.

          Camille stared daggers at Tracy and Daniel as she spoke into the phone above their giggling. “So hey, my best friend and her boyfriend invited me out and I was just wondering if maybe you would be my date?” her voice got soft at the end and he could hear the laughter in the background. “Sure. What time and where?” He responded. He was happy that she had called. He was going crazy with the memories of the past. He needed her close to make the demons go away. “Great!! We are getting there about 9pm at this club downtown called The Spot. I’ll wait outside for you to get there.” Without another word, Camille hung up. Cool, she must like me, he thought to himself. He looked at his bedside clock. He had plenty of time to get ready. He would show Camille a great time and might just see this ‘honey’ that Daniel was going on about. Two birds, one stone.