Kate frowned. “Is that more common?” she asked, sounding worried.
“Not in my experience, but I will always be honest with you.” And if I were honest with myself, I would have taken that relationship over none at all. But there was no hope for me. My destined mate had died of cancer when she was just thirty.
“Oh, good.” Her expression brightened, and she nodded, then a thought seemed to occur to her, and she canted her head. “Is this why I’ve never, um, wanted to...um...date anyone?”
“Yes,” I replied, holding in another chuckle.
“Phew,” she said with a whoosh of air. “I’d been starting to wonder if something was wrong with me.”
The Town Car began to slow down, and I looked up to see that we were approaching the compound where the council had their headquarters and guest rooms for unmated consorts.
“There’s nothing wrong with you, Kate. Your consort is a very lucky man.”
“How will I know? I mean, how will the person I’m destined to be with recognize me?”
“That’s one of the things that makes this process difficult. It’s through touch. After that initial touch, the bond between you will spark to life.”
She tilted her head to the side again and studied me for a few moments. Then she held her hand out and waited with a hopeful expression.
I hated to disappoint her, but it was my only choice. Shaking my head, I smiled sadly. “It’s not me, Kate.”
“How do you know for sure unless we touch, Liam?” She wiggled her fingers playfully. The car came to a stop, and I opened the door, stepping out before turning to offer my gloved hand to help her from the car.
I’d taken to wearing gloves because, despite knowing it wouldn’t happen, it had begun to fuck with my head every time I touched a woman and felt nothing. I’d been spiraling into a bad place, and my brothers had come up with the idea. Without hope, there was no disappointment, so the gloves stabilized me.
It was something I didn’t want to share with Kate. It wasn’t uncommon for vampires to lose their hold on reality and go insane if they lived too long without their consort. I’d been constantly amazed at my cousin Kieran’s strength. He’d waited nearly a millennium for his consort, Thana.
Hopefully, the gloves would keep me sane as long as possible.
“Liam, you said there was nothing wrong with me.” Kate’s voice shook me out of my thoughts as I helped her stand from the car.
“And I meant it, Kate. There is truly nothing about you that would be unappealing to a consort. In fact, if circumstances were different”—I gave her a crooked smile—“and perhaps you were a little older, I’d have been the first in line to shake your hand.”
“Then...I don’t understand.”
“I’ve already found my consort.”
Kate’s features crumbled into disappointment, and I felt the same emotion welling up inside me. Shit. I needed to get out of here. My cousins were having a huge Christmas party. As much as I dreaded these big gatherings and tried to avoid them whenever possible, it would help distract me. This time of year was especially hard on me since I’d received the news of Barbra’s death on Christmas Day.
“Why didn’t you say so right away?”
I sighed and put my hand on her shoulder. “Because she died many, many years ago.”
Kate’s eyes widened and filled with horror. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have...I…”
“Don’t,” I told her with a forced smile. “Don’t feel bad. You didn’t know.” I took her hand between the two of mine and gave her a bright, reassuring smile. “I wouldn’t worry about love, Kate. There is no doubt in my mind that whoever you are destined to be with will fall head over heels the moment you touch.”
“Thank you.” Kate went up on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek. I reared back and looked at her in surprise. She shrugged and gave me an impish smile. “Just checking.”
Normally, that would send a spiral of desolation through me, but instead, a laugh bubbled up my chest, shocking me when it released. “Good luck, Kate.”
She waved and walked toward the front door where Mira, one of the oldest daywalkers on the council, was waiting with a giant smile on her face. “Welcome!” she exclaimed and threw her arms around Kate.
Knowing she was in good hands, I teleported home and showered before changing into my tux. “Because my cousins’ wives don’t do anything halfway,” I grumbled to absolutely no one. Not that my irritation made a difference, I’d do just about anything for them. They were like sisters to me, and if they cried...I was done for.
There wasn’t much my magic couldn’t do for me, but all of the Bancrofts, from my dad and his seven brothers to his dad and four brothers, were taught to fend for themselves and not rely on magic. Besides, I enjoyed a lot of the human activities like driving, showering, and cooking.