By the time I left the diner, the sky had started turning that soft gray-blue that comes right before evening settles in.

  The walk home felt longer than usual.

  Maybe because I was tired.

  Maybe because my head still hadn't completely stopped hurting.

  Or maybe because everything that had happened that day kept replaying in my mind whether I wanted it to or not.

  Zane.

  The church.

  The red paper nailed to my door.

  The Blood Bank.

  Cazaro.

  It all felt like too much for one day.

  When my apartment building finally came into view, relief settled in my chest. All I wanted was sleep. A long, quiet stretch of unconsciousness where I didn't have to think about any of it.

  I climbed the stairs slowly, the wood creaking beneath my feet.

  Then I reached my door.

  And stopped.

  Cazaro was standing there.

  Leaning lightly against the wall beside it like he'd been waiting.

  He looked different than earlier.

  More tired.

  His dark shirt was slightly unbuttoned at the collar, the fabric rumpled like he'd been moving around all day. One sleeve was pushed halfway up his forearm, and his hair looked just a little less controlled than usual.

  He straightened when he saw me.

  For a moment neither of us spoke.

  Then the question slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.

  "Are you okay?"

  His eyebrow lifted slightly.

  "I wanted to check on you," he said.

  The words caught me off guard.

  I stared at him.

  "You're the one who looks like you should be checked on," I replied.

  His mouth curved faintly at that.

  "I'm fine."

  I stepped past him and unlocked the door.

  "Well," I muttered, pushing it open, "you look like shit."

  He laughed quietly under his breath.

  I stepped inside, then glanced back toward him.

  "You can come in."

  Cazaro hesitated only a moment before following me into the apartment.

  The door closed behind him with a soft click.

  I tossed my keys onto the small table by the door and kicked my shoes off near the couch.

  "You can sit," I said, gesturing vaguely toward the living room. "It's not exactly palace seating, but it'll survive."

  Cazaro stepped further inside, his eyes drifting around the apartment like he hadn't quite finished taking it in earlier. The place looked even smaller now with the evening light creeping through the windows.

  Still, he sat.

  The couch dipped slightly under his weight.

  I leaned against the kitchen counter, crossing my arms.

  "So," I said.

  He looked up at me.

  "What happened?"

  He frowned faintly.

  "You look like you fought a war today," I added.

  His mouth twitched slightly.

  "Work," he said simply.

  "Work?"

  "Yes."

  "That's vague."

  Cazaro leaned back slightly, resting his arm along the back of the couch.

  "Work can be difficult."

  I stared at him for a moment.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  Then I snorted.

  "Wow."

  His eyebrow lifted.

  "That was a really inspiring explanation."

  "You asked."

  "And you answered like a politician."

  His expression didn't change much, but I caught the small hint of amusement in his eyes.

  "I deal with many things," he said.

  "That's still vague."

  "It's accurate."

  I pushed myself off the counter and walked a few steps closer.

  "So being the leader of the entire world is very stressful, huh?" I said dryly.

  Cazaro watched me.

  "Very," he replied.

  I tilted my head slightly.

  "Poor you."

  The sarcasm was obvious.

  For a second I thought he might ignore it.

  Instead, a quiet laugh escaped him.

  "You're teasing me."

  "Of course I am."

  He studied my face for a moment longer.

  Then his gaze softened just slightly.

  "You look better than you did earlier," he said.

  The comment caught me off guard.

  "Yeah?"

  "Yes."

  I shrugged faintly.

  "Crying helps sometimes."

  His brow furrowed slightly.

  "You cried."

  "Obviously."

  I rubbed at my temple.

  "Zane called me a blood whore."

  Cazaro's jaw tightened slightly.

  For a moment he didn't say anything.

  Then he exhaled slowly.

  "I almost killed him today."

  The words came out calm.

  Matter-of-fact.

  I blinked.

  "What?"

  He didn't look away.

  "I nearly did it," he said. "Xavian stopped me."

  The room went quiet.

  I stared at him for a moment before letting out a small breath.

  "Well."

  He raised an eyebrow.

  "Thank you," I said dryly.

  "For not murdering my friend in my living room."

  Cazaro leaned back again, the tension from a moment ago settling into something quieter.

  "We need to talk," he said.

  That didn't sound good.

  I sighed and pushed myself off the counter, walking over to the chair across from the couch before sitting down. The old wood creaked slightly under my weight.

  "Okay," I said.

  He watched me for a moment like he was deciding how to phrase something.

  "Earlier," he said, "I mentioned that you are mine."

  I shifted slightly in the chair.

  "Yeah. I remember."

  "I meant that."

  His voice stayed calm, but there was a firmness under it that made it clear this wasn't a joke.

  "What exactly does that mean?" I asked.

  "It means," he said, "you cannot be with any other vampire."

  I blinked.

  "That's... oddly specific."

  "It's necessary."

  I leaned back slightly, crossing my arms.

  "And humans?"

  His gaze stayed steady.

  "That is not what concerns me."

  That answer didn't exactly comfort me.

  "So basically," I muttered, "you've claimed exclusive vampire rights."

  The corner of his mouth twitched faintly.

  "If that helps you understand it."

  "And what do I get out of this deal?" I asked.

  Cazaro didn't hesitate.

  "I will pay your bills."

  I blinked.

  "All of them," he continued.

  My arms slowly uncrossed.

  "And," he added, "you will receive a weekly stipend."

  I stared at him.

  "You're serious."

  "Yes."

  The apartment went quiet again.

  My brain tried to process what he had just said.

  "You'd just... pay for everything?"

  "Yes."

  "Why?"

  Cazaro studied my face like the answer was obvious.

  "Because you are mine."

  The words landed heavily again.

  Then he added something else.

  "Though," he said, almost casually, "this arrangement would be significantly easier if you simply moved in with me."

  I snorted immediately.

  "Absolutely not."

  His eyebrow lifted slightly.

  "You didn't even think about it."

  "I did," I said. "For about half a second."

  "And?"

  "No."

  The corner of his mouth curved slightly.

  "You're stubborn."

  "Very."

  For a moment neither of us spoke.

  Then I tilted my head slightly.

  "So let me get this straight," I said.

  "You want to pay all my bills, give me an allowance, and occasionally drink my blood."

  "Yes."

  "And the only rule is no other vampires."

  "Yes."

  I stared at him.

  "That is the weirdest contract I've ever heard."

  "Yes," he said calmly. "But it is effective."

  I shook my head slightly.

  "You're insane."

  "That is a separate discussion."

  I snorted quietly.

  Then his expression shifted.

  The faint humor faded, replaced with something more serious.

  "There is another thing," he said.

  "What?"

  Cazaro rested his forearms on his knees.

  "I am a politician," he said.

  "That's one way to describe it."

  He ignored the comment.

  "And because of that," he continued, "you will need protection."

  That made me pause.

  "Protection from what?"

  "People."

  Not very comforting.

  "People will try to get information from you," he went on. "About me. About the government. About things you should not know."

  I frowned.

  "I don't know anything."

  "That will not stop them."

  Fair point.

  Cazaro leaned back slightly again.

  "When I am not with you," he said, "you will have two guards."

  My eyebrows shot up.

  "Two guards?"

  "Yes."

  "That feels excessive."

  "It is not."

  I rubbed my forehead.

  "Are they going to follow me everywhere?"

  "Yes."

  "Great."

  "You must also be careful who you speak to," he added.

  His voice was steady again.

  "Anyone could attempt to manipulate you for information."

  I thought about my editor.

  About the Blood Bank.

  About everything I'd already told people today.

  My stomach tightened slightly.

  "So," I said slowly, "I'm basically under surveillance now."

  Cazaro tilted his head slightly.

  "You are under protection."

  "That sounds like the same thing."

  "It is not."

  I sighed.

  "You realize this is going to make my life even weirder than it already is."

  "Yes."

  He didn't sound apologetic about it.

  "Wonderful," I muttered.

  Cazaro studied me for a moment longer.

  Then he added quietly,

  "You should also understand something else."

  I looked up.

  "People may try to hurt you."

  The room suddenly felt colder again.

  The room felt quiet after that.

  Too quiet.

  I leaned back in the chair, rubbing my temple again as the weight of everything he'd just said settled in.

  "So I have guards," I muttered.

  "Yes."

  "And people might try to manipulate me."

  "Yes."

  "And apparently my life is now political collateral."

  Cazaro's mouth twitched faintly.

  "That is a dramatic way to phrase it."

  "It's accurate."

  He didn't argue.

  Instead he watched me for another moment before adding something else.

  "When possible," he said, "you will be with me."

  I frowned slightly.

  "What does that mean?"

  "It means," he said calmly, "I will take you with me."

  "To what?"

  "Events. Meetings. Public appearances."

  My eyes widened slightly.

  "You're serious."

  "Yes."

  "You want me at political events?"

  "Yes."

  I stared at him like he'd just suggested bringing a raccoon to a wedding.

  "Why?"

  Cazaro leaned back slightly against the couch again.

  "Because you are mine."

  The words came out as calmly as they had earlier.

  "And," he added, "I would like people to know it."

  I blinked.

  "You want to show me off."

  "Yes."

  He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

  I leaned forward slightly, staring at him.

  "You're the leader of the entire government."

  "Yes."

  "And you want to parade a journalist who wrote a controversial article around at official events."

  "Yes."

  I rubbed my face.

  "You realize that sounds insane."

  Cazaro didn't look bothered.

  "I disagree."

  "Of course you do."

  He studied me for a moment.

  "I find you interesting," he said simply.

  That didn't help.

  "And you want everyone else to know that."

  "Yes."

  I leaned back again, exhaling slowly.

  "My life was normal three days ago."

  "Yes."

  "Now I apparently belong to a vampire politician who wants to bring me to government meetings."

  "Yes."

  I stared at him.

  "You see why I'm struggling with this."

  For the first time that night, Cazaro actually laughed quietly