“I agreed to stay by your side for three months, yes,” she acknowledged.
Mikhail raised an elegant eyebrow, and a trace of amusement appeared on his features yet again. “You… are interesting to me,” he said, his tone not giving anything away. “Is this truly how the mate bond works?”
Cassy really didn’t want to prod further into the mate thing, but she was admittedly curious to know how vampires experienced the bond.
‘Curiosity killed the cat,’ she reminded herself.
Cassy turned away and forced herself to continue eating.
She didn’t have to ask anything, though. Mikhail continued with the conversation even though she hadn’t given a verbal response.
“I wanted you to be my woman because of the mate bond. However, I find such… ‘bonds’ a hindrance to one’s goals and needs in life,” Mikhail said, his expression turning cold once again. “If I am correct based on my findings, I will be in excruciating pain if something ever happened to you. We have acknowledged each other as mates, so now we are connected to each other for a lifetime. If you get hurt from now on, or if you die, I will be in constant pain. This is something that I do not wish to happen, especially during this critical period.”
Cassy stopped eating.
“Hence, it would not do me any good if you leave this house,” Mikhail continued on. “You are to stay here at all times. Here, you are safe and away from any danger. If the public comes to know of the fact that you are my mate, they will resort to any method in order to hurt me, while also using you. I presume that you also do not wish to be harmed in any way?”
Cassy’s eyes narrowed.
Oh, so that was how it was. She figured as much, anyway.
Basically, he didn’t want to suffer from the effects of rejecting the bond or the results of something happening to her, like serious injuries or death. The consequences of such things were something completely known to everyone.
Pain from breaking a mate bond or from losing a mate did not discriminate. No matter if you were a human or a supernatural, the highest level of pain was felt equally.
There were even statistics about humans and supernaturals plunging into depression or killing themselves because of the mate bond. No matter how powerful Mikhail was, he could never withstand the pain of a mate bond.
This was why he insisted on keeping her.
However, he also couldn’t force her to do anything, thanks to the laws put in place by the Human Council and the Supernatural Council as well. A human was not allowed to stay at a vampire’s abode for more than a week unless there was genuine consent involved between the two parties.
And Cassy most definitely did not want to stay here any longer than the agreed three months, but…
She restrained the urge to groan. Mikhail was right. This mate bond was such a pain.
Yet it was also this same bond that saved her last night.
Such an intense conflict of feelings…
“I get what you’re saying,” Cassy said flatly.
Mikhail nodded. “Good. Although the physical attraction is there, I do not feel any other particular emotion towards you. Emotions are a waste of space. Attachment to a human more so.”
Cassy resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Indeed, vampires were heartless.
“However, I do not go back on my word. Whatever you need or desire, just say the word. I can give you anything you want.” Mikhail turned around, his back facing her. “Except for the worthless thing that humans call ‘love’.”
When Mikhail disappeared out the door without even making a sound, Cassy was left alone in the bedroom, mulling over her thoughts.
Love, huh?
A wry smile curved her lips.
Indeed, love was a wretched feeling.
***
One week had passed ever since Cassy made that agreement with Mikhail, regarding it as her repayment to him for saving her life. Mikhail had told her that she was to stay in this house at all times, which meant that she was practically forbidden to go outside and hang out or something.
Not that it mattered to her. She was an introvert by nature, and she liked being home more often. She didn’t have many friends, she didn’t have a family, and she even quit her job that day. There was nothing waiting for her outside.
This was her new life now.
For three months, that is.
Cassy wondered if it would ever extend to more than that. It was possible since they were mates, and Mikhail did not want her harmed in any way, too.
But she didn’t know if she could handle staying with a vampire for more than three months. She would probably go insane long enough.
It was laughable. Her, a human, living together with a vampire, the bane of her existence?
Vampires were cold-blooded killers. They killed humans and even fed on them. Vampires were disgusting and no longer had an ounce of humanity inside of them.
They were too different from each other.
The gods and goddesses were cruel to decide that humans and vampires could be mated to each other. The concept itself was ludicrous.
“Welcome home, Master,” one of the servants greeted from outside her bedroom door, causing Cassy to break out of her thoughts.
Oh. He was back.
She was currently sitting at the desk in her room, reading a book. It was boring here with nothing to do, and she had left her laptop back at home. She meant to ask Mikhail before about getting her things, but he was barely ever home. He must be too busy ordering his people around and gathering more vampires for his unknown cause or whatever.
Cassy sighed. This was going to be the longest three months of her life.
She was suddenly snapped out of her thoughts when her bedroom door opened, revealing Mikhail at the doorway. He didn’t bother to be quiet this time, which meant that he wanted her to be aware of his presence.
Cassy stared at him as he approached her purposefully. He strode over, cool and elegant as always, with barely any emotion on his face. When he stopped beside her, he looked at her impassively, but said nothing, as though he expected her to be the one to say something.
‘Fine, let’s humor him,’ Cassy thought to herself begrudgingly.
“What is it?” she asked.