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I talk of it. It was so many lifetimes ago that I should be able to speak of love and the loss of it. I didn’t know, you see… I didn’t know what happened, the torture it was for an unwilling vampire to exist in that kind of darkness. Had William not been there for Elana, to fill in the empty spaces of her mind… You say Dane wants to die. You can’t stop him. He needs peace. Elana never found it, not even with William by her side. Not even with the both of us. And there is consequence if you interfere and fail. It is imprinted on you to relive their death on the anniversary. Time and natural law are different for the unnatural creatures we are. I see her death and it torments me.”
    “What happened to William?”
    “I don’t know. Once Elana was gone, he vanished. I looked for him and never found a trace. I hope they are together. I loved them so. I still do love them. If Dane has the potential to be that for you, all you can do is tell him.”
    Jorge sighed and leaned his head back against the chair. He didn’t know what Dane could come to mean if they were given time. He only knew he wasn’t ready to give Dane up yet. “Thank you for telling me.”
    “Just love him, mi amico . Just love him and be there for him if he chooses to go.”

Chapter Seven
    Dane stood outside the bookshop, but Jorge was nowhere in sight, though he’d said he’d be back to walk Dane home. The gesture was sweet, or the idea of it was, at least. The intensity between them was too much too soon and it was only right to end things before they even started.
    And with his birthday beginning in less than six hours? He smiled sadly and walked slowly in the direction of the hotel.
    There weren’t many people out walking through downtown and for that he was grateful. After Jorge had left him earlier, he’d retreated to the back of the store to finish cataloging his work. Being around people had been a slow torture, especially after Jorge. Dane was torn more than ever between his continued existence and the peace he sought, that he hoped he’d find in death. He’d contacted his attorney and was assured his will and his businesses were all in order. The angels who handled his human transactions had been assigned to him many years before. As his turning had been involuntary, he wasn’t as much an abhorrence as those who had eagerly succumbed to immortality and a living death.
    One such as Jorge.
    “So, that is how you will get to heaven? Angels are on your side while demons are on mine.”
    Dane smiled in spite of himself. “You should really try not reading anyone’s mind. One day you may find you don’t like what you overhear,” he said as Jorge once again, just as in London, fell into step beside him. This time, Jorge linked their fingers together and this time, Dane found an unusual comfort in the gesture.
    “Your mind is the only one I’ve ever cared to read.”
    The solemn words had Dane turning his gaze to look at his lover. Yes, Jorge was his lover. The thought had him smiling even bigger. And the whole mess was a disaster. “Why mine?”
    “Why a disaster? I like to think I’m not that awful in bed. Granted, I could probably learn a few new moves, but give a vampire a break. I am old.”
    “That is not what I meant and you well know it.”
    “ Sim . I do.”
    “ Sim ?”
    “It means yes in Portuguese.”
    “Is that what you’ve been speaking to me every so often?”
    “It is. You haven’t asked before.”
    “I wasn’t sure how to. It’s so beautiful, your language. Roberto often curses in Italian and I enjoy just listening to the cadence of his voice when he does.” Jorge laughed and Dane realized he could get lost in that sound as well.
    “He does curse a lot and it is always in Italian,” Jorge agreed. “Perhaps he thinks it’s not so bad as if he were to do so in English.”
    “I don’t really think Roberto cares.”
    “You’re probably right about that.” Jorge brought their joined hands to his