"What does my being your life mate mean exactly?" Anders stared at her blankly, and then said, "I told you, a life mate is a rare and precious treasure. They are someone an immortal can live with happily and in peace." "Yes, but--" Valerie hesitated, a bit frustrated in her effort to verbalize what she wanted to know. Finally, she just asked, "What do you want from me, Anders?" "You," he said simply, and reached out to take her hands gently in his. "I realize that your experiences in that house were horrible and traumatizing, and most likely turned you against my kind, Valerie. But I would remind you there are evil and bad mortals as well. All immortals are not like the one who attacked and took you from the street that night, then kept you in a cage to feed on." Valerie stared at him silently, memories of the house running through her head. They were quickly followed by the memories she'd made with this man. The drive to Cambridge and back, the pool, their walk, the shared meals, cooking together, the overwhelming passion, waking up cradled in his arms . . . Oddly enough, the horror and trauma from the house had paled somewhat next to the vibrancy of the memories she'd started to make with Anders. They were like sepia photos next to new, modern, color ones. Anders continued, "And I also know that as a mortal you are more used to a long and slow courtship before making such an important decision. But for my kind it is different. A life mate is a gift to us and knowing we cannot read or control them, that we share pleasure, and that our other appetites are returning is enough in our minds to tell us that this is the one we are meant to be with. That this is the one who suits us in all ways. So, what I want is to spend the rest of my very long life with you at my side and in my bed. And if you agree to that, I promise I will never hurt or bring harm to you. I would sooner hurt myself." He squeezed her fingers gently. "I would give my life for you, Valerie. Because having experienced the vibrancy and tasted the spice of life with you, returning to the dull, cold existence I had before you is unbearable to even consider." Anders stared solemnly into her wide eyes as he said that, and then released her hands and sat back, adding, "However, I know you may need more time to make up your mind about whether you are willing to be my life mate. And that is the real reason you were moved to Leigh and Lucian's home, to give you the chance to get to know me, to see if you could accept being my life mate." "And if I can't?" Valerie asked quietly. "Then your memories will be erased like the other women and you too, will be returned to your life to live it out as you choose without your experiences to haunt you."