Page 51 of Tempting the Dhampir

“You’re not even going to give me a hint?” I ask with disbelief apparent in my voice.

“I will say that you should not be alarmed if more vampiric traits surface. If you aren’t one-hundred-percent confident that you can regulate your new urges, then it would be better to have some space as an extra measure of security. For her safety. You have sworn an oath to protect,” he reminds me.

I sigh and stretch out my legs. “That’s partly why I ran out. I want her to feel safe, and the sudden appearance of fangs might freak her out more than they did me.”

“Will you be okay?” The kindness in his tone calms my racing heart a tad.

“Yeah, I’ll be. Thanks,” I say, my voice hoarse. “I’ll let you get back to it. Let me know if you find anything, please. If there’s any way I can help from over here, I’d be more than happy to.”

“Thanks, Everett. I appreciate that.” Bertie clears his throat. “I’ll call you if I find anything certain.”

Before he can hang up, I quickly tack on, “Florence and you getting on well?”

Bertie coughs. “It’s fine. She’s fine,” he says quickly.

My eyebrows shoot up my forehead, curiosity needling me. “Should I ask?”

“Better if you don’t.”

That piques my interest even more. But I’ll leave it for now and ask him next time he calls.

“Got it. Talk soon, then.”

“Fates be with you,” Bertie replies, and I can’t help but think how apt that greeting is.

I remain sitting on the step after the call and trace my finger over a fang. They’re gone. Just my normal elongated canines remain. What does this all mean?

As I start contemplating everything that’s happened tonight, it dawns on me that leaving Sadie all splayed out on my bed might have given her the wrong impression.

I’m not okay with that.

Furious with myself, I shove all my confusing emotions aside, Sadie—and fixing whatever misunderstanding I may have caused—my sole focus.

I get up and rush back to my room, but she’s not there. Her delicious scent remains embedded in the fabric of the room, the only evidence that she was there at all.

Gathering my wits, I stalk over to her room and knock lightly.

She doesn’t answer. But I also don’t expect her to.

“Sadie. Can I come in?” I ask tentatively.

No answer. I know she’s not asleep because I’ve only been gone a few minutes.

“Sparkles, let me in. Please.” I’m not above begging at this point.

“It’s open.” Sadie’s tone is wary, and I remind myself that it’s my fault.

I made her doubt how perfect that was, how perfect she is. I have zero regrets about everything that’s happened, up until I fled, but I thought it was a smart choice at the time.

Her room is almost pitch-dark, the blackout curtains drawn with only a sliver of light peeking through from outside.

Sadie’s curled up in the white lounge chair by the window in an oversized white T-shirt. Her legs are drawn up tight, arms wrapped around them, as she leans her head on her knees and stares at the wall.

I stop just inside the door, sensing she’s not quite ready for me to get in her personal space.

In a gentle voice, I plead. “Sadie, please look at me. Let me explain what happened. Please.”

“Don’t worry about it. I think it’s better if we just give each other some space until I leave.” She’s still not looking at me as she says this, and my heart squeezes uncomfortably in my chest.

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