Page 88 of Petals and Fangs

“My father was a good man. A great man. But he was killed.”

“I'm sorry. I didn't know. I remember he wasn't very much present when we were in high school. But I didn't know that he was dead.”

“It happened years ago, and it's still hard for me to talk about,” he says as he takes a seat on the couch. I sit down beside him, taking his hand in mine.

“I can understand. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to bring up something that is painful for you.”

“You couldn't have known,” he gives me a weak smile.

“I am here for you, Ethan.”

He doesn't say anything, but his eyes are full of emotion. He nods and places his hand on top of mine. He is quiet, and I know he is hurting. But his presence is enough. We sit like this for a while, not speaking.

He is probably thinking of what to do concerning the FDA. But I can't help but think about what the talk between him and Demetrius was about. I know Ethan is hiding something from me. I can tell by the look on his face.

He's a vampire, and I can't read minds. But I can see the sadness in his eyes. And I want to comfort him.

“Don't you ever sleep?” I ask, hand on his shoulder. His muscles are so tense.

“Not when you're around, Lily. But I do enjoy the fact that you care.”

“I am seriously asking. Do vampires sleep?”

“We do, but not in the same way that humans do. We can go days, even weeks, without sleep. But it's not a necessity like it is for you. I suppose that we are more efficient, in a way.”

“Do you also sleep in a coffin?” I ask, but Ethan doesn't instantly reply. He laughs instead.

“I can see the sparkle in your eyes, Lily. It's funny.”

“So, do you? Do vampires sleep in coffins?”

“Want to see?"

“Wait, what? That was a lousy joke, Ethan. An attempt to make you smile.”

“Come with me,” he says, pulling me along towards a door in his bedroom. He flips the switch on the wall and a light goes on. And what I see in front of me makes me gasp.

“A coffin!” I exclaim and point at the dark shiny box that is standing there in the middle of the room.

“Yes, it's a coffin. Does it make you scared?”

“Not really. Just surprised.”

“Are you sure? You look pretty terrified. Are you scared that I might drink from your blood and lay you here in this coffin?” he smiles at me.

“Maybe?”

“Lily, I don't think you realize what that means. I can’t do that. That would change everything. Forever.”

“Why? Wouldn't I stay alive after that?”

“Well, technically, yes. But the change would be so big and intense that it would alter you forever.”

“What change?”

“It would tie you to me, for life.”

“What?” I look at him, but it makes him smile.

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