Page 180 of The Vampire's Bride

The metal is cool against my skin when I pick it up. As I turn it over in my palm, a strange sense of loss tightens my chest. It’s like my heart remembers this… remembers him. But my memories are shrouded in fog—a haze of shadows and colors that I cannot seem to hold on to.

I only know that, for some reason, when I think of Valaric, I want to go to him. I want to run into his arms. And it scares mebecause these feelings… this longing is so intense. I’ve never felt anything like it before, and I barely know him.

Sighing heavily, I clasp my hand around the necklace and head back inside to get dressed.

Just as I finish, there’s a knock on the door. I open it and find my mother standing in the hallway. “You have a visitor.”

Butterflies flutter in my stomach as an image of Valaric flashes through my mind. But they’re gone in an instant as I realize it’s daytime, so it cannot be him who has come to visit me.

“Who is it?”

“He said his name is Eben Wolfstark.” She frowns. “Do you know him?”

“No. Did he say why he is here?”

She shakes her head.

When I step into the drawing room, a man with silver eyes, short, light brown hair, and sharply pointed ears is sitting on the sofa. He flashes a grin, revealing two rows of sharp fangs.

He’s a Wolf-Shifter. Normally, I might be afraid of such intimidating teeth, but something about this man puts me at ease, but I’m not sure why.

I nod to mother, and she steps back out into the hallway, giving us privacy.

“Hello, Juliet.”

His overly familiar greeting stops me short. “Do I know you, sir?”

He smiles again, but it does not touch his eyes. “You did, but it seems you do not anymore. My name is Eben. I’m a friend of Lord Greyvale’s. I came to deliver something to you from him.”

Before I can ask any questions, he hands me a letter. My fingers tremble slightly as I open it, and carefully held back tears blur the words as I begin to read:

Juliet,

I never wanted to upset you, and I’m so sorry if I did. You are my heart, and I only want you to be happy. Even if that happiness does not include me. Therefore, I have given you the means to have the freedom and independence you wished for. I ask for nothing in return. It is my most fervent hope that you live the life that you want, and live it well.

Forever yours, Valaric

My heart clenches as an image flashes through my mind of Valaric holding me, whispering words of love and devotion in my ear.

“The money has already been put in your name,” Eben says, handing me another document, this one detailing a massive sum that I suspect is greater than the entire worth of my stepfather’s estate. “You can access it whenever you wish.”

As he stands to leave, a wave of familiarity washes over me. “Wait,” I call out. “I know you.” A fleeting memory of him teasing Valaric comes to me. “I feel as if… we were friends, were we not?”

“More than that.” A sad smile curves his mouth. “You are part of our pack. Even if you do not remember this, we remember you. If you ever need anything, send for us, and we will help you however we can.”

He looks at me a moment more, as if searching for something, before he finally turns for the door. “Goodbye, Juliet.”

A tear slips down my cheek as he disappears into the hallway. I want to call out to him again, but I cannot force the words to leave my mouth. I gaze down again at Valaric’s letter and the bank note in my hand. My heart aches with confusion and the fragments of memories that flit just out of reach.

I pull the pendant necklace from my pocket and clutch it to my chest, the metal warming against my skin. When I return to my room, I step onto the balcony and gaze down at the manor gardens.

Everything looks the same as it always has, but as I look at the bench we sat on last night, all I can feel is the sorrow and longing for a life I cannot fully remember… that I’m not even sure was real.

“What was that about, Juliet?” my mother asks as she joins me. “Who was that man?”

“I’m not sure you’d believe me if I told you.” A tear escapes my lashes, but I quickly brush it away. “In fact, I’m not even sure I believe it myself.”

“What are you talking about?” Her eyes flash with concern. “Tell me what is going on.”

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