Page 30 of Kiss of Blood and Sin

I took another sip of my coffee. “Oh? Anything I should know about?” I asked, a flicker of curiosity mingling with a vague sense of unease.

Louise pulled her legs up, crossing them underneath her as she settled into a more comfortable position. She shook her head, her dark curls bouncing softly with the movement. “I don’t think so. I’m sure Augustus will tell us when he gets back.”

I nodded, my teeth worrying my bottom lip as I debated whether to bring up my conversation with Dimitri. His words hung heavily in my mind, and I couldn’t shake the need to find out if he had been lying. “Dimitri told me something last night,” I began, my voice hesitant as I gauged Louise’s reaction. “I want to know if it was true.”

Louise raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of curiosity and caution. She leaned back, her fingers tapping thoughtfully against the side of her mug. “Okayyy, but I’mnot an expert on him,” she warned. “He’s pretty cagey at times.”

I swallowed hard, my heart rate picking up as I prepared to delve into the secrets Dimitri had shared. The air felt thick with tension, and I could sense Louise’s apprehension.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself, my heart pounding in my chest as I forced the words out. “He told me that Petar used to abuse Valentin. Is it true?” My voice wavered slightly, giving away the mixture of apprehension and concern that churned in my gut.

Louise’s gaze dropped to her cup of coffee, her fingers tightening around the mug. She was silent for a moment, and I could see the tension in her shoulders, the slight furrow of her brow. “Yes, it is,” she finally admitted, her voice heavy with the truth. “I wouldn’t normally believe everything Dimitri says, but that much is true.”

My stomach twisted, a wave of nausea washing over me. “But why?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Louise sighed, her eyes closing briefly, steeling herself for the revelation. “Because Petar’s…he’s not Valentin’s father,” she said, her words hanging in the air like a heavy fog.

I blinked, my mind reeling as I tried to process this new information. “But that makes no sense. Valentin’s younger than Dimitri, isn’t he?” I asked, my brow furrowed in confusion.

Louise nodded, her fingers absently tracing the pattern on her mug. “Yes, his mother had an affair. Rumor has it that Valentin’s father was a dark demon.” She spokethe words matter-of-factly, but I could still hear the undercurrent of unease in her tone.

A gasp tore from my lips, my eyes widening in shock. “Really?” I breathed, my heart hammering against my ribcage as the implications of this revelation crashed over me like a tidal wave.

Dark demons were the enemy—universally feared and reviled in the supernatural world. Not even the powerful Santi family, with all their influence, would accept one in their ranks. I had never met Valentin, but if this were true, he would be treated like a pariah, hunted by both humans and supernatural beings alike. His life as he knew it would be over.

“Yes. I don’t know which one, but I think he was powerful,” Louise continued, her gaze distant as if lost in thought. “Supposedly, Petar wanted to exploit this power, but Valentin renounced it. From what I heard, he was worse than Cinderella’s wicked stepmother.”

Anger flared within me, hot and fierce, and I scowled, my hands clenching into fists. “So, Petar punished Valentin for who his father was?” I asked, my voice trembling with barely contained rage.

Louise met my gaze, her eyes filled with a helpless sadness. She shook her head, her shoulders sagging under the weight of the truth. “That’s what Rose told me. Valentin doesn’t like to talk about it. He only found out in the last couple of years that Petar wasn’t his father.”

I leaned back, my mind spinning as I tried to make sense of it all. The horror of Valentin’s abuse…the shocking revelation ofhis true parentage…Petar’s cruelty…it all swirled together, stirring up a dizzying maelstrom of emotions within me. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. My heart ached for Valentin, for the pain and betrayal he must have endured, and a fierce protectiveness toward both him and his brother surged within me, mingling with the anger and disgust I felt toward Petar.

Memories of my father washed over me, bittersweet and tinged with longing. He had been such a loving, devoted parent. In the tumultuous times of the 1600s, when danger lurked around every corner for young women like me, Papa had been my steadfast protector. His watchful eye and strong presence had kept the unsavory characters at bay, shielding me from those who would have taken advantage of my youth and naivety.

It was from Papa that Angelo inherited his fierce sense of family loyalty. I could still remember the way Papa's eyes would light up with pride whenever he spoke of our family's legacy, of the importance of standing together against the world's threats.

A familiar ache bloomed in my chest as I recalled his final days, ravaged by the merciless plague that had swept through our town. Even in his suffering, he had thought of us first, his love a beacon that guided our family through those dark times.

If Father had hurt me like Petra had Valentin, Angelo's protective mode would have gone into full blown I'm-going-to-kick-your-ass mode. My hands clenched involuntarily at the thought, a surge of anger warming my blood. I couldalmost feel the ghost of Angelo's comforting hand on my shoulder, hear the low, dangerous tone his voice would take.

A knot formed in my stomach as I realized Dimitri possessed that same philosophy about keeping his family safe. The intensity in his eyes when he spoke of protection was eerily familiar, a mirror of Angelo's fierce devotion. My throat tightened, a mix of gratitude and unease settling in the pit of my stomach. To be loved so fiercely was both a comfort and a terrifying responsibility.

I stood abruptly, pacing the room. How could my brother have allowed someone like Petar into the family? Angelo had everyone thoroughly vetted before they were accepted. There had to be something that Angelo wasn’t telling me. I was so tired of being left out in the dark.

I was a vampire nearly four hundred years old, and I wasn’t the kind of girl to hide in the shadows. Angelo should know better than that. He knew he was messing with the wrong woman.

Chapter Nineteen

Dimitri

After my delightful father-son chat, I found myself heading to Goody Magic Academy. Because nothing says fun morning like researching creepy magical puppets. As I strode across the courtyard, the crisp air slapped me awake—not that I needed it. My mind was already racing faster than a vampire on a blood bender.

If these Malefic Puppets packed half the punch he was bragging about, then it was time for a little Q&A session. And who better to interrogate than my favorite sudsy confidant—the academy’s ever-reliable dishwasher?

I smirked to myself. Poor thing probably thought his days of being grilled by yours truly were over. Surprise, surprise.

I clenched my jaw, anger coursing through me as Ithought about my father’s manipulative ways. I just hoped Jaxon would have answers; I needed them now more than ever.

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