Page 30 of Shut Up and Bite Me

A gleam of hope sparkles in her eyes. “Yeah. You’re right.”

Turning to face her, I lift my hand and swipe the tears away from her eyes, stroking her cheeks. “You can tell me about her anytime you’d like. I’d love to hear some stories.”

She nods sharply. “I have so many good ones.” She sighs. “She was my best friend in the whole wide world. But she was human. At the time, I hadn’t realized how much my position on the council put a target on the back of the ones I loved. Until it was too late…” Her voice cracks. “Vampires who don’t follow the rules of the council and respect humans are referred to as rogues. Well, one decided that he was tired of the council trying to control him.

Her gaze drops to my chest as she continues to open up. “He couldn’t hurt me if he tried. I’ve been around long enough to learn how to protect myself. But Genevieve didn’t. One night, we were supposed to meet up after she got off of work at the bakery. But then she didn’t show, which was extremely out of character for her. She didn’t answer her texts or calls, so I went looking for her.” She sucks in a shuddering breath. “When I got to the bakery, I found her, and she was gone. Someone drained hercompletely. The worst part is that I was going to turn her that night…she was supposed to be with me forever.”

My chest burns for her, and I wish I could help ease the pain. For the first time, I see her walls crumble down. And fuck, the pain that’s laced in her pretty hazel orbs is enough to stab me in the heart a million times over.

When you lose someone that close to you, you lose pieces of yourself too, leaving tiny holes in your heart that ache for what’s been lost.

“I know she’s not here by your side. But in a way, she will live forever because of you and your love for her.”

Her cheeks still cupped in my hands, she nods her head slowly. Holding my stare, she rises onto the tips of her toes and slides a hand along my jaw. Her forehead rolls against mine as her heavy breathing finally begins to slow.

“Thank you,” she whispers against my lips before gently pressing hers into me, kissing me tenderly and slowly as my heart begins to rattle in its cage, the bars loosening.

I’m utterly screwed, irrevocably ruined by Greyson.

Since I’ve met him, I’ve started breaking every boundary and rule I set for myself without much of a thought.

I went too far, I opened up too much and let him in more than he ever should have been, and I truly don’t know if I’m going to be able to let Greyson walk away when our time is up. It’s going to be damn near impossible.

Needing fresh air and a brief second away from him to clear my mind, I decide to run a few errands this morning before he wakes.

Forcing the thoughts of him from my mind, I focus on the task at hand. I’m going to pick up some food from a list of favorites that were on Greyson’s info card from the Culling.

I could have had one of the High Council’s assistants do it for me, but I needed to step off cloud nine for a moment just to reflect. We’ve been living in our own bubble for a few days now, and I can’t even think straight.

My first stop this morning is Ashwood Apothecary. Although I’ve been blissfully enjoying the past few days, I still cannot get the interaction between Autumn and Greyson out of my mind. It was bizarre, to say the least. And it’s been weighing on me.

Even though I don’t have Greyson tagging along, I still choose to drive because I don’t mind if my errands take a little longer.

Parking in front of the apothecary, I slide out of the car and take a deep breath of the crisp fall air, notes of fresh apples and cinnamon invading my nose. This is the best time of year. Not too hot, not too cold. The leaves transform into the most beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow.

But none are more beautiful than the large oak tree that grows behind the apothecary. The leaves are some of the last to fall, but they turn a breathtaking deep reddish-purple. I’ve made it a part of my routine to swing by and see it at least a handful of times before the branches are completely bare each year.

The air changes from cool to a welcoming warmth as I step inside of the shop, quickly greeted by Autumn. “Good morning, Vivian!”

“Hi, Autumn. How’s it going?” I ask her politely as a shiver races down my spine from the temperature change.

The Ashwoods and I have had a relatively close relationship for years. Unfortunately, the story of Autumn and I meeting is a rather sad one. I saved her from a few rogue vampires that tried attacking her a few years back. Although, perhaps “tried” isn’t the right word because they succeeded to some degree.

Thankfully, I had arrived before they were able to kill her. But that doesn’t mean that they didn’t harm her in other ways. They certainly did, and I made them pay for it dearly—torturing them for hours before giving them the mercy of death.

Rogue vampires refuse to abide by the rules of the High Council, abusing and using humans like hospital blood bags.They have no respect for them or the rest of us. But they’ve practically been extinct for years. We haven’t heard of any movement of one for almost a decade.

Autumn’s parents were grateful to me for saving their daughter, allowing me to shop for free anytime in their store. But I’ve never taken them up on their offer. I have enough money to never worry, and they have a small business I love to support.

Autumn’s smile is beaming like always as she responds, “Great. We just got some new crystal jewelry if you’d be interested in it at all.”

Her offer piques my interest, but I remind myself why I’m here. “Maybe another day. But first, we need to talk.”

A knowing look flashes in her eyes. She knows exactly what I’m here for. “I figured you would be back for that.”

“Care to explain what youreallyfelt that day?” I ask her for the truth, knowing she only concealed it because of Greyson’s presence.

She sighs. “Honestly, Vivian, I have no idea what happened. It’s never been like that before. I shouldn’t have sensed any of your energy in him. It was like your and his energy were wound together as one.”

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