Page 88 of Sinner's Salvation

Her son didn’t say anything for several seconds.

Finally, he said, “I have too much to live for to think like that. I want my happily ever after.”

She didn’t respond. Happiness wasn’t something she’d experienced for a very long time. She’d been content on occasion, but happy? She had too much to do, keeping their family under control, and keeping vampires everywhere from doing stupid things.

“Do you have something to live for, mom?”

Did she?

The question stabbed her in the heart. The pain radiated outward in an icy wave, bringing everything inside her to a stop. She wanted to breathe, but her lungs wouldn’t work.

“I’m not judging you,” her son said, in a calm voice. “Hell, I’ve made mistakes so huge, there’s no way I can pay them back.”

“I...gave up happiness a long time ago,” she finally choked out.

Baz sighed. “You’ve waited long enough. You need to go after what makes you happy.”

“I can’t,” she wailed, tears dripped down her face. “He’s not like us.”

“And that stopped me?”

His question brought her to a complete stop. “What? Oh.” Her mind went to the inevitable conclusion. “But she’ll die.”

“Yes, and so will we, eventually.”

He said it like it was something to look forward to. “Is that a good thing?”

He laughed. “None of us were built to live forever. Most of us are insane. All of us are paranoid, controlling assholes, and none of us are happy.”

“But—”

“Yes, it’s a good thing. I’m tired of all the bullshit. I’m tired of putting up with all the assholes. I want to show Nika the world. I want to watch her face when she sees all the strange and wonderful places I’ve seen. I want to see everything through her eyes.”

“I don’t think Evan is going to want to just travel.”

“So, find out what he does want to do.”

“You don’t... mind?”

“I think it’s slightly weird, but given how weird our lives are, I can deal. At least I know him well enough to know he’d be good for you.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that you take care of everyone but yourself. His only goal is to look after you.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because when I asked him what his intentions were with my Mom, that’s what he told me.”

“Bazyli,” she barked. “You didn’t.”

“I did, and before you squawk anymore, he wasn’t angry. He expected someone would give him theman to mantalk.”

Anna closed her eyes. “Men are strange creatures.”

Her son snorted. “Go, do your thing.”

“Be careful, Bazyli. Look after Nika.”

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