Page 25 of Silent Nights and Vampire Lights

“Fine.”

Wow, showing all kinds of enthusiasm there. “How far are we from your home?”

He looked up. “A few hours.”

“That’s all? I didn’t realize we were so close.”

Why hadn’t he told me how close we were to his home? If we hadn’t stopped at the Christmas Market or the village, we could have been home yesterday. Why didn’t he push harder?

He shrugged. “It wasn’t important. We had time. And you seemed to want to check out those places.”

“They could have caught us. And you could have been home sooner.”

I was trying to wrap my brain around why he did something he clearly hated—spending time at the holiday places—instead of pushing me to get on the road. Did he really do them just for me, even though I could have put us at risk?

“I told you that I had time before I had to be home. And I needed time to put your new identity together.” His phone dinged, and he glanced up. “Take the next exit. There will be a diner. Luiza’s. We’ll stop there.”

I wasn’t sure how I felt about our time together drawing to a close. I changed lanes and watched for anyone following us. “I thought I could maybe join you at your home.”

He studied me carefully. “I told you that was a terrible idea.”

“But I could stay somewhere nearby, and you could join me later. Maybe?”

He set his phone down on his lap with a sigh. “Holly, I should never have fed from you. I wish it could be different, but we’re not meant to be together. It’s too dangerous for you in Grimm Mawr.”

“You said you have humans there. You have to feed from someone. And you already fed from me and you’re not dead yet, so my blood works for you. So why can’t I be your blood person or something?”

I was probably being unreasonable, the very definition of a clingy girlfriend, but I wanted to understand why we couldn’t work. I had enough men ghost me in the past, and it didn’t usually matter. But for some reason, Nick mattered. Damned Stockholm Syndrome.

“It doesn’t work that way. Being a blood servant is an inherited position, handed down through generations.”

I stopped at the light at the end of the exit and faced him. “What aren’t you telling me?”

He let out an exhale. “My family hates humans. You would be in extreme danger if you came home with me.”

“More than I’m in now?”

He laughed, a raw, hoarse sound. “Definitely.”

Well, crap. That didn’t sound good. The light changed and I turned, headed for the brightly lit Luiza’s diner. Only a few cars were in the lot. It was close to midnight now. The snowstorm had hit here too, and there were piles of snow around the brightly lit parking lot.

I parked and started to get out, but Nick stopped me. “I’m sorry to hurt your feelings.”

Hurt my feelings? We were way beyond that. I blinked to clear the tears stinging my eyes. “I’m fine, Nick. But I need to use the ladies’ room, so, if you don’t mind?”

He dropped my arm. “Be careful, okay? I’m doing this for your own good. I’m keeping my promise, Holly. I never promised forever.”

“Yeah, I know.” Of course, back then, I thought that I had no other choices.

Now, I might choose the hitmen. That pain would be over quickly.

CHAPTER 12

NICHOLAS

Ifollowed Holly into the diner. I held her back while I scanned the few patrons seated inside. Mostly truck drivers, plow drivers, and a couple of waitresses who looked bored out of their minds. No hitmen in sight unless they had changed their image, which was doubtful. My contact was also not inside. A flash of headlights combined with my phone vibrating told me that my contact was outside.

“Grab us a table. I’ll be right back.”

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