Page 248 of Evil Hearts

“Why...why did this happen?” she choked out between sobs.

“I suppose Henry felt betrayed,” Dimitri said quietly. “He thought I owed him immortality...but I knew he had too much aggression. Too much hurt and anger inside him, and he would only cause death and destruction.” He stood, effortlessly lifting Henry’s body with his uninjured arm. “I must bury him in the graveyard on the estate. He deserves that much. Wait for me here.”

Amelia nodded numbly, watching as Dimitri carried Henry’s body out of the room. The air felt colder now—colder and infinitely lonelier.

Amelia was shaking in spite of the warmth of the room. The enormity of what had just occurred pressed heavily on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to ward off the chill that seemed to seep into her bones.

She forced herself to move, to pace back and forth across the room as she tried to process everything. Dimitri had asked her if she wanted immortality—to become like him. But what did that even mean? This wasn’t a romantic notion from one of her beloved novels; this was real, raw, and terrifying. It meant living forever, watching everyone she loved die around her. It meant enemies—werewolves, for God’s sake!—lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike.

Could she live with that constant danger? Could she bear to see Dimitri in such savage fights time and again, risking his life?

Her gaze fell on the broken furniture, the shattered remnants of artwork scattered across the floor. This was the reality Dimitri lived in—a world where violence could erupt at any moment,where trust was scarce, and betrayal was always a heartbeat away.

Is this what you want, Amelia? Is this the life you’ve been longing for?

She had always yearned for an escape, the chance to break free from societal expectations, to find something real amid the opulence and superficiality of her current life. But part of her recoiled at the idea of becoming something...inhuman, unnatural. A creature of the night, bound by blood and darkness.

She walked over to the window, looking out at the gardens below. She watched Dimitri walking along the path with Henry’s lifeless body flung over his shoulder as he headed toward the family burial plot. She thought about Dimitri’s offer, about the temptation of eternal love and beauty, then about the price that came with it.

Can I do this? Can I live this undead life?

She sighed. Somewhere outside, Dimitri was burying the man who had once served him—an act that spoke volumes about the life she might be stepping into.

Amelia realized that her decision would not come easily. Dread warred with desire and uncertainty. She would have to make a difficult choice and decide if she was ready to embrace the immortal life Dimitri offered.

Chapter Eight

The private gardenof Shadowfield Manor was beautiful at night, like a secret place draped in the picturesque embrace of twilight. Amelia took in the lush foliage that hemmed them in, fragrant blossoms filling the air with a euphoric perfume. The stars sparkled brightly, and they walked hand in hand along the pathway.

The cool night air caressed Amelia’s skin as she strolled through the moonlit garden, her hand nestled in Dimitri’s.

His thumb brushed her knuckles, the simple touch electrifying. “Do you remember when we first met?” His voice was a warm rumble that resonated deep in her chest.

Amelia glanced at him, drinking in the sight of his chiseled profile. “How could I forget? The Halloween ball.” She smiled wryly. “Feels like a lifetime ago.”

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “This very spot is where our paths first intertwined.”

And where you first turned my world upside down, she thought. Dimitri’s heated gaze slid over her like a physical caress. Amelia wore a pretty dress of deep emerald, the fabric clinging to her soft, supple skin with every movement. Her long, wavy auburn hair spilled down her back, catching the soft light and framing her bright green eyes. A string of real pearlsgraced her neck, adding a touch of decadent elegance to her appearance.

“That night, you were a vision behind that mask. Mysterious. Alluring.” His tone dropped an octave, sending a shudder dashing down her spine.

“Was I really so enigmatic?” Amelia arched a brow, teasing. “You were the one cloaked in shadows, if I recall.”

“Ah, but that air of mystery captivated us both, did it not?”

“Mmm. I suppose it did.” The same pulse of magic from that fateful first meeting still thrummed between them, thickening the air. It tasted of promise. Of inevitability.

Dimitri halted and turned to face her fully, his midnight blue eyes searching hers. “Amelia, my beloved.” The endearment rolled off his tongue like a prayer. “I want to forever have this with you. Honesty. Trust.”

Her heart stuttered. She placed a hand on his chest, felt the strong, steady beat beneath her palm. His heart. Hers. “You have me, Dimitri. All of me.”

He cupped her face with infinite tenderness, his thumb stroking her cheek. Amelia leaned into his touch, eyelids fluttering. “And you have all of me, my love. Forever.”

Their lips met, softly at first, then with building heat. She melted into his solid strength, into the sensual kiss that branded her very soul. In Dimitri’s arms, Amelia was home. She’d never been more certain of anything in her life.

They resumed their stroll, and Amelia’s head buzzed with introspection. Her love for Dimitri was a flame, fierce and consuming. Yet, tangled within her passion was the knot of uncertainty.

How could she reconcile her human fragility with the otherworldly magnetism of a vampire?

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