Page 75 of After Darkness Falls

She was one of them. A fledgling well in transition.

And something more.

Someone had gone to great lengths to get to her without dirtying their hands. Why? It made no sense. Born vampires were rare but relatively inconsequential. Their kind saw them as something precious, because only one or so was born per century, but they had little power until they gained experience and skills after turning.

Why was a noble trying to destroyher?

It didn’t matter. Levi just knew that she was his.

His responsibility.

His…

Shit.

Part of him wanted to walk up to her and slit her throat now. Get it over with. To complete the transition, they had to let their mortal selves perish. A traumatic experience for anyone, even those who’d been prepared their entire life. But one look in her big blue eyes and he knew she was ignorant, innocent, in need of care and time.

He’d give her both. As long as he could.

* * *

Now, she was in his arms, lifeless, pale, and cold. Levi wished he’d explained things, told her on that very first day that it was always going to come to this. She would have to die.

She’d been too cheerful and insouciant, and he, cowardly. She wouldn’t forgive him for making this so brutal.

Chloe stirred, exhaling deeply, swallowing as much air as her lungs could carry.

Her hands were trembling, her eyes filled with tears. But she moved fast. Faster than him.

He wasn't surprised when she managed to flip him over and squeeze his throat.

From the start, the creature inside her had revolted against him, against his authority, because she was more dominant than him. Stronger than him.

It hadn't quite made sense. He’d had theories, but the truth only became certain when he'd received an unexpected visit.

* * *

Two months ago

Aslayer was at his door, escorting a creature who shouldn't have existed.

Dark hair. Eyes so blue they lit up the room more than his lamp.

"My name is Tom Miller," he'd said. "I'm Chloe's older brother."

That much was obvious, but he was also something else.

A born vampire, fully turned only recently. And with an aura as powerful as Levi's.

"Miller," Levi repeated with a snort. "I find that unlikely."

The guy had inclined his head. "Well, that's the name I was born with. But, all right. If you prefer, I'm Thomas Eirikrson."

His wildest suspicion, perhaps his greatest fear.

There was a new Eirikrson. Two of them, actually.

And it was his fault.

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