Though it remained unsaid, the implication was that he would help if Amanda needed help with controlling me.Just what had happened to my friend in the months we had been separated?

I scrunched up my face, even though Leo could only see the back of my head.

Amanda let out a chuckle and grabbed my hand.“Thank you, Leo.We’ll be alright.”

Having dismissed my undead shadow, she pulled me into her room before closing the door behind us.

Decadent did not even begin to describe our surroundings.Amanda’s room wasn’t just a bedroom.At one end of the room, there was a dressing area with wraparound mirrors and an antique white and gold vanity covered in expensive looking perfume bottles and makeup.Attached to the dressing area was an open walk-in closet that had to be as big as a double garage.Next to the walk-in closet was an airy bathroom illuminated with day glow lights that made it look like daytime.Tropical plants surrounding the giant pool-like bathtub made the bathroom look like a jungle.In the center of the room stood a giant four-poster bed draped with gauzy silk curtains and piles of white silk pillows and sheets.The bed was so big, it looked like it could fit a party of eight.At the foot of the bed, by the fireplace, there was also a sitting area with a plush leather love seat and a fully stocked bar.

I walked around the room in a circle and let out a long whistle.“Geeze!Are you like the queen of this place, or something?”

I noticed a bowl of strawberries and flaky almond croissants on the coffee table.My mouth watered.I hadn’t had luxuries like fruit and pastries in ages.

Amanda noticed my gaze.“Help yourself.I was the same way when I first came to live with Alex.”

I bit into a juicy strawberry and relished the burst of flavor on my tongue before I grabbed another one.

“Or something,” said the blonde sitting on the bed.She snapped her gum and tossed her wavy long hair over her shoulder before she resumed tapping at a game on her tablet.Though she was tall and had long limbs like a model, her face was sweet and innocent, bare of makeup except for some light pink blush and lip gloss.By the sassy and annoyed way she spoke, I assumed she could only be Rose, the little sister Amanda always mentioned with fond annoyance when we were in Europe.

Amanda rolled her eyes.“Rose, that’s not true.”

I wondered how Amanda found her sister after all this time.Rose was in California at the time Amanda and I were split up in Paris.

“Of course, it is.You’re like, married to the big bad boss vampire of the place,” Rose shot back.

Suddenly, Amanda stood still and got a faraway look in her eyes.I waved a hand in front of her face and snapped my fingers, but she didn’t respond, not even to flinch.It was like she was in a trance.

“It’s no use trying to talk to her when she’s like this.She’s communicating with Alex through their mated bond,” Rose said disinterestedly.

“What’s that?”I asked Rose.

“We can talk to the vampires we are mated with telepathically.It happens after a vampire and a human have exchanged blood while, you know—” Rose waggled her eyebrows to indicate the unsaid.

“Oh, gross!”I winced.I did not need to think about my friend doing the nasty with the undead.

“Are you,” I struggled to get the word out, “mated to a vamp too?”

Rose nodded.“Dante’s the big surly lumberjack looking hottie.You’ll probably see him around some time.Anyway, Amanda’s mate is Alex, who’s the master vampire of this clan.He’s big and scary, but a total teddy bear when it comes to my sister, especially now since she’s expecting.”

“So, you guys are like mind readers?”

“Kind of, but not really.It’s not like we have open access to each other’s thoughts, but we do get a sense of our mate’s moods and emotions.”

Like a light had been switched on, Amanda blinked and came back to us like nothing had happened.

“Is everything okay?”I asked.

Amanda nodded.“Alex was just wondering why I was so excited.He sensed my happiness through the bond.”She smiled serenely.“I told him that I’m just so happy that I have everything I ever wanted in life.I’ve found my long-lost sister and best friend, and I’m about to have my own family.”

A part of me was unsure how accurate Rose’s description of the master vampire was, but if he was good to Amanda, then that was all that mattered to me.

I put a croissant on a plate and went to sit down on the edge of the bed next to Rose.“I still can’t get over the fact that you’re pregnant and bonking an evil vampire.”

Amanda frowned.“Alex and the clan aren’t evil.”

I frowned.I didn’t understand what she was trying to say.“They’re vampires, Amanda.They feed on human blood, they killed off most of the world and brought about eternal darkness.How can they not be evil?”

“It’s not like they go out killing people.The Diamantis vamps only drink from bagged blood, usually.”Amanda’s hand rose up to touch her neck as she spoke.