Page 36 of Hitched to the Vampire King

ChapterTwelve

I wasn’tsure what time it was when I stirred. Gabriel would have closed the curtains before going to sleep, to protect himself from the sun’s lethal rays. This setup was crucial for him, but sometimes, it left me feeling a little disoriented, clueless as to whether it was dawn or noon outside. Thankfully, someone had furnished this room with a nightstand and an alarm clock, which, upon a quick glance, showed that it was a few minutes past sunrise. I must have just missed Gabriel settling in for the day.

Turning slightly, I took a moment to study him as he lay beside me, his features relaxed in “death,” a stark contrast to his usually vibrant self. Despite knowing he couldn’t feel my touch, I reached out and gently brushed his cheek. It was strange to think of how important this one person had become to me. When I was younger, there were moments I’d doubted I’d ever find a connection like this, despite how badly I wanted it. It was difficult growing up alone without any family to call my own. It made me believe that maybe I’d never find anyone, and that maybe life had different plans for me. I remember trying to convince myself that it was okay if I never found someone else.

So, imagine my surprise when Gabriel—avampire—barged into my life and made me feel things I’d never believed possible. These emotions brought out the protective nature within me. He was, in every sense, my soulmate. He not only understood my flaws and strengths, but embraced and celebrated them. With him, I found a love that was powerful and all-consuming. Despite him being a vampire, he was the one who brought light into my life. A light I couldn’t afford to lose. I refused to let Adrian or the Academy rip him away from me.

I’d kill them first, and I wouldn’t feel any remorse either. Not after all they’d done.

A rumbling in my belly distracted me from any further thoughts. I hadn’t eaten since yesterday afternoon, so it didn’t surprise me that I was hungry. Sliding out of bed, I tiptoed to the door, which made me chuckle, since Gabriel couldn’t hear me moving about, then stepped out into the hallway. A quick glance in both directions showed both Jaden and Lucy’s doors still shut, and if I strained my senses, I could hear them all snoring away.

I eased down the stairs, my nose leading me into the kitchen, where I caught sight of a coffee maker percolating away. Either the coffee maker had a timer or someone was awake. I leaned around the corner and found Aimee, the alpha of the New Orleans Pack, sitting at a small table basking in the early morning sunlight. She clutched a coffee mug between her hands and stared out the window, clearly lost in her thoughts.

“Oh, uh, morning,” I murmured, hoping I wasn’t disturbing her.

I didn’t have a great history with pack alphas. I’d never met my biological father—he’d died before I found any family—and then my half-sister Olivia had tried to usurp Lucy from her position with the Mississippi Pack. Lucy was the only one I knew and trusted.

Aimee cocked her head toward me, then lifted the coffee mug to her mouth. She took a sip, then lowered it down onto the table. “You’re up early.”

I nodded. “Downfall to going to bed midday, I suppose. I don’t think I could sleep more even if I wanted to.”

She chuckled, then gestured to the seat next to her. “Join me, then.”

“Mind if I pour some coffee first?”

“By all means,” she said, smiling. “I made plenty, and I can always make more if needed.”

I ducked my head, then hurried into the kitchen, eager for a sip of steaming deliciousness.

“Mugs are in the cupboard above the sink,” she informed me before taking another sip.

I thanked her, then pulled open the door and grabbed a mug that read, “If I made wolf puns, they would behowlarious.” I snickered at the image, then filled the cup right to the brim. It took a bit of grace to carry it to the table without spilling, but I managed.

Aimee’s eyes widened at the sight of my nearly overflowing cup and laughed. “That kind of morning, huh?”

“That kind of month,” I grumbled.

“Yes, Sam gave me the highlights when he first arrived, and Avery debriefed me last night. I am so relieved she’s alright, and grateful to you for saving her. But I’m also sorry to hear about your struggles. If there’s anything I can do for you, please let me know.”

“I will, thank you. Right now, I think we just need a place to stay. I agreed to help Avery deal with Nash, which may be the lead we need to find Adrian. That’s the kind of math I like.”

“You don’t have to stay and deal with this,” Aimee said. “While I would appreciate the help and would love nothing more than to have three bona fide vampire slayers on our team, along with my big brother, I would never hold it against you if you chose to leave. You have so much on your plate already.”

“Thank you,” I said before lifting my cup to my lips. The heavenly smell of coffee assaulted my nose, and I sighed contentedly. “But I told Avery I would help, and besides which, we can’t leave until we deal with Adrian.”

“Very well,” Aimee said. She sipped from her own cup and resumed gazing out the window.

Were the situation different, I might have wondered what an alpha werewolf thought about, but I had a feeling I knew exactly where Aimee’s thoughts had strayed.

“How many wolves have you lost?” I asked.

“Avery would have been number four.”

I recalled Avery’s story yesterday. “She mentioned that this started about a year ago?”

“Thereabouts,” was all Aimee said.

“And Sam didn’t know about this?” It seemed a logical conclusion since I hadn’t heard about it. While Sam and I weren’t buddy-buddy close, he would have told Lucy, and she would have mentioned it to me.

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