Page 78 of Ellie 3

He’d checked on my golden eyes. I nodded that I heard him. “That doesn’t answer how or why. Answer me.”

He grimaced, the potion doing its job. “She was in communication with her birth family. She asked for help for years, sneaking word to them under Aurora’s nose. It was all denied until her father remarried. The bitch didn’t know he had a daughter and finally accepted correspondence.”

That was the piece of the puzzle I’d needed. “She was going to get help to rescue both of us and promised I’d be treated better than my mother had been. That my mother wouldn’t be mistreated by her father again.”

“Yes,” Kenneth chuckled darkly but then frowned, studying me. “You really think I’m just some psychopath who killed her without a viable reason or for spite?”

Theresa and I shared a look and burst out laughing… Something he did not like.

Fuck. Him.

I opened my mouth to explain that it wasn’t a stretch given how he saw women and his mindset, but then I realized… Why? Why waste the time? He wasn’t worth it.

“How did you kill her?” I asked.

“Quickly,” he answered. “She was to meet with a direct representative of her family to confirm it wasn’t a ploy or—I smashed her skull. She died almost instantly.”

“But that wasn’t your original plan,” Theresa muttered, seeing something I didn’t.

“No, I meant to throw her in the dungeon and figure out the best plan since I was coming late into what was happening,” Kenneth muttered. “But I couldn’t overpower her the way I’d planned and I was out of time.”

I swallowed loudly. “Where is she?”

“I have no idea. The messenger arrived at the location and I was waiting with her. I let him take her back to be buried at her family estate if they wanted but made it clear that I was within my rights to kill a servant who betrayed me so not to be stupid and push the matter. He took her body and I never heard from them.”

I didn’t hide my hate for him as I met his gaze. “Have you killed others?”

“That has nothing to do with your mother and it was within—” He grunted as the potion hurt him. “Yes.”

“How many?” I pushed.

“Dozens,” he growled.

I looked at the guard. “Tell the police they’re welcome and to please keep me updated. I would also like to know the answer of where my birth mother is buried since I assume they’ll follow up on that.”

“I’ll check,” Theresa interjected. “You’re not staying?”

I let out a slow breath and met her gaze. “No, I want to move forward. I needed that answer and the why, but now I want to forget him and let him rot until he’s executed.”

“As you wish,” she accepted, looking a bit disappointed.

I couldn’t explain it, but this wasn’t about revenge or sticking it to him. I wanted to stop having nightmares over answers I didn’t have. I wanted… Peace?

As much peace and happiness as I ever could.

“You don’t get to just walk out of here, Ellie Reed,” Kenneth snarled when I stood. “I promised you that if you did this that I had information on you too.”

I smirked as I leaned over the table knowing a bad poker face better than most. “And that would be?” I chuckled when his eyes flashed shock. “Are you going to tell people I have angel blood again? How well did that go over before? Or what was the other one?”

“I heard you were part dragon,” Theresa purred, getting in on the ploy.

“Really? That would be cool,” I accepted. I glanced between her and Kenneth and shrugged. “The golden eyes thing is a fluke. Some of the best medical minds in the world have studied them and me.” I nodded when Kenneth frowned. “I wondered if there was some truth to your bullshit. There wasn’t. I’m a vampire. So was my mother.”

“You were in talks with her birth coven after all,” Theresa mocked. “Or what else are you trying to say Ellie is?”

“I don’t know,” Kenneth bit out. “I just know she’s more than a vampire.”

“I am,” I confirmed and went for the door. I glanced at Kenneth knowing it would be the last time until his execution. “I’m a supe, Kenneth. You’re the one who thinks only vampires matter. I value all supes equally.” I thanked Theresa and the guards and left.

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