Page 22 of Blood Ties
“Are you hungry?” I teased as a new vampire passed us holding a tray with what appeared to be red wine, even though everyone there knew it wasn’t.
“Gaby,” he sighed. “You know I can’t drink…” His words fell silent when I gave him a knowing stare. “Oh…?”
“I never had a boy in my room before,” I couldn’t help but grin, which Grayson returned.
“I firmly believe that is one experience everyone should have,” he smirked with a wicked gleam in his eye.
I bit my lip, before tugging him out of the dining hall.
The vigil was what you might expect. Everyone was dressed in white in a room brightened only by candle light. I huddled into Grayson who had his arm firmly around me. If it was hard for me to be there being the one that killed Anton, I couldn’t image the difficulty it was for Grayson, since Anton had been the one to kill him. Nevertheless, we stood by each other as the memorial in his honor was held for his many, many years as nest leader. There were times when I’d tense and Grayson would rub circles in my back silently letting me know it was alright. Some people stepped forward to share a fond memory. I was sure some of them had taken privilege with their recollection, changing them to make Anton appear worthier than he was.
“Anton was an amazing vampire.” My entire body tensed and became alert recognizing the voice. Grayson looked down at me confused before recognition crossed his face. I was surprised it had, since he had only heard her voice once and it was while he was still human. “Not only was he my maker, my sire, but he was also the love of my life. He turned me as a kindness having found me quite alone in this world. He took me under his wing, teaching me the necessary traits on how to be a vampire. Hisdeath,”she emphasized, her eyes catching me in the crowd, “was causeless. His life taken for a worthless reason.” This time, I felt Grayson become rigid. “And I will grieve him for an eternity or until his death is justified.”
Everyone was looking around at each other. Ava had rescinded her right to be there. She no longer claimed to be part of the nest. For her to come in and spouting off the way she did, after being told vengeance wasn’t being taken against me, was a slap in the face to the entire nest, not to mention, my mother as the new leader.
She stepped off the platform at the front of the room before a young boy took her place. “That will be all,” he spoke to everyone. “Please continue your grieving on your own.” He fidgeted, his voice was shaky. I think he was just as stunned by Ava’s words as the rest of us. I looked up and saw Ava making a beeline to me. The room had begun clearing out, but the people who stood near me paused when they saw her approach. I’m sure it was to eavesdrop and to have their curiosity sated.
“You dare show your face here!” she spat as she approached me.
“I have every right to be here. I’m still a part of this nest,” I spoke trying to keep my temper from flaring.
Her eyes widened, anger dripping from her body. “You killed him!” she screeched. “For a HUMAN!”
“Ava,” my mother approached her trying to defuse the scene that was forming. “I allowed you to be here to pay your respects to the man you loved not to make a scene in front of the entire nest. You are disgracing his memory.”
Ava turned her icy glare onto my mother. My mother’s eyes shifted to me and with a quick tilt of her head she silently told us to leave. “How dare you tellmeI am disgracing his memory whenyouallow his murderer into his memorial!”
“I have told you before; Anton brought his death on himself. You know the laws. You do not kill someone else’s mate. It did not matter that he was human.”
“They are food, Persephone. Nothing more. The fact that your daughter fell in love with a cow should not have condemned…” I don’t know what else she was going to say because her words were cut off as I slammed her against the wall with such speed she never saw me coming and with such force that the brick wall dented in. Before she recovered, I had her by her throat pinning her to the wall.
“Gabriella!” my mother yelled, but I ignored her. My rage was overwhelming my better judgment.
“Are you really that dense, Ava?” I spoke in a hushed tone, but my words were drenched in the animosity I felt towards her. “You fight for a dead man that wouldn’t even be mourning you if your roles were reversed.”
“That’s not true,” her words constricted by the force of me hand. “Let go of me!”
“It is true. He desired me. He made it abundantly clear to everyone. He didn’t care that it would hurt you. He used you. And when I refused him, he came after the man I loved out of spite. That is the man you are fighting for, not the romanced version you’ve made up inside your head. The craziest part is, that if Iwerehim, I’d rip your head off for just insulting my mate.” I released her. Her knees gave out landing her on the ground with a thump. Her hand went to her throat as she coughed. “But I’m not a monster.” I took a step back watching Ava try to right herself. “You’re not even worth it. I refuse to have your blood on my hands over something so petty as misguided grief.” I turned and walked away. I approached Grayson who pulled me against him and led me from the room.
“I am not misguided,” she coughed. “You are, if you think I will ever stop until I find justice,” her words trailed after us.
I stood on the third floor taking deep breaths with my head buried against Grayson’s chest; his arms were gently wrapped around me. My body shook with the rage I was struggling to contain. Part of me had wanted to kill Ava. It would have eliminated any potential threat she posed, but I couldn’t. Anton had deserved death over what he had done, but Ava had only made threats. If I killed her for just words, it made me no better than Anton.
“There you are, Gabriella,” my mother called making her way to me. “So you needed to know something about your father?”
Warmth spread deep into my stomach as fingers strummed across my hip. Hot breath whispered against my neck before being replaced by soft, gentle lips. I moaned leaning into the pleasure.
“Are you awake?” Grayson whispered softly against my neck then carefully nipped at it.
“Getting there,” I mumbled sleepily.
“Good.” Grayson pulled the sheet down my bare skin that was suddenly assaulted by cold air. I gasped before he covered my body with his and settled between my thighs. His lips fell against mine with a groan.
It had been three weeks since our visit to the nest and the talk with my mother. Grayson knew I was becoming frustrated with our lack of results. My mother had explained that she left my father in Seattle, but after several phone calls to all the local nests, there wasn’t even a hint of his whereabouts. Although I couldn’t help but feel she wasn’t being completely forthcoming. I didn’t know why, but I believed she was hiding something. It might have had something to do with her rapid heart rate every time we spoke about my father.
Grayson’s hand glided up my thigh, over my hip and up the side of my body before coming to rest on my breast. He rolled my nipple between his thumb and forefinger causing my back to arch into him and my head to tilt back. Lowering his head he claimed the other peak with his mouth sending a rush of erotic sensation between my thighs. I shifted my hips trying to coax him to the place I most desired, but he wasn’t having any of it. His heavy body pinned me down not allowing me to move.
He was now almost my level of strength, but my position had me at a disadvantage. I had never heard about anything like him before. No matter the creator, all new vampires started off at close to the same level of strength. Grayson was different. He was powerful enough that he’d have no problem taking on one as old as my mother or even one as old as what Anton had been. It gave me a little peace of mind knowing that Ava would be no challenge to him. I was anxious with her out there and knew that if something happened to Grayson because I chose to let her live, I’d never forgive myself, but until she actually did something, I couldn’t hurt her. I wouldn’t become Anton, simply killing because it was convenient.
