Page 28 of First Bite
Chapter Ten
Watching the sunrise was not on my agenda for the day, but it happened because by the time I got myself under control and out of the shower, the sun was peaking up over the horizon. It was stunning to watch the skies lighten, and the beams of gold shoot up into the cloudless sky and reflect over the ocean.
The rolling ocean waters sparkled and glittered out beyond the surf that rolled into the shore. This was vastly different from the mostly-gloomy shore on the Oregon Coast. Both were beautiful in their own way, but I’d never seen anything like this.
“Yeah?” I muttered after I heard a soft knock on my door.
“It’s Braden.”
“Come in.”
I heard the door creak open as I stood in my trance-like state, staring at the beauty unfolding before my eyes.
“Enjoying the sunrise?” he asked as he walked up behind me and tenderly massage my back. “Listen, we didn’t mean to embarrass you like that earlier. It was more or less meant to tease Cole since he’s had a stick up his ass since Enzo’s collectors came after you.”
I turned to face him and was struck, once again, by his perfection. I had missed him terribly, and I didn’t realize it until now.
“I’m glad you guys are safe. Maybe now I can hear all about what the hell is going on and why we’re on a tropical island across the world.”
“Let me guess?” he smirked. “Cole was too busy trying to find answers to tell you anything?”
“Pretty much. I just trusted it was all for the best, and whatever changed overnight at that house would eventually be revealed when you guys were safe.” I smiled at him. “Even though Cole and I were otherwise engaged when you came home, trust me when I tell you I’ve been worried about you guys.”
Braden grinned. “Let me fill you in on some things we learned.”
“Go ahead.” I mentally braced myself. “What’s the deal? My mom’s already Enzo’s newest Life Blood, my dad’s a witch or whatever. What happened now?”
“Well, yes, we found out that your mom being with Enzo is sort of a good and bad thing.”
“The good?” I asked in shock. “What the hellgoodcould possibly come out of my mom being one of that psychopath’s Life Bloods?”
“We’re certain now that Enzo believes she’s the last Life Blood he’s been looking for; although, his collectors still have orders to keep scouring the globe for any Life Blood they might have missed. In Enzo’s mind, being the direct descendant of the witch who created all the Life Bloods, he feels he’s got the one he needs.”
“Really?” I frowned. “He’s that stupid? They all think my mother had no kids?”
Braden’s face grew dark, “The fact that your mother lived with the Grishon coven when she was younger—well, he knew she couldn’t procreate with vampires.”
“What’s with the pissed off expression then? You look like you’re about to rip someone’s head off.”
“Because your father wasn’t a warlock. We were wrong to assume that, and I’m sorry we even mentioned it.”
“What?” my eyes widened. “Well, makes sense as to why Cole’s been quiet about everything.”
“We had to be sure about who your real father is. We still only have an assumption, but it makes sense. We just don’t want to keep fucking with your mind until we start getting facts.”
“It’s fucking with my mind when you all disappear, we relocate here like someone’s on our ass, and then Cole doesn’t tell me shit. So start talking. Please,” I said, trying not to yell in frustration.
Braden nodded. “We’re sure your father wasn’t human, and against all the odds, we believe he was…” he paused and pinched his lips.
“Was? He was what?” He had my attention now. “A fuckingvampire?” My voice rose at least ten octaves.
Braden sighed. “It’s impossible, I know. But maybe anything is possible with the particular Life Blood you, your mom, and your ancestors before you are.”
“Fuck!” I pulled my knees into my chest. “So I could get pregnant, or I couldbepregnant.” I gripped my forehead, “Holy shit.”
“Listen, Ellie, we can’t get a human pregnant. We can only procreate with other born vampires.”
“Youjust saidthat you think a vampire might’ve been the one to get my mom pregnant because we’re descended from that witch!”
