Page 17 of Princess Redeemed
“I already know,” I choke out.
“Do you?Then you know that you and Victor Rogan?—”
“Don’t say his name.”I swallow back another cough.
“I’ll say more than his name.I know the truth.I know who cut out the hearts of those two vampires after Rogan killed them.It wasn’t you, Hannah.”
I close my eyes.He thinks he’s going to surprise me with my father’s treachery.Joke’s on him.I already know how treacherous my father is.I know how treacherous my stepfather is too.
“Rest,” he says.“When you’re stronger, I have a lot to tell you.But in the meantime…”
Something nuzzles my neck, and my vision goes blurry.I’m floating.I think.Or I’m dreaming.
“Hannah…” A soft hand touches my cheek.
I open my eyes, but I don’t jerk back upward.Instead, I squint, because I can’t possibly be seeing what’s there.
A beautiful face.A resigned face.A face not at all like my own, as I resemble my father.Except for the dimples.Those I got from her.
From my mother.
How can she be here?In the ether?In the demons’ lair?
How can shenotbe here?She’s his fucking wife.
I close my eyes again.
Succumbing to sleep.To the green meadow with Victor Rogan.
To complete and utter fantasy.
Rogan claims me, holds me, kisses me.We lie together in the perfect paradise, naked.Were we ever wearing clothes?I don’t know, and when he sinks his cock into me, I don’t care.
I want only Rogan…
Only Rogan…
The hunger then.The snap of my cuspids.
I sink my teeth into his neck and drink.
10
But…nothing.
No blood flows into me.
No nourishing elixir sustains me.
No—
My eyes pop open.
The blurred image is still there.I inhale.It’s her.Short brown hair, green eyes, pretty round face, and lips that no longer smile.
She smells like Chanel no.5 and fresh lemon-raisin bread—the aroma of my youth.
“Mom?”I manage.
