Page 81 of The Vampire's Vow

“Or what?”

Dante looks at Seven and then back at me.

“Or, nothing,” he says, tearing the black envelope down the center. “You owe us nothing, love. Our deal is complete. You can return to your old life, if that is what you choose.”

My old life, huh. It seems so long ago now.

Could I really return to it after all this? After what my father did?

Would I regret not choosing these men, as dangerous and terrifying as the life they lead may be?

“What about my parents?” I finally ask.

“She’s too good,” Seven says with a sigh.

“Evi, your parents don’t remember you,” Dante answers. “Seven wiped their minds.”

“Well, I guess that explains why he didn’t recognize me when I saw him walking out with Valentine,” I snort.

Seven and Dante share a look.

“When was this?” Seven asks, his voice hard.

“My first day with him.”

“That fucking bastard,” Seven swears, before anxiously glancing at me. “Sorry, I know he’s your dad and all, but come on. He literally just used you to pay off his debt, and then went straight back to Valentine. I guess it’s true what they say about history repeating itself.”

“Don’t even get me started on that,” Dante exhales.

“Where’s Luci?” I ask as it dawns on me that I haven’t seen or heard from him in a while.

Dante and Seven share a look that has my chest tightening.

“He had to excuse himself.”

“Why?”

“Evi,” Dante starts, his brow furrowing. “Love, he’s reaching the end of his mind. He’s going feral. It’s no longer safe for him to be around you.”

“Now?”

“No, but he doesn’t have much time left.”

“But … I gave him my blood.”

Dante’s eyes sparkle with a strange sort of sadness.

“Blood isn’t what keeps us from going feral, love.”

“So, what he said about … mating?”

“Shit, he actually told you?”

“He said that was one way, but I thought it was just to convince me to give him some of my blood instead.”

“Unfortunately, he was telling the truth,” Dante says. “Except, mating is theonlyway to keep us from going feral.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

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