Page 8 of His True Beloved

“There was trial and error.” Rowan lifted his hand, waving it about. “He had to learn how to take in the life that she created before him. The children she had, the husband she left, she basically had to cheat on the poor bastard, but she knew the bond she felt. It was meant to be.” Rowan smiled, waving at Adaline, who blew a kiss his way. Certainly, she was born from a different era, the way she dressed, how she carried herself, and the delicate ways she had placed the tea cups on a sterling silver tray.

Single human women laid out on the lawn, tanning their skin, not caring if the sun reeked damage on their bodies. Humans, vampires, and children sat on blankets and ate lunches being held by their biological parents. Everyone was happy, at least the younger ones were.

“That is why I created this place,” Rowan interrupted. “That poor soul put himself to all that trouble, worried because his mate was to be fragile, not feel a bond, but she was far from it. She was strong.” He hummed.

“The entire vampire race owes you then,” I mused. Rowan didn’t say anything. He continued to watch along the horizon of trees. Breathing deeply the deep scents of the forest. This place was certainly secluded, but the paved drive to the west made me realize that civilization was close by.

Giggles filled the air. “What of the young children while their parents get used to their change? Don’t they go through blood lust like many vampire adolescents?” I looked at one child that pointed to his mother’s red eyes. Rowan sighed, leaning back on the bench.

“It takes at least a year for the parents to control their thirst. The night and the moon of Earth make it worse. The children stay in the dormitory building over there.” Rowan pointed to a large home similar in size to the plantation house. “Toy rooms, kitchens, nannies of both human and vampires stay there twenty-four seven to take care of them. Blood lust can be difficult for a newly changed parent, and it is our job to keep their children safe. So, they are separated and given supervised time each day with their children.”

Rowan grabbed my shoulder as I stayed slumped over in my seat. “I know your story.” Rowan gave a grim smile. My eyes diverted from him, now staring into the white gravel below us. “I know what happened.” I ground my teeth together, feeling the scape of my fangs against my jaw.

“I prefer not to talk about it,” I snapped. Because I failed her, I didn’t get there in time. I didn’t do what a mate was supposed to do, claim her, take her, make her mine. I could have prevented it all instead of doing it some traditional way her coven wanted. They wanted me to take her the next day, prolonging the pull to make the bond supposedly stronger.

“Hey,” Rowan’s hand squeezed my shoulder. I flinched.

“Fate will lead you to her. Even the gods speak of fate and follow their ways. With your hunk of junk broken down in the middle of my driveway and no way starting again, I’m pretty sure that’s a good sign.” I scoffed, rubbing my hands down my face.

It had been five hundred some years since I lost her. I wasn’t about to get my hopes up now. As much as the lost princess told me that a mate was in my future, I found it hard to believe.

“Fate? This same fate that led you to Adaline after fifteen years of running?” I smirked, changing his line of thought. I winked at him. Rowan chuckled, taking his hand from my shoulder. How he let her go, even if she was a human, still floored me. Race wasn’t an issue. If the goddess deemed it so, I don’t think I would have had any hesitation.

“Aye, you picked up on that, didn’t you?” Shaking my head, I smiled. “Kind of hard not to with the way you look at her.” Rowan smiled, his shoulders slumping.

“I was a fool for many years. Maybe I was punishing myself. At least she is here now.” Young adults that played with the football earlier tossed it back and forth on the lawn. Women followed them, ogling them.

My unbeating heart ached, watching how happy everyone was. I wanted that, to be happy. I wanted to protect a mate, no longer be alone, and let my heart beat for the one that was destined for me.

“You know, every human that had children before their beloveds… found a mate either here or out there.” I paused my wallowing, my head turning to Rowan. He chuckled like it was some secret. “It’s true. Maybe she’s even here waiting for you. Some humans have stayed, hoping to find their beloved to the vampires that are allowed to come to visit in hope…” Rowan trailed, now standing to brush off his suit. “Just a thought to think about,” he muttered.

My body soared.Maybe she could be here, but that would be so easy.“Take your time, Sebastian. I know you are eager. There are some humans that don’t want to have anything to do with it.” His gaze turned hard. “Such as that group over there.” His head tilted to the group of humans with the football.

“I’m trying to get them to see we are not monsters, but they huddle themselves together like glue. Keeping them to themselves. Not willing to see. At least the newest girl isn’t there. She’s been too busy hanging out on the front lawn of her mother’s new home.” His eyes softened. “I feel bad for her, thrown into all this without warning. Her mother lived a lonely life and has grasped the bond tightly, which is great for her mate, but not so much for her daughter to adjust.”

Rowan shook off his thought, now leading me back to the plantation-style home. “Come, I’ll show you your room. You will stay with us. Only couples get the houses while visitors get to deal with me every day.” He patted my back as he led me back down the walkway. A girl sat on the porch of the light blue house, her long blonde hair back to me, drawing in a notebook.

“That’s the girl?” I muttered, watching her. My body stopped on its own accord, watching her intently. How sad and lonely she must have felt to be thrown into all of this. Rowan only nodded. The breeze blowing her hair in the opposite direction had me jealous that some other vampires could smell her smell. Deep inside me, something stirred, but Rowan grabbed my arm.

“She doesn’t take kindly to vampires right now; she needs some time. You will get your chance to meet all the women.” Forcing myself to step away, I stepped up the plantation steps, my head still turning to the blonde that was now leaving the home’s front porch. Her long blonde hair covered her face as she scurried away.

Rowan only smirked, showing me to my room.

Chapter 5

Christine

“I’msorry,Chrissy.Youcan’t come into today.” I ground my teeth together, wanting to stomp around like an adolescent child. This was insane. Less than two days after moving here, Mom was bitten, and I haven’t seen her since.

A whole week had gone by, and I could only stare at them through the window if I was lucky. Apparently, my human blood reeked, and it could make her unmanageable. Justin said she was fighting it, that the thought of drinking blood was grotesque. Who could blame her? It sounded gross, but that was who she was now. She had to drink, but the human part of her mind was still there.

“Can I just give her a hug?” I almost pleaded. He stood at the door, blocking the way for me to catch a glimpse of her. On occasion, she slipped by the window, and I saw changes in her appearance. She looked… good. Her hair had more bounce, her wrinkles had gone, hell, she looked almost just like me. Except I was a darker blonde and had some of my sperm donor’s height.

My pleading look had Justin waver. He looked back to the living room. He kept the curtains closed most of the time and felt terrible when he saw me sitting on the bench outside. Mom’s skin would be sensitive for at least the first few years. Something about the earth’s sun was far brighter than their home realm.

Yeah, home realm. A place called Bergarian, where other supernatural creatures lived and didn’t have to hide like they did on Earth. It was like an alien planet that was connected together by a mirror-like portal. There were books on the shelves in the home where I stayed with other humans whose parents were going through the change.

It all looked interesting, but my concentration was on my mom. Although, right now, she was concentrating on her mate. I couldn’t help but be worried for her. She knew the guy—I mean, vampire—for two weeks and automatically felt like she should change her body into something else because she supposedly loved him.

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