Page 21 of Wynter's Bite

Chapter Nine

Bethany’s breath fled her body. That was the last thing she’d expected him to say. “What?” she said dumbly even as she stared at those impossibly sharp teeth, visible proof of his words.

“I said I am a vampire.” Justus repeated and stepped back, hands open and withdrawn as if to reassure her that he wouldn’t pounce. “Do not worry, though. I am not a living corpse like the legends say. But I do have to drink blood to survive and I cannot go out in daylight lest the sun burn me to a cinder.”

“Which is why you could not pay me a call during the day,” she whispered, unsure of whether or not she should run. Awe mingled with her trepidation. Never had she imagined that such things as vampires could be real.

“Yes.” Justus cocked his head to the side, his green eyes searching hers. “Are you frightened?”

The deep sorrow on his face wrenched her heart. “Only a little. But mostly I am shocked. It is not at all what I expected. Did you lure me out here to drink my blood?”

“No!” His vehement tone rang with truth. “I asked you to come so I could declare myself, but to do that, I also had to tell you the truth about what I am.”

“I understand.” His promise that he wouldn’t hurt her emboldened her to take a few steps closer to him. “Wasn’t it dangerous to do tell me?”

“Yes. It is forbidden to reveal ourselves to mortals.” Justus held her gaze and took a deep breath before he continued. “Unless we offer to Change them.”

The full meaning of his words slammed into her chest like a hammer. “You want to make me into a vampire?”

He nodded. “For us to wed, I would have to.”

That made sense, but... “What if I do not wish to become a vampire?” And what would it mean for her if she did?

He flinched at her words before emitting a grievous sigh. “Then I would banish your memory of this night and we would have to never speak again, for your safety as well as my own.”

“You wouldn’t see me anymore?” A hollow ache formed in her heart at the thought. “Even though you love me?”

“Because I love you,” he said firmly, the words warming her like a balm. “I could never place you in danger.”

“And I love you.” The truth remained, despite their troubling circumstances.

His eyes widened. “Even after I told you what I am?”

The vulnerability in his voice undid her. In that moment, she knew she would walk through fire to be at his side.

“Yes.” Slowly she stepped even closer to him, until their bodies were only inches apart. “You’ve always been kind to me, and I still believe you wouldn’t hurt me.”

With utmost gentleness, his hands grasped her shoulders. “You are a miracle, Bethany Mead.”

Remembering the dire circumstances looming over their love, Bethany searched his face and asked, “Do you kill the people whose blood you drink?”

“Never,” he said fervently. “That is forbidden as well. We take no more than a pint from one or two people each evening.”

That put her at ease more than anything. She didn’t know if she could bear it if he was a murderer, much less having to kill anyone herself. Though the thought of drinking blood still made her queasy. “And the sun burns you. What else would I be deprived of?”

“Food, though we can take a few nibbles. Any more though, and we become ill. Same with all drink except for water.” His eyes held hers as he frowned. “And we can never have children.”

No children? To be honest, Bethany hadn’t given any thought to children. She’d just assumed that she would have them, yet regarded the thought of offspring as inevitable rather than something she anticipated. So perhaps she didn’t want them. However, the prospect of not having a choice did rankle.

“Are there any good things about being a vampire?” she asked. Though being with him was what she wanted most in the world, surely being like him wasn’t all unpleasantness.

He nodded. “We never age, and we never fall ill. We can move fast as dragonflies and possess the strength of ten men. We also heal fast when wounded, so very little can kill us.”

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