Page 60 of Claiming Her Vampire

“She was screaming and yelling at me to leave her alone. I’ll never forget the look of fear in her eyes. She used to look at me with such adoration. I had to leave her, to give her time for it to sink in, for her to accept the truth. I was mad and hurt. I went on a killing spree. I woke in the morning with blood covering me, not an inch of skin clean. I got myself together and went to see her. She didn’t answer the door. I stood on the porch begging for her, too. I have never begged anyone before, but I wanted her and my child.

Tears shine in his eyes, but he holds them back. “I broke in the door. I yelled for her, and she didn’t answer. I searched the house and ended up in the bathroom. She was in the tub. Floating in her own blood. She killed herself sometime during the night. She used a knife on her wrists and her stomach. While I was out killing out of sadness and to help me ignore my feelings, she was taking my future away. The cuts on her stomach were deep—she wanted to cut the baby out of her. She must have given up and killed herself and in turn, killed my child.” I wipe the tears from my cheeks. I am overwhelmed with shock and agony for what he went through.

“I wished I would have been able to meet my child. I did the only option left to me. I buried them. I paid for a plot and headstones. I go there every week to sit and talk to them. I express my grief and apologies to them both. I blamed her for a long time. How dare she take that gift from me. Instead, I decided to forgive her; she was in a strange place, and fear and uncertainty pushed her to do the unthinkable.

“I used that experience to change the path I was on. I changed the values that I lived by. I only drank from those who were willing. I didn’t kill them. I only took what I needed and nothing more. That’s when I changed Bash. He believes he convinced me to do it. But I think it was a way for me to escape loneliness. I put my energy into building a legacy in honor of the child I wasn’t able to know.”

He sighs and looks at my anguished face. “My fear was that you would turn away from me once you learned I was a vampire. I have never since let my heart become involved with anyone. I closed myself off from feeling anything but amusement for whoever I saw. With you, it’s different. Not only are you meant for me, but I am also meant for you. The universe doesn’t make mistakes. I had to believe in that in order to tell you what you are to me.”

“Thank you for telling me that. I know it must be difficult to relive it.” I lace my fingers with his. “Can I go to the grave with you?” It must have been the correct thing to say because he scoops me up and hugs me in his lap.

“I would love that. We can wait until it is settled here, and we can go. I would love to introduce you to my child.”

My heart contracts at the pride in his voice. “So we could possibly have a kid?” I ask.

He nods. “Does that upset you?”

“Not at all. I would love to eventually have a baby with lots of black hair and light blue eyes,” I stroke my thumb under his eyes. “They would be so lucky to have such a protective daddy.”

“Thank you. I don’t deserve such a compassionate mate.” He presses our foreheads together. “I don’t want to, but we have to decide what to do about your mom.”

I groan and lift my head. “Do we have to? I thought a better plan would be to lock ourselves in here and have a sex marathon.” He can’t hide his interest, but just when I think he will give in, he snaps out of it.

“That is tempting. But you know we have to deal with this. If she is involved, we can’t let her hurt anyone else.”

“What if it’s not her? I don’t think she would do all those horrible things.”

“Then we move on. Look for the one responsible. I wish we had someone else on the line, but her actions are suspicious. I think we need to set up a trap. Get her to come to you. You are the only one that could get her to admit to what she is doing.”

“You're not going to tell me to stay home where it’s safe,” I say, narrowing my eyes.

“Why would I do that? Maybe if you were human, but now you're a vampire. You have sparks that blow shit up,” he says, confused.

“Thank you. It’s still not sinking in that I can protect myself if I need to. We really need to practice doing that. Right now, all we know is that I can shatter mirrors and tie our hands together.”

“We will. Just be patient. Why don’t you call your mom?”

I ran upstairs to get my phone. I’m anxious to get answers if nothing else. “Alright, what should I say?”

“Ask her if you can meet. If you have to, try to convince her you had a change of heart, and you want to be on her side.”

“Okay,” I take a deep breath and make the call. I listen to it ring. Surprisingly she doesn’t answer. I opt for leaving a voicemail. “Mom, I need to talk to you. I’ve thought over what you said. I want to hear more about your side. Give me a call when you get this.”

I shrug at Ryker and put my phone down.

“Now, we wait. I need to meet with Bash. I’m going to leave you here and invite Ava over. Tristan will stay with you.”

“Are you sure Ava will want to be around me?” I ask, hesitant.

“She does. Besides, you are doing so well.” Ryker hugs me. “Remember, no worries.”

“Alright, but if I suck her dry, it’s your fault.” I scowl and push him back. My face clears as his laughter rings out.

***

I pace back and forth, waiting for Ava to come. I drank again from Ryker and had two bags of blood. I should be good to go. No attacking your best friend, I repeat over and over in my head. I look anxiously at the door. Ryker went down to tell them he was leaving and to come up. It shouldn’t be taking this long.

Maybe I should have called her and invited her myself. It seems childish to send Ryker. She has to forgive me for my behavior. It’s not my fault. It’s not like I have any experience with this shit. Before meeting Ryker, she was the one that knew about the supernatural. I could blame her for not informing me more.

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