Page 58 of Stalked

“That vampire had just slaughtered an entire village. Women and children were killed, and bodies were left to rot on the streets. You were protecting humankind, Mercy. You’re a hero.”

It felt better hearing that—but only a little.

“And the woman you killed in my vision? The people you burned alive?”

Caleb closed his eyes tightly and balled his hand into a fist. “Oh, that one andherbloodsucking clan killed my mother, turned my father into one of them, and took your father prisoner.”

I quickly sat up and looked at him in disbelief.

Oh, my God.

He looked so upset as if he were living it all over again. “I was enraged because of what they had done. I had to kill her; make them pay.” His eyes watered, but he wouldn’t allow the tears to fall. This was the first time I had seen Caleb so brokenhearted.

“Why did I try to stop you, then?”

“Because we didn’t know where they were taking your father. You thought if we kept her alive, we could torture her for answers, but I couldn’t stop myself. You hated her just as much as I did, but you wanted me to stop so we could find your father. For that, I’m so sorry, Mercy.”

So, another thing he lied about.

If I hadn’t asked, would Caleb ever have told me about my father from my past life? Would things have been different if my mother hadn’t gone crazy from my magic, and I knew of my Awakening well before now?

I shook my head to myself. No, things don’t change that much.

I sighed. “Did you ever find him? My father?”

“No. We searched, but we couldn’t find your dad.”

The pressure on my chest grew, and I could barely breathe.

Was the father from my past life still out there as a vampire, an immortal … or had they killed him?

The feeling of anxiety tightened in my chest, and I had to steady my breathing, or I was going to pass out. The vampire I killed had murdered children. I did what I had to do.

Right?

I still felt like he was holding something back.

“Is that everything?” I asked nervously.

“There is … one more thing.”

That didn’t surprise me because there was always something else with Caleb that he was keeping from me.

“Your blood is special, Mercy. Especially to a vampire.”

Well, I wasn’t expecting that.

“And byspecial, you mean …?”

“One drink and it’ll allow them to walk in the sun.”

My eyes grew wide.

Jesus.That’s not what I expected to hear.

Caleb saw my expression and shifted in his seat. “Yeah, and once you go through the Awakening, they’ll come after you for a taste.”

I gulped. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?”

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