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He walked up to her and grabbed her wrist. She closed her eyes, and his teeth reached for her skin.

“The fuck!” I screamed.

“Caleb, it’s okay,” she said, holding up her hand to stop me from intervening.

The vampire bit down, and Mercy winced but relaxed as Thomas drank from her. He sucked her blood for about ten seconds and let go. He scrunched up his nose and looked like he was about to throw up.

“It’s okay,” she said. “Try to hold it in.” The man blinked a few times and took a heavy breath.

“Wow.” Thomas looked at her, and a tear formed in the corner of his eye, slowly dripping down his cheek. “Seven hundred and sixty-five years,” he said. “That’s how long I’ve been undead. I thought I’d never be free from my bloodlust.”

“Do you feel it?” she asked him.

He nodded with a smile, pressing a hand to his chest.

“I don’t know where your soul has been. I only know that whatever my blood can do, it somehow brings it back,” Mercy explained.

“Thank you,” he said as he turned to us. “I don’t know how to explain this feeling. It feels like a stream of warm water entered my body while igniting every emotion like love, desire, and empathy that was taken from me.” He looked up at Mercy. “Good luck to you, child.”

Thomas walked out but had his hands in front of him, moving his fingers around. It was just like we had witnessed several times since Mercy’s Awakening. It was a newly turned human from a vampire, shocked at the sudden change in their body and feeling the blood rushing through their veins again. It was a surreal moment, and no matter how much I hated seeing them touch her and bite down into her flesh, it was a beautiful moment for everyone to witness what she could do.

Mercy smiled with pride and turned to her father. “Roland is human, too, Father. With the two of you returning to your powers, we can all be a family again and work together.” She turned away from Alexander and walked up to me. “I’m sorry for using my magic on you yesterday. I lost control … again. I’m also sorry I left without letting anyone know where I was going.” She wrapped her fingers around mine and squeezed. “I haven’t abandoned the coven, Caleb. But I knew you wouldn’t let me come here alone. I had to be alone for him to hear me out. I’m safe with him and plan to stay with him for a little while.”

“Out of the fucking question,” I snarled.

“This isn’t up to you, Caleb!” she snapped.

“Why would you stay with him?”

“He’s going to teach me how to control my powers. I don’t know what’s going on with me, but whenever I get upset, I lose all control. My father knows more about my powers than everyone here combined. I needhishelp. And I need you to be safe.”

I knew she was losing control, but if anyone could help her, we could. I felt fucking helpless. “I won’t be able to focus knowing you’re here. With Alexander being human now, shouldn’t you be leaving this lair as soon as you can?”

“My father has a home in Newport. That’s where we’ll be crashing from now on. It’s close to Abigail’s mansion, and I’ll gladly give you the address. We’re heading there after my father gathers his personal belongings at the club.” She gently placed her hand on my arm. “See what you can find out about the homeless man’s body. Once I have more control over what is happening to me, I’ll come back.”

Joel had his arms folded and sauntered up to Alexander. “And who will run this place after you leave? Won’t they wonder what happened to you and go on a killing spree? I’ve heard the stories of what your clan does to their victims.”

“Don’t believe everything you hear. This clan hasn’t always been on their best behavior, true, but I’ve seen worse from the other groups. I’ll help you find out who from the clan is responsible for the deaths in your hometown, but I’m not going to worry about who’s taking over. I’ll keep Mercy safe. I swear to you.”

His promise meant shit to me. I didn’t trust him. I didn’t like any of this, but I had no control over her. As much as I tried, I never had.

The hardest part about all this was that she didn’tneedme. I needed her, but she would never need me other than to balance our coven. She could take care of herself. Her powers were stronger than mine.

I walked up to Mercy and placed the tip of my fingers under her chin. She looked directly into my eyes. My heart was aching, but I had to let her go. Centuries of love and heartache came crashing down on me all at once. There was only one way this would end, and it wasn’t with her in my arms again.

“I’m letting you go,” I said, my heart feeling as if someone had ripped it out of my chest.

“Thank you,” she said. “As I said, I’ll be safe with my father.”

I shook my head. “No, I mean, I’m letting yougo.”

Her face went still as I slowly inched forward, and when I saw she wasn’t resisting, I pressed my lips to hers. The kiss was tender and short, and then I released her. “You were right about taking your feelings away. I wish I could do that for myself with you. But I don’t have the power to do it.”

Her face was still unmoved as I walked away, Joel and Lily following behind me. I didn’t know if anyone really knew what to say at that moment. All I knew was that I was letting my heart move on for the first time since she and I were teenagers, in a life that ended hundreds of years ago.

CHAPTER 12

Mercy

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