Page 91 of Halfblood Deceived

Being among Zeydan and his family, as well as Aylana, Sebastian, and Kerian, made her feel painfully uncomfortable.

Not because of the supernaturals’ powerful presence. They were kind to her, extremely so without being suffocating, patronizing or hypocritical. They were genuinely good people with fangs, claws, magic, and an appetite for blood. The alleged lack of empathy and decency that made supernatural people monsters in her eyes for so long was nowhere to be seen. A product of her fear that was based on the disgusting lies she had been fed her entire life.

Aella could see Zeydan talking with Kerian from the corner of her eye. His body heat was bleeding toward her. She gave a peek at Luce, who was giggling as her father and Mari held one of their usual glaring contests. Evan was talking with Aylana and Sebastian, his amber eyes reflecting delight.

Gabby and Lex were telling Kamilla and Diana about their accidental pregnancy without an ounce of shame. Apparently, they had run out of their contraceptive potions and neither wanted to take five minutes to ask Mari for more. And they didn’t think just one time without the potion would result in pregnancy. Vampire females’ fertility was sporadic, according to Gabby. And even more so if they were purebloods.

“She was a surprise,” Gabby said, rubbing her belly. “But a wonderful one.”

Lex gave an adoring look at his wife. “The best surprise.”

“Have you thought about who will assist you with the delivery?” Kamilla asked with a soft smile.

“I will,” Mari said, breaking off her glaring contest with Andreas. “I’ve assisted fey before, and those births are far trickier. You vamps pop out those children without a hitch most times. Zeydan will be there to feed Gabby if there are any complications since vampire blood helps vampires heal faster than any other. And so far, despite the injuries of a few days ago, the little bugger keeps growing perfectly.”

Lex scowled at Mari. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t call my daughter a little bugger, Mari.”

“Yeah, wait until the little bugger is born and screams her lungs out for the first months of her life,” Evan agreed. “She has to earn the title.”

Luce hummed thoughtfully. “Dad, did I scream my lungs out when I was a baby?”

Andreas’ smile was full of melancholy. His brown eyes reflected so much joy but also heartbreaking, mournful pain. “No. You rarely cried. You just stared at me and your mum with so much intelligence and calmness and made noises as if you wanted to talk since the first day you were born.” He swallowed, mostly controlling his expression. “It was a tad disturbing.”

Luce lifted her chin imperiously, a habit Aella had the feeling she’d gotten from Evan. “You don’t mean that.”

Andreas kissed the top of her head. “I don’t, my beautiful girl.”

Luce smiled.

Aella wanted to run.

She wanted to belong with them somehow as well.

But that was impossible.

The acidic guilt stirring in her stomach was not abating, and she didn’t know if it ever would.

How many times had the blood in Micah’s clothes belonged to an innocent child like Luce?

How many times had she prayed to God, asking for the gargoyles to be victorious since she was little? How many times had she felt relieved and even happy that they had killed the ‘evil vampires?’

Aella didn’t deserve to share a meal with them.

She didn’t want to be a nuisance to her sister either, but what other option did she have? None.

Diana gave her a reassuring, knowing look, and Aella felt some of her tension uncoil.

She would leave when dinner was over.

* * *

“You are always welcome here,” Kamilla said to Aella, her topaz eyes earnest, hands warm as always.

Aella, Diana, and Kamilla were in the massive garage of the mansion. It was full of all kinds of cars—SUVs, convertibles, simple sedans, and even a limousine. Kamilla had lent Diana a sedan.

Aella nodded, knowing Kamilla meant it and she might feel offended if Aella blurted out all the reasons why she thought that statement was wrong. “Would you please tell the others I’m grateful for their kindness?” Even though I don’t deserve it, she mentally added.

Kamilla smiled and squeezed Aella’s hands before letting her go. “Of course.”

---