“No, but I can,” I blurted before I could stop myself. “And I’d really like to wake up tomorrow morning.”
Simultaneously, Trent and Jax whipped around to stare at me.
“What?” I asked self-consciously. Had I said something wrong? Was it not acceptable to joke about my mortality while they teased about their immortality? That didn’t seem fair.
“Are we gonna do this or not?” Trent moved his arm so it was around my shoulders, turned me toward the kitchen, then led me out to the backyard.
Last time I was here, we hadn’t left the kitchen or living room, so I was excited to see the rest of his house. I stepped outside, surprised by the spacious, lush yard. It was like I’d stepped into another world or something with all the green grass and large trees and colorful flowers.
“The four wheelers are in the pole barn.” Trent nodded toward the large, metal building several feet away. As we approached, a man walked out of the barn. “That’s Dad,” Trent said.
Now that I wasn’t at a funeral and blindsided by seeing Sean, I was able to take a moment to study him. He was tall, at least six foot four, with similar striking good looks as Trent. And he didn’t appear to be much older than Trent, either. My steps faltered, and I stared at him in disbelief. I knew vampires didn’t age, and I had seen this man before, so I wasn’t sure why the sight of him—young and vibrant—shocked me.
“Chloe,” he said, his voice melodic. “It’s so nice to officially meet you.” He stopped in front of me, extended his hand, and I reached out to take it. “Sean Halstead.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Halstead.” I hoped my voice was steadier than my hand.
Despite how he looked and his mannerisms, it was hard to forget he’d killed someone—the woman he loved—in cold blood.
He laughed. “It’s just Sean.”
“Oh, right.” My face burned with embarrassment. “Sorry. Uh, yeah, I’m Chloe.”
Behind me, Jax chuckled, and I wanted to turn around and smack him. Didn’t he realize how nervous I was?
Sean kissed the back of my hand and momentarily froze before his expression softened with understanding. He abruptly dropped my hand
What was that all about?
Trent turned his attention to his father. “We’re going to take the four wheelers out. That okay?”
“Sure. Be careful and stay on our property. We don’t need any trouble.”
Trent rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, we know the rules.”
“I know.” Sean put his hand on Trent’s shoulder. “They were for Chloe’s benefit. Not yours.” With that, Sean nodded at me and headed into the house.
I watched him for a few moments, still freaked out by his strange behavior. Trent took my hand and tugged me toward the pole barn. Jax was already inside, claiming his four-wheeler.
Trent offered me a helmet. I took it but noticed he and Jax weren’t wearing one. Then I remembered they didn’t need one. They were practically indestructible. I put on the helmet, then climbed onto the back of the four-wheeler Trent sat on.
“Hang on to me.” Trent started the four-wheeler, revved it up, and then sped out of the barn behind his brother.
The ATV lurched when he took off, and I yelped. Wrapping my arms around him, I held on tightly as he raced to catch up with his brother. If Jax considered this grandma driving, then I’d hate to see what “normal” driving was. They swerved in front of and around each other, screaming to go faster while trying to get each other to have to slow down.
This was all so normal, which was both comforting and disconcerting. I had no idea what vampires did on a daily basis but messing around on ATVs hadn’t even crossed my mind. Seeing Trent in this environment, though, was the best thing I didn’t know to ask for.
“This is crazy!” I laughed, scooting closer and adjusting my hold on him.
Trent flung his head back and laughed. Then he floored it and sped past Jax. I had no idea how far we went, but after a few minutes, Trent slowed, then stopped, shutting off the engine.
“Something wrong?” I let go of him, reluctantly, and flexed my fingers. I removed my helmet.
He climbed off with ease. “Want to drive?”
“What? No.” I shook my head emphatically.
The thought of being in control of something that could go so fast, something that didn’t have a roof or doors was terrifying. What if his brother tried to do all that fancy maneuvering around me? I’d lose control and crash. No thank you.
“Come on.” He motioned for me to move forward. “It’s easy. I’ll show you.” He sat behind me—very closely behind me, closer than I was to him a few moments ago—and put his mouth near my ear. But before he could start my private lesson, Jax skidded to a stop near us.
His eyes were bright with excitement. It was the first time I’d ever seen him happy. Every other time I’d seen him, he was scowling—usually at me or because of me.
“Good idea. Let your girlfriend drive. Maybe then you’ll actually be able to keep up.” Jax smirked.
Trent proudly raised his middle finger at his brother. A pang of some unnamed emotion shot through me. Envy that they had each other, that they had a sibling bond I would never fully understand or experience. Whatever bond I’d been building with Abby had abruptly ended, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever get it back. I wasn’t sure I wanted it back after the things she’d said to me.
“You want to learn how to drive that, let me show you.” Jax moved like he was going to get off his four-wheeler.
“Don’t even think about it.” Trent pointed at Jax, obvious amusement in his voice. “All right, Chloe.” Trent directed his attention back to me. “Push this button here to turn it on.”
I did as he said, and the ATV roared to life. My heart jumped in my chest. Behind me, Trent chuckled softly. I didn’t know what he found so amusing.
“Okay, grab the handlebars.” He placed his hands over mine, and I sighed at how perfect his touch was. “Make sure you hold on tight, okay?”
“Okay.” I licked my lips and tried to prepare myself for whatever would happen next.
Trent moved his thumb over and pressed another button. He released my hands at the same time the ATV lurched forward, and I screamed, letting go of the handlebars. My helmet rolled off my lap and onto the ground.
“Hold on,” he shouted, and we both grabbed for the handlebars at the same time.
My hands now covered his. He slowly let off the gas and came to a stop before easing his hands out from under mine.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I panicked.”
“It’s okay. Let’s try again. Remember, you’re in control, so don’t be afraid. If you feel like you’re going too fast, let off the gas. And I’ll be right here with you.” His voice was low and patient at my ear.
I nodded, and he kissed my cheek. I relaxed. Knowing Trent was there eased my nerves. I blew out a breath, took hold of the handlebars, and gently pulled the throttle on the gas. The four-wheeler inched forward slowly. This isn’t so bad. I pulled a little harder, and we went faster.
“Good. Now try turning.” Trent moved his hands so they were on my thighs near my hips. His touch was unexpected, and I jerked the handlebars to the right. “Not so hard.” His tone was almost frantic, and he grabbed the handles, correcting my turn. Then he laughed again.
Behind us, Jax was hooting and hollering, shouting jabs at me and Trent. It was all in good fun, and I couldn’t help but laugh, too.
“It’s probably better if you drive,” I said.
“I think that’s a good idea.” He climbed off the ATV, and I scooted back so he could sit in front of me. But instead of sitting, he pinned me with an intense stare. His eyes were brighter than I’d ever seen them, twinkling with mischief and happiness. “It wasn’t so bad for your first try.”
“Yeah, right.” I rolled my eyes.
Smiling, he leaned down and kissed me. I parted my lips, and his tongue hesitantly explored my mouth. There were no images this time, just a tender kiss that
was much too short, leaving me wanting more.
Trent snatched my helmet from the ground and handed it back. “Ready?”
He climbed onto the seat, and I scooted back, flinching. But, of course, his movements were so graceful, he didn’t come close to hitting me when he swung his leg over the seat.
“Hey, we’re heading back to the house,” he shouted over his shoulder at his brother.
Then we took off at a killer speed. I wrapped my arms around his stomach and clung to him, wishing this day would never end.
CHAPTER THIRTY:
Transformation
“YOUR HOUSE IS AMAZING,” I SAID to Trent.
He’d given me a full tour, including the rooms in the basement his father had closed up years ago. Most of them were bedrooms void of furniture, except for the room that appeared to have been an office or library at one time. And then there was the room where they’d kept Hannah locked up.
A shiver wiggled down my spine when we stepped into the room. A mattress and box spring sat in the corner, complete with brightly colored blankets and fluffy pillows. Matching white furniture—dresser, nightstand, vanity, and a desk—was arranged neatly in the room. It was clean and well-kept—strong evidence that Jax still loved her and missed her. My heart ached for his loss. Losing Mom had the power to destroy me, but to have heightened emotions and lose the love of my life? I hugged myself, fighting off a sudden chill.
Trent wrapped his arm around me and tugged me to his side. “We tried to make her as comfortable as possible. Jax thought if she had normal things, it would help.”
I did some quick math in my head. “If you only come back here after everyone who could possibly know you is… gone.” I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat. “Why did you keep her here? The people who were here back then are probably still alive. Aren’t you worried about someone recognizing you?”
He shook his head. “She wasn’t from around here, so we didn’t have to worry about anyone knowing her. And we brought her here in the middle of the night when no one would see us. Jax and I would take turns watching her, never leaving or allowing ourselves to be seen.” He sighed. “We needed some place safe and secluded.”
I nodded. “How long was she a vampire before…?” I couldn’t make myself say the words.
“Fifteen years.”
I gasped. “She spent fifteen years locked in this room?” The mere thought of that was torture. I couldn’t imagine how Hannah must’ve felt.
“On and off.” He held me closer and kissed the top of my head. “We did everything we could to help her, to keep her as happy as possible. But she was a danger to everyone. Letting her out wasn’t an option.”
My stomach recoiled, and I took a deep breath, pushing down the rising wave of nausea. “How did she die? I mean, when you… how did you…?” My tongue felt like it was coated in cotton balls, making it impossible for me to speak intelligently.
He cringed. “Is that really what you want to know?”
No. Yet I couldn’t stop myself from nodding.
“There are only three ways to kill a vampire. Removing or staking the heart, beheading, or fire.”
I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing until I was sure I could respond without screaming and running away. “Oh.” I no longer wanted or needed to know how he’d killed Hannah. It didn’t matter.
“There’s still one very important question you haven’t asked me yet.” He guided me out of the room, shutting off the lights and closing the door behind us. “Aren’t you curious?” He led me to the final room at the end of the hall.
I knew what question he was talking about, and while I was curious, I’d purposely avoided asking because what was the point? I didn’t want to become a vampire, so why bother asking how it happened? It would only lead to hurting Trent’s feelings, and that was the very last thing I wanted to do.
He flung open the door and ushered me inside. This room was still in use—it was an office. An oversize mahogany desk sat in the center with bookshelves lining the wall behind it. Newspaper clippings and drawings of very intricate family trees were plastered on the other three walls.
“This is where Sean keeps all the research he’s gathered about the Zoya and our families. He’s tireless about finding a way to break the curse.” Trent stood near the door as I wandered around the room. It would take months just to read everything hanging on the walls.
“Is he close to finding a cure?”
“No. Every new lead is another dead end.” There was too much sadness and regret in his voice.
I wanted to do or say something to make this better for him, to take away his pain and loneliness. “I’m sorry.” I returned to where he stood, slipped my arms around his waist, and rested my head on his chest.
He enveloped me in a hug. We stood there for a long while and held each other, neither of us speaking. As much as I would have loved to stay there with him like that, it was time to get an answer to the question I’d been avoiding. I started to move away when Trent yanked me back to him, his lips landing on mine.
My eyes fluttered closed, and I kissed him deeply, wondering how many more moments like this we’d have. He flexed his fingers, then flattened his palm against my back, branding me with his touch. In that moment, I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that I was meant to be with Trent. There would never be anyone else—that fact was so clear and strong in my mind it knocked the breath from me. I put my hands on his chest and clutched his shirt between my fingers so he couldn’t get away, so that I knew this was real.
His lips were soft, his arms strong. It was the safest I’d felt since losing Mom, and I wanted to cling to him, to stay in this moment and forget all about the pain and loss I’d suffered recently. Trent made the idea of facing the future without my mom bearable, like I would survive without her even though there were days I swore I never would.
Trent pulled me closer. I moved my hands up to his neck and let my fingers splay in his silky hair. A feeling of raw, unhindered love crashed over me, and I couldn’t stop from whimpering against his lips. Groaning, he abruptly ended the kiss. My chest heaved with labored breaths, and I licked my tingling bottom lip.
“Chloe,” he whispered, trailing his finger delicately down the side of my face.
My heart stopped at the emotion in his eyes, at the love that was so evident in his expression. Had he always looked at me like that? Or was I just finally noticing because I only now realized how I felt about him?
I loved Trent.
I loved a vampire.
I was hopelessly in love with a guy I had no future with.
Tears pricked behind my eyes, and my throat burned with the effort of holding them back. “Tell me how a person becomes a vampire.”
He placed a lingering kiss to my forehead, took my hand, and led me back upstairs to the living room. I expected to find Jax and Sean in there, but the room was empty. We went to the couch and sat.
“So, you want to know how to become a vampire?”
Not really, but I had a feeling it was important to him that I knew.
“The transformation process is extremely dangerous,” he said.
I raised a brow. “Isn’t everything about you dangerous?”
He smirked. “There is no margin for error.” Trent lifted my legs and draped them over his lap so I sat awkwardly with my back against the arm of the couch. But when I attempted to move and sit up, he held me in place. “Trying to get away?”
I laughed and settled back, allowing myself to relax. “No.”
“Good, because I’m not willing to let you go so easily anymore.” He leaned over, his body almost on top of mine, and then he kissed me again.
I closed my eyes, and when he slid his hand along the side of my neck, I arched toward him. His gentle but firm touch sent shivers through my body, and I trembled. He pulled me closer, deepening the kiss. Unsure if I’d be hit with the same images and emotions as before, I braced myself, holding back a little so I wouldn’t be overw
helmed. My reluctance was evident, though, because Trent deepened the kiss even further, as if demanding I give him everything I had.
And that’s when everything hit me—every single emotion he felt for me played out in his kiss. Love. Fear. Hope. Then I saw something I’d never seen before—our future. We were together. Married. In love. The only thing I could feel was pure joy. We were together and happy and… free. I couldn’t explain it, but a huge weight was lifted from both our shoulders, like we had no worries in the world. It was amazing, and I wanted to clutch this feeling to my chest and never let it go. I squeezed my eyes shut tighter, desperate to hold on a little longer.
He left my mouth and placed heated kisses along my jaw, and then his lips were on my neck. I held my breath, waiting for what he’d do next.
“It starts right here.” He puckered his lips against my heated, sensitive skin. “A single bite to puncture the carotid artery.”
My pulse raced, and he smiled against my neck. I didn’t see the humor of the situation. I was in a very vulnerable position, and he could end my life before I could even think about screaming for help.
“Relax, Chloe. I’m not going to hurt you.” He kissed my neck again. His hand landed on my hip, and he squeezed gently, almost like he was molding my body to fit his.
“What happens next?” I whispered, my voice raspy.
“For us, the bite is effortless. Smooth. It’s like sinking your teeth into butter.” He continued to tease my neck with tiny kisses. “But for you…” Pausing long enough to inhale, he continued. “It’s sharp and painful, like millions of bee stings. And even though you know it’s coming, you can’t really prepare for it.” His breath was warm against my neck, but I was chilled to my core. “Your body goes into shock, paralyzing you. You can’t move.” He dragged his lips to my throat, and I instinctively tilted my head back. “You can’t scream.”
He kissed the corner of my mouth, and when he didn’t kiss me fully, I pouted. He’d obviously used some of his vampire mojo on me because I wasn’t normally so needy. But currently, my body tingled with the desire to be closer to him, to have him shower me with kisses and attention. I wasn’t sure I liked feeling this way—it was too all-consuming.
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