“And then I drink until your heart slows.” He placed his hand over my heart.
Yeah, my heart wasn’t anywhere near slow right now. It was somewhere between a spooked racehorse and a runaway freight train.
“Just before your heart stops, you drink,” he said.
I stared at him wide-eyed. “Drink what?”
“Vampire blood is the essence of what we are. It gives us immortality, heightens our senses, heals our bodies. Keeps us warm.” He shifted so he was lying beside me on the couch. “The transformation is usually complete after a day or so, once our blood replaces your human blood.”
“That sounds… intense.” I adjusted onto my side so we were facing each other.
He draped his arm over me. “It’s quite intimate, actually.”
I frowned. One word—one name—screamed in my mind. Hannah. He’d changed her. He’d held her and bit her and drank her blood and then given her some of his. He’d been in a very intimate position with the girl his brother loved. The girl Trent had possibly loved, too.
“Well, I suppose that answers my other question,” I said.
“What question is that?”
“Why don’t you have another vampire change someone for you, a vampire who isn’t in your family? Surely, that would bypass the curse, wouldn’t it?”
“Like I said, there is no margin for error. You drink a moment too long, and you’ll end up killing the person instead of changing them. It would have to be someone I trusted implicitly, and there are only two people I trust that much.”
“Your dad and brother.”
He nodded. “Besides, the curse states, “If you find a way around, true death will rain down.” Sean believes that means if we try to find a loophole, the person we’re changing will die permanently. We’re not willing to risk someone’s life to find out if he’s right.”
That made sense, and it eased a few lingering fears I’d had. They weren’t careless with human life.
I fidgeted with the buttons on his polo shirt. “If the transformation process is both dangerous and intimate, why aren’t you near extinction? Seems like there would be more errors than successes.”
He laughed and encouraged me to scoot closer. “There are some vampires who make others simply because they can. They create companions, armies, people to do their dirty work for them. But those are not the type of vampires you want to make deals with.” He brushed my hair from my forehead, his hand lingering on my cheek.
“Isn’t it hard for you to be close to me? Doesn’t my blood make you want to, you know, suck me dry?”
His lips twitched, but he didn’t smile. “Yes and no. Any blood is tempting; it’s just who I am. I can’t control the urge, but I can control how I handle it.” He moved his hand down to settle on my waist. “I’ve been feeding on animals for almost my entire existence. Drinking your blood would be like gorging on a decadent dessert.”
“Almost?” I asked, my voice cracking slightly.
“There was a period of time when Jax and I were on our own. We got mixed up with some bad people, did things we shouldn’t have.” His tone was guarded, and I knew this was something he didn’t want to talk about.
That was fine with me, too. I didn’t want to hear about him feeding on people.
“What about your heightened senses? Does that ever make it hard to… kiss me?” My face flushed, and I kept my head even with his chest, refusing to look at him.
“Hard? Yes, but not in the way you think.” He put his finger under my chin and tilted my head, his gaze piercing. “Every time I touch you or kiss you, it’s like every nerve in my body is electrified, every feeling magnified. It’s like my very skin is alive with energy.” He smiled faintly. “I crave you, Chloe, and that’s the best feeling in the world.”
I knew how I felt every time we kissed; I couldn’t imagine how much more intense it was for him. “That doesn’t sound hard at all.”
“It’s not. The hard part is controlling myself. Because everything feels so incredible, I never want to stop.”
“Oh.” I closed the distance between us, my lips finding his. “I don’t want to stop, either,” I whispered.
Trent groaned, the sound deep and rumbly, and he somehow managed to pull me even closer. He kissed me hard, and my body came alive. Desire slammed into me as I lost myself in this moment, in the feel of Trent’s mouth on mine. What would it be like if he bit me? It would hurt—he’d already told me that—but he said it was intimate. Arousing.
“Come on!” Jax said. “Can’t you two do that somewhere else?”
The sound of his voice made me jump, and I rolled off the couch as gracefully as I could manage, then stood.
Jax laughed, then he shielded his eyes. “Jesus,” he muttered.
“What?” I asked, my heart still racing and my lips still tingling from Trent’s kisses.
“Your aura,” Jax said, squinting and tilting his head. “It’s so bright.”
My eyebrows shot up. My aura? Then it hit me—Trent said Jax could see a person’s aura. That was both cool and slightly creepy. “Um… sorry?” I wanted to ask him what he saw, but I wasn’t positive I wanted the answer.
“I’ve never seen anyone as bright as you,” Jax said, his tone full of wonder.
Trent rubbed the back of his neck. Then he stood, too, and took my hand. “Want to get out of here?” he asked, completely ignoring Jax.
“Um, yeah, sure.” My stomach dropped. I was kind of looking forward to dinner with him and his family, but obviously the plans had changed.
“I’m going to tell Dad we’re leaving.” He walked out of the living room, leaving me with Jax.
I blew out a breath and covered my face with my hands.
“Now that you know the truth, you still planning to stick around?” Jax flopped down on the couch. He didn’t bother to look at me when he spoke.
“Yes,” I said through clenched teeth. I narrowed my eyes and dug my fingernails into my palms in an effort to keep my temper at bay. What was up with him? One second, he’s halfway decent, almost nice, and the next he’s being a jerk. “You know that trying to run me off is going to hurt him, too, right?”
“Not nearly as much as your death will.”
“A broken heart is a broken heart. There aren’t varying degrees.”
“That right there is exactly why you’re wrong for him. You don’t get it.” Jax tossed the remote onto the coffee table and stood. “You don’t understand what it’s like for us. The heightened emotions. The immortality. The obsession.” He moved around the furniture and stopped in front of me. “We never forget anything. And we can’t just get over it, either.”
“And you think I can just walk away so easily?” I crossed my arms and stared at him. “I like Trent. A lot.” Actually, I loved him, but I wasn’t about to tell Jax that when I hadn’t even said those words to Trent.
“Yeah, I know you do.” Disappointment and regret filled his tone. Then, with a shake of his head, he disappeared from the living room.
“Okay, ready?” Trent asked.
“Yeah.”
We walked silently to his truck, and I climbed in, slamming the door harder than necessary. I hooked my seatbelt and stared out the window. Trent started the truck but didn’t pull out of the driveway. We sat there for a good five minutes before I finally turned toward him.
“Thought we were leaving,” I said.
He momentarily closed his eyes. “I heard what Jax said to you.” His dark eyes became cloudy and distant. “He’s wrong, you know.”
“Is he?” I twisted to face him. “Is this”—I waved my hand between us—“even possible? Can a vampire really have a relationship with a human? I can never be what you are, Trent. So, at best, we stay together until I die. And at worst, we end this now.” Tears pooled in my eyes.
He stared straight ahead, jaw clenched, lips set in a firm line. “Is that what you want?” Finally, he turned to look at me. “To end this? Today?”
I bit
down on my bottom lip, trying and failing to stop my tears from coursing down my cheeks.
“Because if that’s what you want, Chloe, I will take you home right now, and I won’t bother you ever again.” His voice was too level, too calm. Why wasn’t he freaking out as much as I was? “All you have to do is say the words.”
My lips trembled, and I wiped my tears with a shaking hand. My life would probably be a lot easier if I said yes, if I told him to take me home and forget all about me. But I knew I would never be able to forget him. I didn’t want to forget him.
“No,” I whispered. “That’s not what I want.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE:
Confrontations
LATER THAT EVENING, TRENT DROVE ME home and walked me to the door at exactly seven twenty-five. “I’m early,” I teased. “Uncle Dean will be pleased.”
“Oh, you’re not walking through that door until seven-thirty on the dot.” He wrapped me in his arms and brushed his lips over mine. “We need a few minutes to say a proper goodbye.”
Laughing, I draped my arms around his neck and pulled him to me for a kiss.
“Thank you for not giving up on us,” he said.
The way he was looking at me… My heart threatened to beat out of my chest, my ears rang, and the world started to spin. Was he going to tell me he loved me? Part of me wanted him to. The other part was terrified of what would happen once he did. I opened my mouth to speak, but he put his finger to my lips.
“You’ve changed so many things for me, Chloe. You have no idea.”
That’s where he was wrong. I did know. More than he’d ever understand. He’d changed so many things for me, too. He was the main reason I wasn’t curled up in a ball in my room, cradling my mother’s urn to my chest, and crying like an inconsolable baby. Because of him, I actually wanted to get up in the mornings and face the world.
“I don’t know how this will work out, but we can take it one day at a time,” he said.
I nodded. “One day at a time.”
Trent hugged me and buried his face against my neck. He inhaled deeply, and I hugged him back just as tight. We stood there for a few moments, neither of us speaking or moving.
“It’s time to come inside, Chloe.” Uncle Dean’s voice carried through the closed door as clear as if he’d been standing beside me.
From the corner of my eye, I saw the front drape fall back into place. Reluctantly, I released Trent. “I had a great time today,” I said.
“Me too.”
“I’ll see you in school tomorrow?”
“Wouldn’t dream of missing it.” He left, but not before glancing back at me half a dozen times.
I watched him drive away, and then I headed inside, grinning like an idiot. The house was unusually quiet for this time of night, and most of the lights were off. “Where is everyone?”
“Beth went to bed early with a headache, and Abby is in her room. Isach dropped her off about ten minutes ago.”
My good mood vanished at the mention of Isach. Why couldn’t anyone else see him for the rat he was? But he had everyone fooled, and I had no idea what to do about that.
“Okay, well, I’ve got a bit more homework to do, and then I’m going to bed.” I gave him a hug and a peck on the cheek. “Thanks for letting me go to Trent’s today.”
“Thanks for being home on time. Good night, Chloe.”
“Night,” I called over my shoulder as I headed upstairs.
ABBY AND I DIDN’T speak at all over breakfast the following morning. It was going to be a fun ride to school. I should’ve asked Trent to pick me up, but I couldn’t avoid Abby forever. I had to try to make things better—or at the very least, suggest a truce so we could live companionably in the same house. Aunt Beth was already suspicious of our sudden nonexistent relationship—I was sure it would only get worse the longer it went on.
“Have a good day, girls,” Aunt Beth said as we headed out the door.
I got into the car, and before I had my seatbelt hooked, Abby had the radio blaring. Okay then. Apparently, talking wasn’t an option. I settled in for the short ride when she turned in the opposite direction.
Turning down the radio, I asked, “Where are you going?”
“To pick up Isach.”
An instant, tight knot formed in my gut. She was picking up Isach for school? Now I knew why she hadn’t spoken to me—she knew if she told me, I’d complain. The thought of sitting in this car with him was enough to make me crazy. If I opened the door and hopped out at the next stop, would she notice? Would she care?
Nothing I wanted to say about Isach would change her mind about him, and it certainly wouldn’t make my morning any less uncomfortable. Maybe if I switched tactics, I could get through to her. If I pretended to be happy for her and acted like I supported her relationship with Isach, I might be able to regain enough of her trust to make her see him for what he really was.
“How are things with you and Isach?” I asked, struggling to keep my tone casual.
She sliced a glance at me, distrust and curiosity playing across her face. “Fine. Why?” she said slowly.
I shrugged. “We haven’t really talked much since you two got together.” I averted my gaze to my hands in my lap. “I don’t know what’s been going on with you. That’s all.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders relaxed. “Things are great. He’s so amazing. I really wish you’d give him a chance.” She slowed and turned left onto what I assumed was the road that led to Isach’s house. Admittedly, I was curious to see where he lived.
“Does he treat you well?” If I’d learned anything about Abby it was that she loved to gossip, especially about herself.
“He calls me his queen.”
His queen of darkness. I suppressed a shudder. “I’m really glad you’re happy with him.”
“I am.”
“Good.” I smiled.
She pulled into Isach’s driveway. His house wasn’t what I’d expected—for starters, it was small. A single story, modern building with tan siding and hunter green shutters. And it wasn’t creepy, not even close.
Abby honked the horn, then turned toward me. “Hey, about all that stuff I said the other day. I didn’t mean it. I don’t know what got into me.”
I knew what had gotten into her, and he was walking toward the car. “How about we call a truce? Forget everything that’s happened and start over?” I wasn’t sure I’d be able to completely forget the mean things she’d said, but I would try.
“Deal.”
I got out and climbed into the backseat. It was bad enough I had to be stuck in this car with him; I wasn’t going to ride with him behind me, where I couldn’t see what he was doing. At least this way, I could keep an eye on him.
“Morning, my queen.” Isach placed a kiss on Abby’s cheek. She flushed a bright red, then backed out of the driveway. He glanced at me over the seat. “Chloe.”
“Isach.”
“How are you?”
“Fine.” I held his gaze, refusing to let him intimidate me. He scared the crap out of me, but I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that.
“And how’s Trent? That is his name, right? Your boyfriend?”
What kind of game is he playing now? “Yes. And he’s fine, too.”
“Wonderful! Everyone is fine, and all is well with the world.” He smiled like he had the first time I’d met him, and I was struck with an odd sadness.
Why did he have to be so awful? Under different circumstances, Isach and I could have been good friends. I turned to stare out the window, wishing Abby would drive faster.
“So, Chloe, Abby tells me you’re originally from Florida,” he said.
I narrowed my eyes. Why on earth were he and Abby talking about me? “Yeah.”
“I visited there once a few years ago. Beautiful beaches in Florida.”
He might as well have stabbed me in the heart with a knife. Florida beaches were my favorite place in the world, and Mom and I loved going tog
ether. But there was no way he could’ve known that—I hadn’t ever told Abby.
“Oh, I’ve always wanted to drive across the country and see each state,” Abby said. She was practically bouncing in her seat she was so excited.
A sense of peace and warmth flooded me. “I’ve always wanted to do that, too.”
I’d lost count of how many times Mom and I had talked about selling the house, buying an RV, and driving across the country. She always joked about homeschooling me so we could really do it.
“Really?” Abby caught my gaze in the rearview mirror. “We should do it together!” She squealed. “Wouldn’t that be so much fun?”
I laughed. “It would be fun.” Resting my head on the seat, I closed my eyes and imagined what it would be like to take a cross-country road trip with Abby.
“Lucky for you two, I happen to have an RV,” Isach said.
My eyes snapped open. Well, so much for that fantasy. But Abby had latched onto it and was happily chattering away about how awesome it would be for all of us—Trent included—to spend the summer in an RV.
As soon as she was parked, I was out of the car and heading toward my locker. The farther away I got from Isach, that sense of peace I’d felt disappeared. I curled my hand into a fist. He’d done that to me. Had he planted that stupid fantasy, too? I was going to kill him!
Trent had told me to stay away from Isach—for good reason—but I couldn’t let Isach keep messing up my relationship with Abby. She was family, and I refused to let him steal what little family I had left.
I slammed open my locker door, but I didn’t get the satisfying bang of metal on metal like I’d hoped.
Instead, Isach had caught the door. He grinned. “Someone has a temper.”
I ignored him.
“You took off as soon as we got here. I’m starting to think you don’t like me.”
“You’d be right.” I snatched my books from my locker, then slammed the door closed, smiling faintly when I heard the noise it made. “I don’t like you.” I stepped closer, my stare hard and unflinching. “I know what you are, Isach, and I know what you’ve done.” My heart raced, and the rush of adrenaline spurred me on. “But Abby has nothing to do with any of this, so leave her out of it.”
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