“If you say so,” Ethan replied.
“I should punch you.”
“You should, but you won’t. You owe meone.”
“Hmm,” Aiden grunted.
“Your mate is a feisty one. She didn’t careI was a purebred vampire standing in her apartment.”
“She invited you in?”
“She did.”
“She shut the door in my face.”
Ethan laughed and grasped his shoulder. “Ilike her.”
“Good, because she’s family now.”
“She is,” Ethan agreed.
CHAPTER 51
Maggie stood in the shadows, unwilling to goany closer as her grandma cautiously approached Mindy’s chair.Aiden stood behind her, his hand on her shoulder. Marsha pulled achair over from a table and sat across from her daughter.
For a minute, no one spoke. Then, Marshaleaned closer and rested her hand on Mindy’s knee. “Mindy,” shewhispered.
Standing more than fifty feet away, outsidethe door of the large room with the TV droning, conversationscarrying on, and almost two dozen other patients gathered within,Maggie heard her grandmother.
“Mindy, do you remember me?” Marshaasked.
Mindy’s eyes shifted to Marsha beforesliding away. Then, they came back again. Maggie’s heart leapt whenshe saw the spark of recognition in those eyes. “Momma,” Mindybreathed.
Tears spilled down Marsha’s cheeks, and shechoked on a sob. “Yes, baby girl, it’s me.”
“Momma,” Mindy smiled before her gaze wentback to the window.
Mindy didn’t speak again, but the smiledidn’t leave her face while Marsha sat and talked with her. AsMaggie suggested, Marsha didn’t tell her daughter how she’d finallydiscovered her, or mention Maggie at all. It was for the best,especially if it kept that smile on her mother’s lips.
• • •
Maggie’s lungs burned, her legs felt likerubber, but she pushed herself onward. Even with all her training,even with her new, supernatural strength that she’d kept in checkthroughout the entire course, sheloathedHeartbreakHill.
Then, she was at the top and coming down.Air rushed back into her lungs, her legs didn’t wobble quite sobad, and some of her ex-coworkers laughed. She exchanged high-fiveswith them. It didn’t matter they still had miles to go. Aftersuccessfully climbing the hill, they knew they would all makeit.
Maggie focused on the road while she matchedher pace to those around her. Soon after changing, Aiden noticedshe was faster and stronger than the average turned vamp, but notas strong as a purebred.
They’d been on a run together and she’dnearly beaten him. Afterward, he’d had her lift things that otherchanged vamps wouldn’t be able to lift so soon after turning. He’dshouted his joy when she succeeded in one thing after another.
Then, he’d approached Ronan about hisdecision to pause his training. Ronan hadn’t argued with Aiden’schoice to walk away, for now, but while they remained inMassachusetts, Ronan asked if he could run her through a series ofphysical, mental, and endurance tests. All those tests confirmedwhat Aiden already suspected; she was not the normal, changed vamp,but then she hadn’t been the average human either.
The crowds cheered as they reached KenmoreSquare. A fresh burst of adrenaline hit Maggie, and Aiden’s mindbrushed against hers. It took everything she had to maintain herrestraint when they turned onto Boylston street and the finish linecame into view. She wanted to unleash her power and race towardthat beckoning end.
Crossing over the painted Finish Linesection of road, Maggie released a whoop of joy and laughed as shehugged her team members, all of whom were wearing pins to honor thememory of Roger. She was hugging Pablo when she spotted Aiden overhis shoulder. She slapped Pablo on his shoulders, and he set herdown before turning to hug someone else.
Aiden swung her up into his arms. “How didyou get over here?” she inquired breathlessly. Family members andfriends were supposed to be waiting for them at a designatedmeeting area.
“I’m irresistible,” he replied and winked ather.
