I am stunned speechless by this. It makes sense, why wouldn’t they? But never, in nearly 30 years of being told thesame lie over and over again, had Grand-mere even hinted at the possibility that my mother was a vampire. The new wave of revulsion over her carefully crafted lies washes over me. Bash grips my hands tightly, rubbing small circles across my thumb, soothing me slightly.
“The lies never end, I swear.”
“It wasn’t intentional, Elina. She was my daughter, and that is how I think of her, not as a vampire, not as a Queen, as my daughter.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Why lie?”
The circles on my hand get firmer and more distracting. Sebastien is trying to ground me, keep me from losing my new vampire temper.
“I didn’t want to. You forgot about him. You were so young. You were so sad. I wanted to make you happy. I was angry. Every bit of happiness and warmth were sucked from the world. I wanted to protect you.” She looks at me, so much regret etched in the lines of her face, tears filling her again. “Please forgive me, don’t take more from me.”
Shaking my head, I stand. “I need to think about all of this. This was…a lot. Please grand-mere, I need some time. I’m sorry.” I move to leave, bringing Bash with me, by the hands we still have clasped.
“Wait, wait. I have something to give you.” Pulling an envelope from the pocket of her nightdress, she hands it to me. Turning it over and opening it, I withdraw a photograph.
A beautiful woman, green eyes shining and happy, wrapped in the arms of a tall, auburn haired man, on the very balcony I had my first dinner with Nicolas, twinkling lights and all. She is wearing a flowing white wedding gown, a bouquet of blood red roses clutched in her hand, Ezekiel in his black tuxedo with a matching red rose tucked into his pocket. Their binding ceremony. Maman’s arm is wrapped in abandage, the evidence of their blood oath to each other. The happiness I see shining from them is almost enough to bring me to my knees.
I sob escapes me, causing Bash to wrap his arms around me. Resting his chin atop my head, he whispers, “I’m so sorry, baby. They were so happy. You deserved them. I’m so sorry.”
