“I thought I was in love with her; I was completely enamored. She gave me attention. My family was poor, so when she offered certain things, I jumped at the chance. She wooed me, and then one night made me drink her blood, and then killed me.” I sigh.
“She killed you when you had her blood in your system?” I nod.
“Yes. A new vampire must feed within twenty-four hours after coming back or they die permanently.”
“Fuck,” she mutters, looking out the window, lost in thought.
I really fucking hope the next part does not push her away.
23
Delaney
Thorin spins the ring on the ring finger of his right hand.
It is the ring that he has to wear to allow him to walk in the sunlight. I used to admire it from afar for years; seeing the ring on him seemed to add to his sex appeal. I know, I am a sad sack.
The ring is made from real silver, with a black square onyx in the center, and down both sides are symbols that allow him to walk in sunlight. I also know that integrated into the tattoo of a woman on his arm are the symbols also, so if the ring comes off, or his fingers get cut off, he is still protected.
Winger had a witch cast a spell on the ink that was used, so it would be permanent on Thorin.
“For years”—his voice snaps me back into the room—“I followed Ophelia around the world. Did what she wanted and never thought twice about it. I learned many different languages and got to see different cultures. It was fucking eye-opening, believe me. I had the good life. We landed in the UK—Wales, tobe exact. Fuck, that country is pretty to look at: mountains and castles, fucking beautiful.” He sighs.
“Sounds nice. Maybe I will visit one day.”
“Maybe I will take you.” His words spark hope, but so far, I cannot see it happening.
“Yeah, maybe.” I twist the sheet in my hands. “Continue.”
He tucks a finger under my chin, turning my head back to look at him. His eyes are soft, like he can hear my thoughts of doubt between us.
Him not claiming me just now hurts; my heart sinks into the bed beneath me, and disappointment hits hard knowing he still does not see me as his fully.
“I will take you. I promise.” I nod, not speaking. “We stayed in Wales for a few months; my English was better by then. One night at a local pub, I met a woman. Someone who came to mean something meaningful to me. I know that she was not my mate, obviously, but I cared for her.”
His voice holds a softness when talking about this woman, which adds a stronger ache to my chest. Rubbing my sternum, he notices it and sighs.
“I loved her.” His words are like a sledgehammer to my chest.
Moving off the bed, quicker than I usually would, I gasp, clinging to the window.
“What the fuck?” he snaps.
I wave him off. “A conversation for another time. Carry on telling me about the woman you loved.” My voice is snippy and cold.
“Fuck, babe.” I hear shuffling behind me, but I do not turn to face him.
“I met Olwen, and yes, we started up a relationship. Ophelia was off turning men and now women to please her, to do her biding for her, but she hated any of us wandering. Even though she fucked anyone she wanted, as far as she was concerned, sheowned us. Olwen and I were together for close to a year, until one day, I found her dead, drained of all her blood.”
I gasp, turning to look at him. He is sitting on the edge of the bed, sheets pooling at his waist. His elbows resting on his knees, his head in his hands.
“It was my fault. Brought attention to her from that cunt who turned me.” His voice turns hard, and he looks up at me, his eyes now red.
“Why? What did you do?”
“Ophelia liked to show power, and she did that in any way that she could. If that meant killing someone close to us, then so be it. One time she murdered a mayor’s entire family because he would not give her what she wanted.”
“What a bitch.”
