“No, I’m fine. Lysandro has a blood donor here in Willowhope?”
“Mhm. I didn’t realize until the night after I heard about you.”
“Huh.” He shook his head. “But why are you spending all that time at the library?”
This was so embarrassing. “I’m studying for my GED,” I rushed out. “I know it’s dumb?—”
He gripped my hand where it lay over his heart. “No, it’s not. That’s awesome. I’m proud of you.”
I felt my cheeks warm, and I was thankful that he was in too much pain to notice. Which felt mean, but whatever. “Thanks.”
He tightened his hold on me. “How’s it going?”
“It was going great. Lysandro was able to help when I had a little trouble with the math parts, but for the most part, I have that down. It’s the English that’s kicking my ass.”
He wiggled, squirming around until he was leaning further into my chest. “Well, you’re in luck.”
I peered at him suspiciously. “How?”
Grinning, he said, “It just so happens that not only am I an amazing singer-songwriter, but I also happen to be an excellent English student. If it was math, you’d be screwed, but I took advanced placement classes for English in high school and nailed it.”
“Oh, so…” I swallowed. Was I really going to ask him for help?
“Go ahead,” he teased. “Ask.”
I groaned. “Fine. Ego, would you help me study?”
“With pleasure.” He kissed the back of my hand, and I tried to ignore the fluttery feeling in my belly from his lips touching my skin, but I thought perhaps I was past that point, and he had twenty years of baby vamp to go. I was doomed.
Chapter 20
Ego
“Rise,my child. Rise and come to me.”
I woke up in my dream with a start. I was starting to hate bedtime even more than I had before Scotty moved in. I hated watching him go to what they designated his room and watching him shut the door. I wanted him in my space, in my bed. But it wasn’t fair to ask for more now that he’d been forced into my proximity for who knew how long.
“Child. Why do you not greet your Master?” the dickhead who bit me asked sharply.
Waking up on the stone slab again, I turned my head in his direction. His outline grew clearer and closer every day. I didn’t know why my brain was doing this to me. Obviously, this wasn’t really the guy who turned me. How could he be here with me in my dreams?
My subconscious was probably trying to tell me something, but I couldn’t figure out what. Or maybe this had something to do with my abandonment issues. Did I really want a parent—of sorts—to choose me so badly that I’d conjure the beast who’d violated me?
“Fuck off,” I mumbled to my stupid brain.
“Do not speak to me in that manner,” he said, the words cracking across me like a whip. For a moment, a torrent of anger struck through me like lightning, making it hard to breathe.
I rolled to my side and glared at the silhouette of the man through the fog. “Why won’t you let me sleep?”
“Because you’ve made me so proud,” he said in a syrupy-sweet voice.
For the first time, I felt truly alarmed. I was used to my mind attacking me, diminishing me, and making me feel small. The only happy thoughts I’d ever had were in regard to my music, which I’d lost now.
“Proud of what?”
“Of you.” He held out his arms toward me. “You’ve not only survived, but I can feel how you flourish. You grow stronger every time you meet me here.”
“I’m not meeting you anywhere.”
