Tension returned to his face. “I can’t touch you, Irene.” His voice sounded heavy and broken. “I can’t.”
An image of him with his eyes fully obsidian and his fangs unsheathed flashed across my mind. When his vampire powers were unleashed, he was magnificent but frightening.
“Are you worried about losing control?”
“I know I will.” Each word was charged with pain.
I didn’t understand why he was in so much agony, but I wasn’t going to insist. Not today. And if he was struggling with containing his vampire instincts, I would be a fool to tease him.
“Anyway, I appreciate what you did for me. It means a lot.”
“Your approval means a lot to me as well.”
We stared at each other as the sunlight crept along the ground. In that moment, he wasn’t a dangerous vampire but a sweet man, struggling with his inner battle.
I stroked the tombstone. “Shall we return to the mansion?”
“I suppose you’re going to train today.”
“Yes, I am. Darius is very patient.”
We walked downhill towards the path weaving through the garden without talking, but there was no tension between us. Our connection hummed softly, spreading warmth through my chest.
We paused in the entrance hall.
“I’m heading to my bedroom to change.” He tugged at the blanket covering him.
“Thank you.” I raised a hand in farewell since he didn’t want me to touch him.
“I would do anything to make you feel at home here.” After the usual bow of his head, he went upstairs before I could tell him that he was doing a great job.
24
DUST
Irene
Perhaps deep down, I didn’t want to develop my power because I kept failing.
After hours of training, I hadn’t learnt anything, and my morale was low. Those burnt leaves were the only accomplishment I’d achieved.
Had I thought that being an immortal spirit of vengeance meant not feeling pain? Yes, I had, although in all fairness, no one had told me that.
My health had improved. No more seizures. But my energy was slipping away.
In a quiet corner of the garden, Darius was teaching me how to handle a knife since I would likely kill my first victim in an old-fashioned way.
I hadn’t seen much of Alex, which saddened me because I feared he was avoiding me. Perhaps he believed I didn’t want to be close to him, but that wasn’t true. I relied on my soul-searching power to understand people more than I’d realised,and he had no glow, no visible emotions. It was the first time I’d met someone without an aura. Our bond offered me insight into his feelings, but it wasn’t as accurate as my power.
“You won’t need a lot of strength.” Darius closed my fingers around the hilt. “Alex will do the stabbing for you.”
He gripped the handle with me and stabbed a bag of sand.
It was only sand, but a sickening lump swelled in my throat. “It’s frightening.”
Compassion filled his aura with a tea-rose pink light. “I hate stabbing, too. A spell is faster, cleaner, and more effective.”
“I mean killing in general.” I flexed my fingers before stabbing the bag on my own.
