Page 55 of Once Bitten, Twice Mine

“And you know nothing of Dr. Murnau. At least he’s trying to help. He’s called in specialists because he can’t bear to see the people of this village suffer. He’s willing to put his reputation on the line if it will help people.”

“And tell me, what is this great risk he’s taking?”

Caroline knew she should stop now. Valeria’s smoking was a good enough confirmation that whatever she had was related. It was enough information to go to Dr. Murnau with, and they would be one step closer. It made more sense to go back to her allies with information so they could all decide how to move forward, but her anger burned too deep.

“He thinks there’s a vampire in this town and I think it’s you.”

Caroline’s accusation hung in the air, and she had to give credit to Valeria as the woman’s face remained impassive. There was no surprise or confusion, just the same icy stare she wore since she woke up.

“This is why you nearly killed me, some fairytale delusion? I expected more from you, Caroline.”

It was the first time she had said her first name like that, and it felt like a slap.

“What am I supposed to think? I don’t hear from you for nearly a decade when you show up at my engagement party where you fall ill and have to stay here for weeks without notice or explanation waiting for a doctor who will never come, and I’m supposed to accept everything you say without question?”

“Of course that means you’re at the center of a conspiracy.”

“People are dying in my community. My household. Did you really think I would ever let that go?”

Some of the anger bled from Valeria’s expression, but her jaw was still set in a hard line. “I am not a threat to you. Stop trying to diagnose me. I don’t want to hurt you.”

To anyone else it would sound like a threat, but Caroline knew that was as close to an admission as she was going to get. “Nelly’s death hurt me. The bodies in the hospital hurt me. You must know that.”

“I can’t—” Valeria stopped before turning to face the opposite wall. “I’m not well. I haven’t been for a long time. You should leave me to rest.”

She inched closer to the bed, wanting to reach out to hold Valeria. To reassure her through touch, but her hands remained at her side.

“I can help you if you’re honest with me. Dr. Murnau is looking for a cure⁠—”

“I told you to leave me,” Valeria interrupted. “You can’t help me. No one can.”

She could help. This was what she did best; she wouldn’t let Valeria shut her out.

“We can figure this out together if you’ll only talk to me.”

“Please, just leave me.”

Caroline’s hands balled into fists at her side. She hated hearing that defeated tone in Valeria’s voice. It didn’t belong to her lovely, confident girl. If there was one thing she knew, it was that Valeria wasn’t a vampire eight years ago. Not when they spent a whole summer eating, drinking, and frolicking beneath the sun. Someone turned her into this, and she wouldn’t rest until she rescued Valeria from whatever she had been forced to become.

CHAPTER 16

It was perhaps the worst plan Caroline had ever thought of, but dawn was only an hour out, and she refused to spend another day fretting whether Valeria was a vampire. If she wouldn’t willingly tell her the truth, then Caroline would force her hand.

Though knowing why she had to do it didn’t make it any easier.

She knocked on Valeria’s door but wasn’t surprised when there was no response. Normally, she would have thought the other woman was wandering the walls, but the occasional sound of a flipping page told her she was being ignored. She opened the door anyway.

Valeria glared at her from the bed. “If I’m ignoring your knock, it means I don’t want to see you.”

“I wanted to check on you since you’re so unwell.”

“You’ve checked on me; I’m fine. Now leave,” she said, waving towards the door.

Caroline stepped further into the room, keeping one hand in her pocket. “I also wished to speak with you about what happened earlier.”

“But I don’t wish to speak with you. Soon it will be dawn, and I will be powerless against further attempts on my life. Come back then.”

“I wasn’t trying to kill you.” She wanted to roll her eyes, but knew that would only enrage Valeria. “I was only trying to determine if you were a vampire or not.”