Page 71 of Once Bitten, Twice Mine

“How did you do that?”

Valeria hesitated, and Caroline knew that she certainly wouldn’t like whatever she was about to say.

“I looked into his eyes and very strongly suggested that he had an appointment set for several months to fix your hearth and that it had already been paid for and he would do the job as quickly as he could to the best of his ability and use his best materials.”

“And he agreed?”

“Well, he didn’t really have a choice.”

“You forced him. How? Did you say you would hurt him?” The hearth needed to be fixed, but it wasn’t that dire.

Valeria sighed. “It’s a vampire gift. Whoever you compel does what you want because they want to make you happy. It’s some form of magic. I don’t really know how it works, but I do know they can’t fight it.”

“That’s awful.” The implications of this were staggering. An unknown number of beings out there able to make you do anything they wanted? Her stomach dropped. “Have you compelled me?”

“Of course not, cara.” Valeria dropped to her knees and scooped up her hands, kissing the back of her fingers. “I would never do anything to betray your trust. I mainly compel humans when I’m buying something, or I have to get out of a situation safely. The Count says we shouldn’t overly rely on those powers.”

“Is that a vampire rule or coven rule?”

“Coven. He wants us to do things on our own. He says it will make us stronger.”

She wasn’t sure they needed help being stronger if they were capable of such dark magic, but at least it wasn’t a power she used frequently.

“I don’t want you compelling anyone else.”

“I don’t do it much⁠—”

“Promise me.”

“How about I promise to talk to you next time I do it. I can’t do a blanket promise because I won’t sacrifice either of our safety for your human morals.”

“Are vampires no longer human?”

“No.” She kissed her hand again. “I died and have been transformed into something new. Something better. Something you could become too. I want you to join us.”

Valeria looked up at her with such hope it pierced something in her, but never once in all of this had she ever considered that Valeria would want her to become a vampire.

“Who’s us?” She asked, deflecting the question.

“The Count, and Sveta, and Millie. We’re a small coven, but very dedicated to one another, and I think you would love them and they will love you.”

“If your coven is so small, how do you know they would even be interested in having me?”

“Because I love you, they’re sure to as well. I’ve already asked, and I’m waiting for a response.”

Caroline ripped her hands away. “You asked before talking to me? When?”

Valeria’s smile faded. “A few days, but I’m sure The Count has been busy. He’ll respond. He told me when I was Turned that if I ever wanted to add to the coven, all I had to do was ask.”

Everything was moving so quickly she felt like her head was spinning. She couldn’t imagine being a vampire. Drinking blood. Perhaps she could stand it if it was only her and Valeria, but she didn’t want to be tied to The Count as well. Every time they spoke about him, her stomach tightened. She had no evidence for this, but she didn’t think he was a good man. Or vampire, rather.

“Miss Blythe.”

Caroline looked up to see Lucy nervously hovering in the doorway, and she had never been more thankful for an interruption.

“Yes, Lucy?”

“Mrs. Thomas needs you, ma’am. She says there’s so much water dripping from the roof into the east wing that she’s worried that part of the roof is about to collapse.”