Page 17 of Awakened Light

Even though I was out in the open air, her words make me feel like the world around me closed in. “I know better than anyone that my life is here. I’ve heard nothing but that since the day I understood words. I don’t need the reminder.”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” she said, her voice softening. “I just mean, there’s no sense in staring out at the horizon every day torturing yourself. I know you want to see it, and I know taking over for Mother isn’t the life you want, but it’s your duty... and one you should be so grateful for. It’s an honor to lead our people.”

“Could everyone stop telling me that?” I grumbled. “I know it’s an honor. I’ve heard nothing else my whole life. And I’ll do what’s necessary to maintain our traditions, but it doesn’t mean I need to like it. It doesn’t mean I can’t wonder what else is out there.”

“I’m sorry I offended you,” she said meekly. Just hearing her concede so quickly made me roll my eyes—another curse of my position.

Even though she was more than capable of going toe to toe with me, and likely winning, like everyone in the tribe, she wouldn’t dare argue with me. Even when they were in the right, and I was in the wrong, tradition dictated the leader and the heir to the throne should never be questioned. They all agreed with everything I said and jumped to appease my every desire.

Everyone but Thorne at least.

I missed his brazen attitude and the way he called me out. Admittedly, the first time he had, I’d been shocked. No one had dared to speak to me like that before. But after the shock wore off, it had invigorated me to have someone to banter with... someone to speak to me openly and honestly. It was refreshing, and remembering our conversations made me miss him even more.

“Don’t apologize,” I said on a sigh. “You’re right. I should be more grateful.”

“I just don’t want to see you unhappy forever.” She stroked a hand down my hair, and I pursed my lips and smiled. “I love you, Catrain. I know you’re going to make an excellent leader. I just hope that someday you’ll stop staring out at the horizon, wishing for a life that will never be yours and embracing the wonderful one you have right here.”

Her words hit home harder than I expected.

She was right. Instead of embracing my destiny, I spent all my time wishing for a world I would never see, and now a man who could never be mine.

“Thank you, Alpia. I needed to hear that.”

“Good. I just want you happy, sister.”

“And I want you happy, too. And speaking of your happiness, when are we going to find you a man to marry? Got your eye on anyone?”

Her sun-kissed skin deepened to a crimson red as she shook her head. “No. Of course not.”

“No one?” I bumped her with my shoulder. “Come on, there must be someone.”

She shook her head harder. “No. No one.”

“What about Culloden? He’s handsome.” I waggled my brows, but she just laughed and crinkled her nose.

“No. Definitely not Culloden. He’s got the brains of a trout.”

“Gawen?”

“No! Definitely not!” She pulled a face and shook her head. “I’d rather marry a vampire than him!”

My face dropped at the reference, and her laughter stopped when she saw it.

“What? Are you okay?”

“Uh, yes. I’m, uh, fine.”

But I wasn’t. After a life of thinking vampires were the lowest of the low, the vilest creatures on this planet, I’d met one.

And he was anything but.

Alpia chewed on her lip for a moment and then whispered, “What was he like? That vampire who was here. Was he awful? You two spent a lot of time together.”

I exhaled a sigh and considered my words. Tell her the truth about how amazing he was and risk her discovering my unquenchable feelings for him, or lie and confirm the stories we’d heard about vampires all our lives?

“He wasn’t as terrible as I expected,” I said, keeping it vague.

“What was he like? Tell me more. I still can’t believe we had a vampire on or island.”