Page 191 of Plug and Drain

A question that had been eating away at her since the first time she’d met him appeared in the forefront of her mind. “Arken, can vampires control minds?”

“No, not generally,” he replied in puzzlement. “It’s an extremely rare ability. Why do you ask?”

“Because,” she said, sliding her hands across to grip the front of his night robe, looking up at him with longing burning through her, “if you can control minds…If you have the power to control my mind…I want you to make me forget all the terrible things that have happened. I want a blank slate, for me and for you. I just want this…just you and me.”

Without Henrikk. Standing here beside us, watching.

She knew before she’d even uttered the words that it was no use. Arken could not wipe her memories any more than he could wipe his own, or he would have done it a long time ago.

Arken gave her a sad smile.

She sighed. “I know some people say there is no light without the contrast of darkness. I know they say we need the ugliness and terrible parts of the world to appreciate its beauty. And I used to think that made sense…”

“But you don’t think that anymore?” he asked softly.

“There’s too much darkness. We don’t need it. And I don’t want it. Not for contrast, or any other rubbish reason people use to justify the awful things that happen. People deserve good things. To feel respected and safe. And happy.” She was twisting the fabric of his robe, fearing that she sounded like a petulant child, but unable to stop the words from pouring out of her. “And I think we deserve a small piece of happiness too…” She met his gaze. “Don’t we?”

Arken was gazing at her with glimmering eyes. “We do,” he agreed. In one slow motion, he smoothed her hair back and glided his hand down to caress her neck and back before resting on her waist. “And we shall have it.”

“How can you be so sure?”

It was a stupid question, she knew that, but she couldn’t help but ask it. There was so much that had gone wrong in the past fourteen months. From the moment she’d stepped foot in the academy, she’d been constantly reminded of her inferior status. Any beliefs she’d held that the world could be any different had been wiped away when Henrikk had taken the liberty of reminding her of her place himself.

Tears sprang to her eyes as the memory of his cold, hard hands and punishing thrusts resurged.

“Oh, my dear,” Arken said, cradling her against his chest as silent tears ran down her face. “The more the years pass, the more sure I am of how little I know. But I am sure of two things, and one of those is that I love you with all my heart.”

Susie tried to sniff subtly as she lifted her head. Arken’s eyes contained more warmth and sunlight than the rising sun pouring down through the trees.

“I love you,” he said, dipping his head and pressing a soft kiss on her right cheek, and then on her left. “I love you.”

He kissed her lips, a heartbreakingly soft touch that caused all her emotions to swell and surge and threaten to burst. “I love you.”

The tight twisting sorrow that had constricted her chest eased, and she felt herself relax.

Arken offered her a sincere, disarming smile, and she relaxed a bit more. “I love you.”

Susie felt a smile form on her lips, and she wiped away her tears. “You listed five things.”

“You were counting.”

“What was the second thing you were sure about?” she pressed.

“That the world is always changing. Henrikk will not always be its ruler. And his reign will come to an end sooner that you may think.”

“How?” She searched his gaze. “Does it have something to do with Nathaniel?”

And Kira?

“Yes, it has everything to do with Nathaniel. He will soon succeed his father.”

Susie pressed her lips together. “How long?”

“Next year, on his thirtieth birthday.”

She inhaled a steadying breath.

It was not a guarantee, but it was…something. A timeline. A goal in the future to work towards.