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“No, though some vampires did hail from here a very long time ago. Hollywood has over-dramatized this area, so most of us vampires tend to stay away from this cliche.”
He goes on to answer my next question before I ever speak it. “That's why I have a castle here. So I can get away from all other vampires—and even humans—when I need space to clear my head. Nobody likes it out here in Transylvania, so this is the perfect place for solitude.
“Are you sure your name isn’t really Vlad?” I joke weakly, still unable to wrap my head around all this and half expecting to wake up at any moment.
Stephan’s frown deepens before he scowls. “Vlad was an idiot.”
My eyes widen. “You knew Count Dracula?”
“Yes,” he bites out, “and before you even start, no, he's not the father of all vampires. He was an arrogant son of a bitch who wanted to immortalize himself in the hearts of humans forever.”
“I guess he succeeded at that,” I point out dryly. I still can't believe I'm having this conversation.
“At the expense of the rest of our kind,” Stephan bites out.
“So you're a vampire,” I say again. Stephan’s unnerving gaze is still trained intently on me. God, the man is so beautiful. I tremble with nerves just looking at him.
The silence stretches between us as Stephan waits for my next question.
“Is that why you don't like to show yourself to people?”
“I have no problem showing myself to people,” Stephan answers impassively.
Then why wouldn’t he show himself to me?
My eyes widen as I put two and two together. “Wait. That night...someone pulled me into an alley fast as lightning. I remember golden eyes glowing down at me.”
I look up at him as my voice falters. “That was you.”
Stephan actually looks a bit uncomfortable, but he holds my gaze when he admits, “Yes, it was me.”
“So when I passed out, you’re the one who took me home and put me in my bed?”
“Yes,” he answers.
“You undressed me,” I state it as a fact.
He doesn't even bat an eyelash as he confirms, “Yes.”
My face flushes.
“You didn't take off my undergarments, though.”
“No,” his voice is husky as he confirms this fact. The unspoken words lie heavy between us. He didn't violate me. He didn't see me naked. I’m thankful for that.
“I convinced myself you were a dream,” I tell him.
“I know,” he sighs. “It was for the best.”
“How did I really come to work for you, Stephan?” I have a sneaking suspicion that I already know, but I need to hear the words from the man himself while he’s being amicable enough to answer all my questions.
Again, Stephen holds my gaze as he answers stoically, as if he's merely stating facts, “I orchestrated it so you would get fired and need a job, and then I had James offer you one at my business.”
“My alarm clock…” I speak slowly as I start stringing that together, too.
“Didn't go off for three mornings in a row,” he says, confirming my suspicion.
Sudden anger floods my chest at his manipulation. Here I was beating myself up over this, and all along it was him!
