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“Welcome to the family, Xenia.”
They both get to their feet and Gabriel wraps her in a warm hug, before moving over to Church, who looks like he’s about to burst into tears.
“Thank you, Pres,” I hear him murmuring before cocking my head to Xenia and embracing her as well.
“Let’s go out back,” I say and we walk out toward the back. As soon as we get to the pool, I realize that it was a mistake to come back here. “Oh, god.”
Blood splatters and drips all over the pavers next to the pool; Xenia’s blood.
She puts a hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay, Kat. In some ways I’m thankful for it,” she says, then points to her fangs. “It made my mind up for me.”
I worry my bottom lip between my teeth. “Are you sure? You’re not too pissed off about your choice being taken away?”
She shakes her head and slips an arm around my shoulder. “It was either this or death, and I’m not sure I’m ready for death yet now that I know what all life has to offer me.”
This actually makes me smile, and I pull her into an even tighter embrace. “It makes being a vampire so much better. I love you so much,” I say, trying to hold back my tears.
I have my Fated back, my best friend and sister has Entwined with her Fated and seems happier than she’s ever been as a human. Everything feels perfect, but I’m reluctant to bask in it just yet, knowing what we’ve been through.
But for now, I allow it to make me smile.
KATHERINE
Gabriel and Church join us outside not too long after that and we sit at the pool’s edge. He takes my hand and kisses the back of it before chuckling; all of us look at him as if he’s gone insane.
“I forgot to tell you all Valentine has met his second chance Fated,” he says, stunning us all with this news.
Church’s mouth hangs open and Xenia literally has to close it, I am sure that I’m wearing the same shocked expression on my face. “Second chance Fated? I thought that doesn’t exist for vampires?”
Gabriel nods and leans forward with his elbows resting on his knees. “They rarely happen since we never reject what the Goddess has given us; I mean, 200 years of waiting for your soulmate is a long time!” He says, winking at me.
“However, if a vampire finds themselves rejecting their Fated, they have the option to choose who they want to be with afterward. This is why the second chance Fated is called a Chosen. Their Threads of Fate are gold, similar to a wedding ring.”
This confuses me. “Wait, but Valentine didn’t reject my mother, nor did she reject him,” I say, remembering his conversation about them Entwining before my father had her killed.
Gabriel sighs and looks up at the night sky. “I knew this would come out sooner than later; I shouldn’t be the one to tell you, but I know you’ll just press me for it,” he starts and looks over at Church before settling his eyes back on me.
“Valentine took the potion to sever his Bond with your mother; he thought he would be able to protect her by not being with her anymore, but your father had found out about them already.” He says.
This little revelation knocks the wind out of me, and I am not sure how to react to it. My heart feels like it’s skipped a beat within a few seconds and I feel lightheaded, so I get to my feet and take deep breaths while pacing.
“He rejected her to protect her? What… why would he tell me they Entwined before my father killed her?!”
Gabriel follows me and places his hands on my shoulder. “He told you that so you wouldn’t hate him and think he ran away when it was the worst decision he ever had to make; only to find out that it was all for nothing in the end.” He says as a pained look crosses his eyes. “He was going to use his Allure on her and make her forget about him afterward.”
Valentine left my mother for her safety… only to hand her over to her death.
“I still remember how he isolated himself after finding out about her death; he left for three years after that and when he returned, he wasn’t the same. The carefree Valentine was gone, and in its place stood the person you know now.” Church says with a sigh, shaking his head.
“They never touched or took it further… and my father still did this,” I say as my eyesight blurs with unshed tears. “He was a true fucking monster. The world is a better place now that he’s gone.”
Gabriel wraps his arms around me and sighs. “Please don’t blame Valentine for this too. He did it for her, not knowing your father had already marked her for death,” he says, stroking my hair and I sniff, nodding my head.
“I understand, I really do,” I answer, then break off the embrace. “So he’s found another woman to spend his life with?”
Gabriel nods and offers me a smile. “Theirs is quite a beautiful bond. She was the one who found him on the side of the road after Kazimir tortured him—”
“No fucking way! The doctor?!” Church interjects with amusement in his tone. “I thought I’d seen that glazed expression before!”
