We’re coming over on Sunday, I text my mom that night.

I tell Cyrus to get ready, tell him to play along with everything I say when we go over, and he agrees.

All the little pieces I plan out, crafting my lie so intricately that no one can question it. So it looks so solid and perfect that they’ll believe it and just be happy for me.

On Sunday, I grab the grocery bag and Cyrus and I head out to his car.

“What’s in there?” he asks, nodding his head at the bag as he pulls onto the road.

“Mom asked me to bring a dessert,” I say, looking down at the box of cookies. “Which is funny, because she knows I can’t cook. I think it was a little bit of payback for putting her off for so long.”

He looks over at me, and it’s there, more intense than usual. Like he’s searching for answers on my face.

We drive across Greendale, and head into Cherico. I guide Cyrus through the main roads, and then the turn-off that cuts toward our neighborhood.

“I’m excited to meet them, your parents,” Cyrus says as we turn onto my street. “I may not have much good to say about your biological mother, but she did right, doing what she did. Making that sacrifice. Despite the hardships you’ve had the last few years, you seem to love your family.”

He parks in front of the house. And I feel my heart swell.

He’s right.

I did have a good life. A good family.

I do love them.

So I have to do this. And I have to protect them.

“Are you ready?” he says, looking at me.

I stare into his beautiful face. So beautiful he isn’t human. He isn’t.

It’s a face chiseled by time and trial and war and death.

But it’s still beautiful.

I find myself leaning in just slightly. But he blinks, and shifts back ever so slightly.

“Yeah,” I say.

I don’t knock on the door, just let myself inside, and wonder how long it will be before I do it again. With Cyrus’ hand held firmly in mine, I step inside.

The scent of pot roast is overwhelming. And warm rolls and stewing vegetables.

I swear my heart is going to beat right out of my chest as I cross the front living room. And then round the corner into the dining room.

My grip on Cyrus’ hand tightens involuntarily, but I am comforted when he squeezes back.

Three pairs of eyes immediately slide toward us, and my blood goes still.

“Logan,” Mom grins from ear to ear as she wipes her hands on a towel and rushes across the room to wrap her arms around me. She squeezes tight, and I hug her back with just one arm, because I realize I’m too terrified to let go of Cyrus’ hand.

“Hi, Mom,” I breathe into her blonde hair. And I hug her long, not letting go for a few moments longer as she loosens her grip on me. Because I don’t know how long it might be until I see her again.

“I’m so glad you came,” she says quietly. And I realize just how much stress I have put her under the last few weeks as I dodged her requests.

I let her go and she backs up a step, taking Cyrus in.

“Mom, everyone,” I breathe. “This is Collin.”

King of the entire world of vampires.

“It’s great to finally meet you,” Cyrus says, stepping forward and wrapping Mom in a giant hug.

I have to look away for a second. I swear, these aren’t tears trying to pool in my eyes.

“It’s lovely to finally meet you,” Mom glows as Cyrus releases her. There’s a look in her eyes, it’s the same one I see in nearly everyone’s eyes when they look at Cyrus. He holds a power over women with that face of his. “So glad you could come have dinner with us.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Cyrus says with a wide, charming smile. “And you must be Ethan.”

He steps forward, extending a hand toward my dad. He wheels in from the kitchen. And my heart nearly stops when Dad puts the brakes on the chair, and with shaking limbs, stands on his feet.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Collin,” Dad says. But he’s certainly a dad. And he stares hard at Collin, as if chewing him out in his head, how dare he move his daughter in with him so soon after meeting.

“Collin,” I say, stepping in to defuse the moment before it can grow too threatening, “this is my brother, Eshan.”

He looks up from where he sits at the table on his phone. “Hey.” He just gives a nod of his head.

“Eshan,” Cyrus breathes. “Meaning ruler. Tell me, are you a man of power at your school?”

My brother looks up at Cyrus with a classic teenage look. Without a word, he just looks back down at his phone.

“You’ll have to forgive his rudeness,” Mom chides as she walks back into the kitchen. “We’re dealing with classic cases of teenage angst with the approach of junior year.”

“Let me make a guess,” I say as I once more take Cyrus’ hand and guide him toward the dining table. “There’s a girl, and you know this is the year to make a move, and it’s stressing you out?”

Eshan looks up and glares.

“What’s her name?” I goad him.

“Go easy, Logan,” Cyrus says as he pulls my chair out for me and slides it in. “A man is allowed to keep the desires of his heart close.” He sits beside me, looping an arm over the back of my chair. “Let me give you some advice, Eshan.”

And my brother actually looks at him. He’s doubtful, but not entirely closed off.

“Make a woman feel like the most important part of your world, but never forget that she is still her own person,” Cyrus says with absolute confidence. “For if you hold her too close, she will only want to roam.”

“Some sage wisdom there,” Dad says as he wheels over, setting a pitcher of water on the table. “How old are you again, Collin?”

“Twenty-seven,” he lies without hesitation.

I can see it, the look of disapproval on my father’s face. It’s a big age difference, seven years, at least in his eyes. I suppose he’s forgotten he and my mother have eight years between them.

Then again, I did just turn twenty a month and a half ago.

“Have you seen Eli recently?” Dad asks, changing the subject. “I haven’t heard from him in a few weeks, and he hasn’t stopped by.”

My throat instantly tightens and I have to force myself not to glance in Cyrus’ direction. “He’s been out of town with work. Somewhere in Asia. He’ll be back in about two weeks.”

Dad nods, accepting my lie.

Again, I force myself not to look at Cyrus. But I’m so, so aware of every cell of his presence beside me.

“So, tell me,” Mom says. “How did the two of you meet?” She sets the last of the food on the table and Eshan immediately digs in.

I look over at Cyrus, reminding him with my eyes to go along with whatever I say.

“I’d come home from dinner with Amelia,” I say. It’s easier to keep facts straight when they’re blended slightly with the truth. “I’d gotten in a fight with Eli earlier, and went for a walk to clear my head. I honestly hadn’t realized how late it was.”

Part truth.

“There was this creepy guy lurking in an alley,” I say. And I remember the glowing red eyes. The scream that came from my lungs.

“Collin stepped in and the guy ran away before it could go anywhere,” I wrap it up with a big lie. “He took me out for coffee after that, and we just…” I look over at him and he meets my eyes. “Hit it off.”

He reaches for my hand, lacing our fingers together.

He does it under the table, but it’s obvious. Both my parents see the movement.

“Thank you,” my dad pipes up. “For stepping in that night before anything could happen. I…” he shakes his head, at a loss for words for a moment. “It’s a terrifying time of life, having your baby move out of your house, where you can’t protect her all the time.”

I look at Cyrus once more, and remember the night where he actually did protect me from a predator. “He’s always there,” I say. “Watching out for me.”

“I promise you, Mr. Pierce, I won’t ever let any harm come to Logan while she’s with me.”

It’s a punch in the gut.

While I’m with him.

Because if I’m not who he’s looking for, he’s going to move on.

Everyone finishes dishing up and I put a bite into my mouth without tasting it.

“Thank you for dinner,” Cyrus says. “Your cooking really is superb.”

“Well, thank you, Collin,” Mom says. And she actually blushes. “I love to cook. Unfortunately, I couldn’t ever seem to teach Logan a thing. The poor thing can’t even boil an egg.”

“Mom,” I gape in horror and embarrassment. “Really?”

“Yeah, Logan’s not really good at much except playing with dead people,” Eshan teases.

I look at my brother in horror. I could sock him right now. But at the same time I’m glad to see him finally relaxing tonight.

Mom just laughs, and everyone else smiles, too. “I’m sorry, honey. I swear I tried to prepare you to take care of yourself, but it just did not stick.”

Cyrus smiles and looks over at me. “I suppose it’s a good thing we have Fredrick.”

“Fredrick?” Dad questions.

Cyrus looks back over, dabbing at the corner of his mouth with a napkin. “My assistant. He lives with us. He also cooks. Which is fortunate. Since neither Logan nor I know what to do when it comes to the kitchen.”

“What do you do for work?” Dad asks, clearly interested in how Cyrus can afford an assistant.

And for a moment, I panic.

But I should have known Cyrus would be quick on his feet.

“I’m in politics,” he says easily. “An ambassador, of sorts. My work takes me all around the world. It’s what brought me here.”

“So, you’ll likely have to leave at some point?”

I hate that that’s a hint of hope in Dad’s voice.

“Actually,” I pipe up. But my heart rate has tripled. Sweat breaks out onto my upper lip, my skin feels itchy. “I…I needed to talk to you all about something that’s come up.”

All at once, their eyes rise up and fix on me. Dad instantly goes ghost white. Mom looks worried. Eshan gives me a look with narrowed eyes.

“I’ve finished my school work,” I say. I sit a little straighter, and push a little smile onto my lips. “But I’ve been wanting to learn more. I found this apprenticeship online. It teaches you all kinds of different embalming techniques. Mummification, desiccation, immersion. Things not commonly practiced anymore. Stuff I’ve been dying to learn.”

Mom’s expression sours. She hates it when I talk about my work.

“I applied,” I say, making myself smile a little wider, “and I was accepted.”

“Logan,” Dad says, raising his glass to me. “That’s great. Congratulations.”

“It’s just…” I hesitate. “It’s in Austria. The apprenticeship lasts a year.”

Cyrus’ hand goes to my knee under the table and squeezes. I’m not exactly sure how to interpret it.

“Austria?” Mom chokes. “As in Europe?”

I nod, once more making myself smile. “And they’ve already got an apartment for me there and everything. I’ll be studying under some really incredible people.”

“Wow,” Dad says, setting his glass down. “This sounds like an amazing opportunity for you, Logan.”

I nod. Smile bigger. “It’s really amazing. But…” I trail off, and everyone looks at me expectantly. “But I have to leave for it this coming weekend.”

“What?” Mom gapes. “So soon?”

I nod. “I know it’s sudden, and I’m sure going to miss everyone. But I’ll never get another opportunity like this. And it’s only a year. And then I’ll be back, and there will be so many more opportunities for me then.”

Dad smiles. It’s sad. Doesn’t quite reach his eyes. But still, he reaches across the table. “Good for you. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks,” I smile.

Lies. All lies spewing from my mouth.

“And what does that mean for you two?” Mom asks, looking from me to Cyrus. “Surely the both of you know how difficult long distance is?”

“As it so happens,” Cyrus says, looking in my direction. “My work is taking me to Austria for a time. And from there, we’ll see what happens.”

He leans forward, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead.

And my body rips with confusion and excitement.

“Gross,” Eshan says, shaking his head. “That’s my sister.”

And it was just what we needed. Cyrus laughs. Dad laughs. Mom laughs.

And so I do, too.

* * *

Cyrus is a freaking charmer.

A snake when he’s in the political arena.

A family wooing, compliment slinging, belly-laugh inducing charmer in my family’s house.

Where Dad was wary and unsure of Cyrus when we walked in, by the end of the night, he’s sitting on the couch and they’re both laughing about this or that like they’ve been friends for years. Even Eshan laughs and cracks jokes at my expense with them.

Mom and I sit at the dining table after the dishes have been loaded. She watches the boys, her feet propped up on a chair.

“I think you found a good one, Logan,” Mom says quietly. She watches Cyrus’ who laughs loudly at something Dad says. “Anyone who can make your father laugh like that… And I’ve never seen you look at anyone the way you look at him.”

I don’t know what to say. There’s so much she doesn’t know.

But Mom isn’t the first one to say this.

And hearing it… This is dangerous. I can’t fall for Cyrus. I just can’t.

“He’s done something for you, Logan,” Mom says. She reaches across the table and takes my hand. “I don’t know what it is, but you’re just…lighter, in a way, than you have been in a long while. I’m glad you’ve found someone who makes you so happy.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I say through a tight throat.

The hour grows late. Nine o’clock. At ten o’clock my parents send Eshan to bed, which really means he’s just going to go watch TV in his room. I hug him goodnight. Goodbye.

I’m really going to miss the moody little prick.

For an hour the adults sit in the living room. Cyrus plays his part well, tucking me into his side, wrapping one arm around my shoulders, holding my hand. And it’s just a natural fit, sitting with my legs over his lap. He twirls a finger through my hair.

Every moment of the night is pain. Every connection of my skin to his. Every fake loving look he gives my way.

I fall. Down a dark well with no end in sight. But all that can wait at the bottom of it is sharp spikes.

“Are you tired?” Cyrus asks quietly as the night grows darker outside and the hour pushes past eleven.

I shrug, giving him a sleepy little smile for my parent’s sake.

“I know I am,” Mom says with a dramatic yawn. “As much as I love having you here, I think I’m going to have to give in and head to bed.”

Cyrus climbs to his feet and pulls me to mine, holding onto my hand.

“Thank you, so much, for having us over,” he says, smiling at my parents. Dad shakily gets to his feet, standing behind his wheelchair, bracing himself with it. Mom stands and hugs the both of us.

“It was a pleasure, Collin,” she says with a broad grin. “I expect pictures from the both of you when you get to Austria.”

“Promise,” I say, and realize it’s likely one I won’t be keeping.

With goodbyes that shred my heart into a thousand pieces, we end the night.

As we walk down the sidewalk to the car, I look back over my shoulder.

“It won’t be the last time,” Cyrus says quietly. “You’ll be able to see them again.”

I nod. “But it will never be quite the same again.”

Cyrus takes my hand and I look back at him. He raises it to press a kiss to my knuckles.

This one isn’t for show. Not for my family. Not for Amelia.

“It isn’t an easy thing, to have one’s life totally changed,” he says quietly, staring at me fervently with his green eyes. “Human’s thrive on normalcy. They crave it. You thought normal was going to be your life. Were you not born to a vast destiny, you could have lived this life.”

But in the back of my mind, the words echo, but then I never would have met you.

I give him a sad little nod, and together we climb into the car.