We lay there, nestled together in each other’s embrace, relishing in the blissful silence that surrounded us. The only sound was that of our calmed breaths. Sleep beckoned me after such vigorous activities, tugging at my conscious mind to drift into a peaceful slumber. As sleep threatened to take me, my mind wandered off to my parents. Images of their smiling faces danced across memory before obscure images of blood tainted them, jolting me back awake.

I needed a distraction, something to ease my mind away from the painful memories that threatened to break through. I wanted to talk with Julian, discuss any and everything that came to his mind in hopes of keeping my own thoughts at bay. I found myself wanting to know what was on his mind as of right now and, unlike him, I had only one way of knowing.

“Julian?” My eyes were still closed and my head was pressed against his chest.

“Yes?” he responded, his voice barely above a whisper.

“What are you thinking right now?”

His delayed response drew my curiosity and I peeked through a cracked eyelid to find his brows furrowed in thought as he gazed off into the open room.

Concern struck me and I propped myself up on one elbow to get a better look at him.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, hoping it wasn’t something I had done.

“How did that happen?” he blatantly asked. My brows pinched together as my confusion deepened.

“How did what happen?” I asked, puzzled.

“How did your parents die?”

There were many things I found myself comfortable talking about with him now, and why wouldn’t there be, after everything we had been through? That, however, was not one of them. It was something I couldn’t get myself to talk about to anybody. The pain was too much to bear. Just the thought of speaking about them formed a lump in my throat so large I could hardly swallow.

But how could I keep such a big part of me from him when he had his whole life practically laying out on a table for me? I knew of so many dark memories he harbored. It wasn’t fair to keep mine from him for all this time. In all honesty, I was rather shocked that he didn’t already know. He knew everything else that plagued my mind, so why not this?

“You have an uncanny talent of suppressing them from me. It’s impressive for someone not trained to block my abilities,” he said, his voice soft. “You have kept it from me a few times before. Once when I told you of my former blood slave. I even saw them for an instant in one of your dreams before, and again tonight, you shut them out of your mind. Why is that?” His eyes rested on me in a gentle gaze, searching my features for an answer.

I swallowed hard past the lump that consistently grew in my throat, choking on the words as I tried to form them.

“I try not to think about them,” I whispered, forcing away the tears that threatened to sting my eyes.

“Can you tell me what happened?” he asked.

I could tell he was trying to ease into the subject. He was being so gentle, and though he asked, I didn’t feel pushed to tell him.

If I couldn’t speak to him about the things that haunted me, there would be no hope for us in the future.

I sat up straight. “My father died of blunt force trauma to the head when he hit the corner of the kitchen counter. My mother took fifteen stab wounds to the chest and abdomen—”

“No,” he cut me off. “Tell me what happened.”

“I-I was in high school,” I choked out, struggling to get past my nerves. “I had met this amazing guy online and I fell for him. Hard.” I cleared my throat, trying to find my voice.

“He knew all the right things to say. He was sweet and funny and caring, and I don’t know… I just couldn’t help my feelings. I thought I was in love. But then my parents found out. They flipped out, to say the least. And they put an end to it. I went over to Kiera’s to cry about my parents ruining my life. She walked me home.

“He was still there when I found them. Standing over my parents’ bodies, the bloody knife still dripping. He was relieved when he saw me. He held out his hand to me. In his mind, he’d just slain the dragons and rescued me.”

“And did you take it, his hand?”

I looked at him, aghast. “He had just murdered my parents!”

“That implies an answer. But it isn’t an answer.”

He had to know. That somehow made it easier to admit. The one thing I never told anyone. The reason I could never feel anything but shame when I thought of my parents.

“Kiera shot him before I could. She saved me.”

When she saw what happened, she went around to the front of the house and grabbed my father’s gun from the safe in his office. I didn’t even understand what had happened until after the shot rang out and he fell to his knees. Kiera stood there, frozen with the gun still pointed at him even after he was dead.

I had said it maybe a million times over the years, but only Julian would understand exactly how she saved me.

“Please, keep her safe. She means the world to me.” I never wanted anyone else I cared about to be hurt again because of me. “I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to her…”

He tenderly brushed away a tear with the pad of his thumb. “I made you a promise, Abigale. Once we find her, she will not be harmed. And I don’t intend on breaking that promise.” He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. I offered a meek smile and nuzzled into his side, soaking in his warmth.

In a strange way, it felt as if a huge burden had been lifted off of my chest. After holding in my story for so long, I could finally breathe again. All because he cared enough to ask, to learn what had really happened that night.

Julian and I lay there in comfortable silence. A sense of calm had fallen over me. I had connected with him on a whole other level. I was no longer scared of the predicament I had fought for so long. It was the complete opposite of the way I had imagined my life going. I had pictured a strong, successful career in the forensic field, playing doting aunt to Kiera’s future kids, but none of my own. I expected to die alone, half-eaten by my cats before anyone had noticed I passed.

This life was better. It held more adventure. The lifestyle was enticing and enchanting and held so much more than the ordinary world. I doubted I would ever grow tired of it. Or of him. Julian had become a safe haven.

Dawn broke, the fading night sky peeking through the slender window at his bedside. With a clap, the shades lowered, blocking out all light and casting darkness back into the room. I found myself drifting peacefully into dreamless sleep, content with where my life would lead with this strange, magnificent creature I had fallen in love with.

I woke to an empty bed, a fresh set of lingerie lying beside me with a note pinned to its front. My fingertips lightly grazed the elegant script as I read it.

Abigale,

I am sorry I did not wake you. I have gone on another search to find your friend. Breakfast is ready and waiting for you in the kitchen. Maxwell will be patrolling the grounds if you find yourself needing anything before my return. I will be back before supper and anxiously await our next rendezvous.

Stay safe, love.

Julian D.

My heart fluttered. I was unable to control my emotions. I loved when he called me that, even if he may not have meant it the way I hoped he did. It was sweet and endearing, and so heartwarming. It was hard not to be misled.

I slid on the sheer white camisole and the matching white lace panties, the color leaving nothing at all to the imagination as my supple breasts showed proudly through the dainty material. Cotton lace embroidery framed the two-tiered top, dainty flower patterns fading up to the edge of my breasts. By this point, it hardly fazed me at all to be practically nude in front of Julian. It was a bit of a turn-on now. But the thought of prancing around in this piece with Max looming around had me nervous to even leave the room.

Boredom overcame me within minutes, and I shook away my embarrassment. I was sure he had seen his fair share of women in less attire than mine. And knowing how Julian reacted, I was certain nothing would happen.

After finding a notepad and pen in Julian’s study, I wandered out into the courtyard again, deciding to observe some of the exotic plant life that grew around its edges. It had been quite some time since I studied botany, but there were several unique specimens around Julian’s house that had caught my eye yesterday. It would be a good way to pass the time.

I strode from plant to plant, marking down colors, heights, and circumferences of the blooms of each one. He had an amazing assortment of night-blooming flowers planted all over his property, the contrasting colors highlighting the next plant in the silver moonlight.

A strange plant caught my eye, the crisp white tendrils of the flower petals curling and all twisting counter clockwise as its fresh buds began to bloom, releasing a pleasantly sweet fragrance into the crisp night air.

I jotted down its structure, height, and color, wracking my mind as to what the name of the beautifully unique flower was. Studying my notes, it struck me as I watched the moonlight glisten across its white structure. It was a moonflower, a delicate bud native to the Americas and only blooming in the moon’s light. Its round bud earned it the favorable name.

“Abby?” a feminine voice whispered from behind me as I kneeled by the plant. I jumped in response. I’d figured I was alone.

I spun around on my knees to find a woman with wild curly locks of auburn hair almost glowing as the moonlight beamed behind her. I would recognize that mane anywhere.

“Kiera?!” I squealed, my excitement trembling through every inch of my body. I leapt to my feet and we dashed towards each other, our bodies colliding in a tight embrace. My best friend had found me, and most importantly, she was alive.

“How did you find me?!” I exclaimed, my hands clutching her arms as we looked over each other. I was beyond titillated at the sight of her standing before me. I had almost forgotten how beautiful she was.

“What are you wearing?” she asked, concern lacing her words as she ignored my question. I glanced down, and instantly my excitement diminished, my heart sinking at the realization of what this meant. She shouldn’t be here. She needed to leave.

“Never mind that, we need to go. Now! I have a chopper waiting on the other side of the forest. If we’re fast, we can make it out of here within the hour.” She grabbed my wrist and began to tote me along behind her, dragging me towards the tree line in a frantic escape.

I wanted to go with her, to be home again like I had yearned for, to have my job back, my best friend, my life, my freedom. But I was torn between the life I once had and the life I was building now with Julian. I had given him my promise to be his. Not only could I not break that promise, but I didn’t want to anymore. I didn’t want to run. But she needed to. Her life depended on it.

I skidded to a stop, digging my heels into the damp earth to halt her progression.

“I can’t leave, Kiera,” I stated as she turned to look at me with bewilderment.

“What are you talking about?! Of course you can! Come on!” She yanked at my wrist and I tugged back, breaking away from her grasp. Her eyes glued to me in shock, unaware of what was happening here.

“Kiera,” I said softly. “I don’t want to go.” I spoke each word clearly as to make her understand, but that only seemed to deepen her unhinged confusion.

“Abby!”

“No. I’m not leaving. But you need to. You need to leave. Run. Go back to the helicopter and go back home. Forget all about the email I sent you, about anything and everything I told you. Pretend none of it ever existed. You need to get out of here, Kiera! I’m begging you!” I pleaded, trying to make her understand that she was in danger staying here. “You don’t need to worry about me. I promise I’m okay. Better then okay…” I blushed, ashamed of my sudden admission. “But you won’t be if you stay here any longer!”

She stepped forward, closing the space between us as alarm arose in her composure.

“Abby, everything you told me, how this man killed that woman in the club? It was true. I linked everything back to him. He’s a murderer!” she exclaimed “It was not easy finding any information on him, by the way. I spent months delving into his background and after discovering what he had done. I… I don’t think he’s even human, Abby! You are not safe here! You need to come home with me, where it’s safe and I can protect you!”

“Months?” I asked, perplexed by her statement. “What do you mean, months?”

Her eyes softened as realization sunk in.

“Abby… You’ve been missing for almost four months.”

This whole time, I knew it had felt like an eternity since I had been abducted. But I assumed I was being dramatic, caught up in the dragging days I had been here. But the truth was it had been over twelve weeks since I’d disappeared.

“Everyone thinks you’re dead… It’s rare that a missing person is ever found alive. But you can prove them wrong if you just come with me!” she pled, unrelenting.

Her frantic pleas struck me with a most unfortunate realization. Nothing I could say or do would get her to abandon me.

That’s what made what I had to do so much worse.

I bounced in place, conjuring up the courage to scream his name despite my fear of losing my best friend, my sister. My heart raced, the frantic rhythm pounding in my ears as the nerves built in my chest.

With a deep breath, I closed my eyes, refusing to see the betrayal I knew would resonate in her eyes.

“MAX!” I screamed as loudly as I possibly could. My throat stung at the forced volume. My heart sank, shattering into a million pieces at my betrayal to my dearest friend as loud thumps shook the ground beneath our feet. In a matter of seconds, he would be by my side.

Tears fled my clenched eyelids. “I never wanted this,” I sobbed, refusing to look at her in fear of seeing burning hatred for me. “But you gave me no choice.”

Deep rippling growls brought a bloodcurdling scream from Kiera, and I knew that was it.

She would never forgive me for this.

I had lost my sister.