CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

When Selene came to visit me, I felt as though I was dreaming. I felt that same way now, and at any moment I would wake up in Draven’s bed, but nothing was glowing. It was also weird to be staring at my great-grandfather who was almost one-hundred and forty-four years old.

Renzo laughed and threw his head back. “I do whatever the fuck I want.” Then, with a nod, everything happened so quickly.

His mob moved in, going straight for Draven and Athan. I didn’t know what to do as I stood there, watching Draven and Athan tussle, groan, and snap necks. I wasn’t even sure if that would kill a vampire. For what I knew—from TV—the only way for a vampire to die at someone’s hands would be to rip their hearts from their chest even though it wasn’t their heart that kept them alive.

As I watched them go down one by one at the hands of Draven and Athan, there was a little flutter in my belly. I knew that it, too, was worried this could all go wrong. Could Draven and Athan be strong enough to kill Renzo? Was I? What if Selene was wrong? After all, I was only a Fledgling—a very young one at that.

Just as Draven and Athan snapped the necks of the final two, I was lifted off of the ground. “Let me go!” I yelled.

Draven and Athan turned at my words. “Let her go,” Draven growled.

Renzo laughed. “Now why would I do that?”

“I will end you,” Draven snarled.

“You can try.”

Renzo started to retreat with me in his arms. “Stop!” I kicked. I screamed, and in the distance, I heard sirens. Draven and Athan rushed toward us, each of them grabbing for me only to be shaken off by Renzo.

“You two may be strong and older than those I brought with me,” he laughed, “but you’re nothing compared to me.” Draven and Athan tried again, but this time, Renzo held me with one arm and Draven’s throat with the other. “Let him go!” I cried, trying again to wriggle to no avail.

“Kill me,” Draven groaned. “That’s the only way you’re leaving with her.”

“I don’t want to kill you. I want to own you again.” With a twist of his wrist, Renzo snapped Draven’s neck.

“No!” I screamed, locking eyes with the man I loved. His were wide, and then they went vacant.

“You son of a bitch!” Athan roared, and before I knew it, he snapped Renzo’s neck, and I fell to the ground.

“Did you kill him?” I asked, standing and looking down at Renzo. “Is Draven dead too?”

“No. Once they heal, they’ll wake up.”

“Let’s just rip his heart out now,” I suggested.

“I want Draven awake to watch this asshole die.”

“I can’t believe this is happening.”

Athan wrapped me in his arms, and I wished I could cry. I wanted to. I wanted to break down and throw things while the tears streamed down my face. But that wasn’t possible any longer. I also wished cake could comfort me.

The sirens got closer.

“Shit,” Athan groaned. “We don’t have time to clean all this up before the cops get here.”

“What do we do?”

Athan looked around. “Help me put Draven and Renzo in the car.”

“Renzo in the car?”

“Fine, the trunk. I’ll put him in the trunk in case he wakes up.”

“Will he be strong enough to kick the roof off of the trunk?”

“I don’t know, but we aren’t letting him just roam free. We have to try something.”

“Right.”

Athan moved to Renzo and picked him up while I went around and popped the trunk. Then he placed Draven’s lifeless body in the backseat of the car.

“Are you sure Draven’s not dead?”

“Yes, and we need to go. Now.”

“But my mother. There’s a yard full of vampires on her lawn.”

“Fine. I’ll move them to the woods, and you talk to your mother.”

Athan took off, picking up a vampire and leaving before I could respond. I moved to the front door and knocked. The sirens were getting closer, and I knew we only had a few more minutes before they would be at our door.

“Mom, it’s me.”

The door flew open. “What is happening, Calla?”

“Look me in the eyes.” I had no idea how to compel someone because I hadn’t had that part of my training, but I was going to try. Even if it didn’t work, I was hoping she’d listen and trust me. “You need to get in the car and come with us. Please!” I felt my eyes pulse, but again, had no clue if it was working.

Finally, she said, “Okay,” and then she stepped outside in her housecoat and slippers and closed the door behind her.

“Get in the passenger seat, okay?”

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

“Yes.” I opened the door for her and let her slid in while I got in the backseat, placed Draven’s head in my lap, and waited for Athan.

“Is that Dr. Young?”

“Yes.”

“Is he sleeping?”

God, I hoped so. “Yes.” Athan got into the car. “Mom, this is Dr. Young’s friend, Athan.” He nodded his hello and then started the engine.

“Where are we going?” Mother asked.

“Dr. Young’s home,” Athan replied.

We passed troopers just in time as they whizzed by. “Did you call the cops, Mom?”

“I did. My daughter was surrounded by strange men on my front lawn this late at night.”

“Right.” I looked out the window at the dark sky.

“Tell me what’s going on,” Mother pleaded.

I opened my mouth to respond, but then a thought hit me. “Athan, how are we going to get Renzo in Draven’s house?”

“Who’s Draven?” Mother asked.

“Dr. Young,” I clipped, needing Athan to tell me about the situation with Renzo because that was more important.

“I thought his first name was Parker?”

I groaned. “He goes by his middle name.”

“Oh,” she said.

Athan chuckled. “We aren’t letting Renzo in Draven’s house. I’d never let that happen.”

“Then what are we going to do?”

“I’m not sure yet.”

“Who’s Renzo?” Mother asked.

“I’ll explain everything when we get you to Draven’s,” I replied

“Are men after us?” she inquired.

“No,” Athan stated as he pulled into Draven’s driveway. He stopped before going into the garage, and I wasn’t sure if that meant because Renzo would be ripped from the trunk the moment we crossed the line inside or not because he wasn’t an invited guest.

“You just left them in the woods. What if they come for us?”

“Then let them,” Athan said. “But we didn’t kill them because Draven and I feel that no one wants to really work for Renzo.”

“Kill them?” Mother asked, looking at Athan and leaning as far away as she could.

“Some might,” I pointed out, not bothering to answer my mother. Hopefully, she’d think she didn’t hear him correctly.

“They won’t have a Renzo to go back to.”

“True.”

“Get your mom settled and I’ll take care of Draven and Renzo.”

“Okay.” We all got out of the car after Athan opened the garage door with the remote.

“Please tell me what’s going on,” Mother pleaded as I gestured for her to enter the house.

“Okay. Take a seat at the island.”

Her steps faltered as she looked around briefly, and I knew it was because of the kitchen she was stepping foot in. It was amazing. But she didn’t say anything as she took a seat and crossed her hands in her lap.

“What I’m about to tell you is one-hundred percent true.”

“Well, I hope that you’d tell me the truth.”

“It’s not because I won’t tell you the truth. It’s because what I have to tell you is unbelievable.”

“Try me, Calla.”

Okay.” I grinned and took a moment before I dropped the bomb. “Draven, Athan, and I are vampires.”

She stared at me, not blinking, and then she laughed—hard. “Thank you. I needed that after being scared for you and all the drama.”

“No, Mom. I’m for real.”

“Vampires aren’t real.”

“They are.”

“Prove it.”

I turned to the refrigerator and opened it. It was full of only blood bags.

She didn’t say anything.

I walked back the few feet to the island after closing the fridge and leaned down, getting eye to eye with her, and let my fangs descend.

Her eyes widened and then she tried to stand. The chair started to fall back, and I dashed around the island, catching her before she fell to the floor. “Calla,” she whispered.

“I know.”

“How?”

I set her back on the stool. “It’s a long story, and you have to be tired.”

“Calla, I’m anything but tired.”

I nodded slowly and returned to the opposite side of the island. “The other night, I was in a car accident. Draven—by the way, Draven Delano is his real name and Parker Young is his alias.”

“Really?”

“Yes.

“Is he really a doctor?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“That’s good.”

“Anyway, Draven came to help after my accident, and he said I was dying. The only way to save me was to turn me.”

“You were dying?”

“I was, but Draven saved me.”

“How is he a vampire?”

“He was turned in 1928 by the vampire.”

“What?” she breathed.

“Do you remember that picture I found in Dad’s drawer after he died?”

“The one of your great-grandmother, Gael?”

“Yes.”

“I do.”

“The man in that photo wasn’t a man at all. He’s the vampire that came tonight.”

“He’s a vampire?” she whispered.

I nodded. “Draven’s sire actually.”

“How is that possible?”

“I don’t know how Renzo met Great-Grandma Gael, but I do know that he got her pregnant with grandma.”

She was silent and I pictured the wheels in her head turning. “So you’re saying that your father—”

“Yes.”

“And you and Al and Betha?”

“Yes.”

“Are vampires?”

“No. We carry the venom, but we still need to be turned to complete the transformation,” I clarified.

“I was married to a vampire?”

“No.” I laughed. “I mean, I guess some, but he wasn’t.” I wasn’t sure if I was making sense. I thought I’d have more time to prepare before I needed to tell her. Even if it were in the car when we got out of town, I would have Draven helping me. “There’s one more thing I need to tell you.”

“There’s more?”

“After Draven turned me, we … um … got pregnant.”

And then my mother passed out.

My mother was sleeping on the couch, and Draven was in his bed. Athan and I were staring at him, waiting for him to wake.

Hopefully.

“Can we Google this or something?”

Athan’s eyes cut to me. “Google it?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. After everything, I’m not sure if I should be mourning.”

“Draven isn’t dead,” Athan stated.

“What if he is?”

“I’m not.”

I looked back at Draven. He was groaning as he started to sit up. I rushed to him, throwing my arms around his neck. “You’re so stupid!”

“I am?”

“You told him to kill you!” I drew my head back and stared into his black eyes.

Draven cupped my cheek. “If anything were to happen to you, I wouldn’t want to be on this planet anymore.” Draven looked over my shoulder at Athan. “And Renzo? How did you get away?”

“Snapped his neck, and I’m assuming he’ll be waking up soon too.”

“How were you able to do that?” Draven asked.

“Just did. Doesn’t kill him as you know.”

“Right. Where is he?”

Athan grinned. “Inside a whiskey barrel in the backyard.”

“What?” I questioned.

“Can’t he just break out of it?” Draven asked.

“I don’t know. This is the first time I’ve captured a 144-year-old vampire.”

“We better go.” Draven started to get off the bed, and then he dashed out of the door, only to stop when he saw my mother. He turned his head toward me.

I shrugged. “We had to think fast.”

“Does she know?”

“She knows the important parts, and then she passed out when I told her I was a pregnant vampire.”

“When?”

“About an hour ago,” I replied.

Draven rushed to her side. “She shouldn’t still be unconscious.”

“She woke up a few minutes later, and I think she finally fell asleep about ten minutes ago,” I clarified.

“While I don’t want to break up the family reunion. We have our own in the backyard, D.” Athan started to walk toward the door that led to the back deck.

“Right.” Draven stood, and then all three of us dashed toward the backyard. Draven stopped before we got outside. “Stay in the house.”

“I’m not staying in the house, Draven.”

“Please?”

“No. You two aren’t going out there alone. You need my help. Remember what Selene told me? She said I’ll be strong enough to kill him.”

“I know that’s what she said, but I’d rather you stay inside just in case it isn’t true.”

“Will you two stop arguing? Renzo can wake up at any moment.”

I didn’t let Draven plead for me to stay behind again. Instead, I darted out the door. As we stood, staring at the barrel, the top flew off, and Renzo stood, seething and glaring at us.

“You didn’t nail it down?” Draven asked, referring to the top of the barrel.

“I did,” Athan stated.

Renzo roared with an evil laugh. “You should have burned me when you had the chance.”

I didn’t know how killing a vampire worked, but it couldn’t be that easy, right? Break their necks to make them pass out and then just burn them?

“Trust me, I would have if you didn’t snap my neck,” Draven hissed.

I sensed the other vampires before they appeared out of the trees that surrounded Draven’s property.

“So, we’re back to this,” Athan said dryly. “I won’t hesitate this time to burn you after we take out your mob.”

Renzo jumped out of the barrel and leaned against it as though he wasn’t worried at all. “Tell me, Athan. Why’d you choose to leave with Draven? You never fought your transition like he did. You never once back talked me, and I got the impression you were happy to be a part of a real family.”

A real family? Athan had mentioned that he’d one day tell me his story. That has yet to happen.

“I don’t need to tell you shit,” Athan hissed.

Renzo laughed again. “I already know, but does Draven?”

My gaze flicked back and forth between the three men. Athan looked to Draven, and then back to Renzo. I tried to listen to Athan’s thoughts so I could hear the truth, but he was blocking them. I really needed to learn that ability.

“Answer me,” Renzo spat. “Or I will tell him.”

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t anymore.”

“Don’t what anymore?” Draven asked.

But I knew. I didn’t see it coming because Athan had never let on that he did, but it all made sense now why Athan would do whatever Draven asked.

“Nothing,” Athan answered, not looking at Draven and keeping his gaze on Renzo.

“Last chance before I do it,” Renzo stated. “He deserves to know before he dies. Before you all die.”

I moved to stand closer to Draven, grabbing his hand. I wasn’t sure how he’d react to the revelation, and I wanted him to know that I was here for him even if we all died right now like Renzo was threatening.

“Why do you care?” Athan spat.

“I’ve lived a long time, and you know I love drama. Plus, why do you think I made you two room together in the compound?”

Athan and Renzo stared at each other.

“Just tell me,” Draven said. I wasn’t sure if he’d pieced everything together or not.

Athan’s eyes cut to Draven again. “Because I was in love with you.”

I smiled, but Draven’s body went rigid.

Athan continued. “I don’t anymore. Haven’t for a long time.”

“You’re gay?” Draven asked.

“Bi.”

“Why didn’t you ever tell me?” Draven inquired further.

“Because it was a different world. Gays were in the closet, and I fought it. Thought—hoped it was a phase, and I didn’t want our friendship to suffer, so I kept it to myself. It was always better this way.”

“And now?” Draven looked down at me, and I smiled warmly up at him before he returned his gaze back to Athan.

“Now I don’t.”

What if Athan’s true love wasn’t a woman at all and that was why he’d never gotten a woman pregnant before?

“All right. Now that everything is out in the open. You can all die now.” Renzo bared his teeth and then flew straight at Draven.

“No!” I cried and stepped in front of Draven’s body before Renzo could grab him. Renzo spun me so I was standing with my back to his front once again that night. Draven and Athan both clenched their fists and glared at Renzo.

“This time, Draven, you’ll watch me kill your pregnant girlfriend.”

“She’s your great-granddaughter,” Draven stated as though that would change Renzo’s mind.

“And while I wasn’t expecting any of this when I came to Burn Falls, I will get more pleasure from watching you hurt again because you turned on me. You know no one goes against me and lives.”

“I left because I didn’t want to be under your control!” Draven roared. “I never asked for this curse.”

“No one does, Draven. That’s the beauty of being as old as I am. I can do whatever the fuck I want.”

I wiggle in his grasp trying to break free. I felt Renzo’s head nod behind me, and then his mob started to descend upon us. Time seemed to slow as I felt Renzo’s hands go to my neck. Draven and Athan both shouted, “No!” and started to move forward.

Rage and fear coursed through me.

I reached back, wrapped my own hands around Renzo’s head, and pulled as hard as I could. Renzo flew over my shoulder and landed on the ground. I lunged at him and straddled his hips, punching and hitting with everything in me. His eyes narrowed, and then he spun so I was on the bottom.

“You think you’re some badass vampire now?” he hissed.

“I hate you!” I cried, the blood and venom in my veins pumping rapidly.

Renzo smirked. “That’s no way to talk to your great-grandpa.”

I spun so I was on top of him again. “I don’t care who you are. You will never hurt anyone I love again.”

He started to say something else, but before he could, I shoved my fist into his chest and went straight for his heart. Bones cracked, and flesh tore as I penetrated his torso, and the moment I felt his heart in my grasp, I yanked. Renzo’s eyes widened, and we both stared at the black heart in my fist with blood dripping down my arm. My gaze flicked back to him, and as he stared at me, his skin slowly turned grey.

My eyes widened as I realized what I’d done and was holding a heart in my hand. I cringed and flung it as far away as I could. Then to test my strength and what Selene had told me, I reached down and grabbed his head, turning as hard as I could. The ripping of skin pierced through the air before Renzo’s head came loose. I threw it too onto the ground and rolled my shoulders at the creepiness of it all.

Draven and Athan both turned to face the incoming mob. “Leave, and we’ll spare you,” Draven said.

Without hesitation, they darted off.

Draven’s gaze met mine, and he smiled before picking me up and twirling me in his arms.

“You did it!”

I was still stunned, and apparently, Athan was too because he was staring at Renzo’s headless and bloody body. I heard his thoughts as reality hit him.

“Holy shit.”

“You fucking did it!” Draven shouted again with a smile in his voice.

“I … did.” Draven kissed me—hard—after setting me on my feet. “Selene was right,” I whispered.

“Yeah, sweets. She was.”

He kissed me again and then we stared back at Renzo. I wasn’t sure how long, but then Athan spoke.

“I’m going to go burn his body.”

“Where?” Draven asked.

“I don’t know. I’ll figure it out. I’m sure there’s a funeral home—” Athan’s gaze met mine. “Sorry.”

I smiled tightly, knowing he was apologizing because bringing up a funeral home made me think of my father. “It’s okay. Either way, I would have lost my dad. I don’t know what I would have done if he would have just left my family, and right before Christmas.” Draven pulled me tighter against him and kissed the top of my head. “Right. So, you two go celebrate with a fuck or something, and I’ll handle this asshole.”

“Athan.” I reached for him. “I think you two need to talk.”

Athan’s gaze flicked to Draven’s. “Nothing to talk about.”

“There is,” I insisted.

“It was a long time ago,” Athan stated. “I don’t feel that way anymore.”

I looked up at Draven as he still held me in his arms. “You two need to talk.”

“She’s right,” Draven said, looking back at Athan.

“It doesn’t matter, D. You’ve found your soulmate, and I’ve moved on. We’re friends and nothing more. End of story.”

“Athan,” I pleaded. “It’s okay if you still do.”

“I don’t, Calla,” Athan snapped.

“Just let him go,” Draven said. “We’ll talk eventually.”

“Whatever.” Athan rolled his eyes. “Can I burn this fucker now?”

Athan picked Renzo’s body up in a fireman’s hold, and Draven handed him the head before he rushed off into the night not saying anything further.

“Well?” I asked, staring at the monitor of the black and white image.

“Since it doesn’t have a heartbeat, I’m not sure. But …” Draven said, hitting some buttons, “I think it grew some.”

“How much?” I wasn’t showing yet, but that was probably because of the fact I was still thick even if I was all muscle now. I’d heard that strong was the new skinny once, and I was definitely strong now. I wasn’t complaining.

“Not much. If my calculations are correct, I think you’ll have it in about five or six months.”

“Not nine?”

“No.”

“How is that possible if there’s no heartbeat and vampires don’t age?”

“I don’t know, sweets. But the venom in your veins hasn’t stopped pumping since you became pregnant. That has to mean something.”

I nodded slowly, processing what he was saying. “I guess. I just hope the pain is gone.”

He took out the wand and then leaned forward to kiss my lips. “Me too, sweetheart. Me too.”

Somehow we were able to be quiet as we made love while my mother still slept on the couch. It was slow and deep and perfect. Everything about Draven was perfect. And now that everything was said and done, he couldn’t stop smiling, and neither could I.

“What’s going to happen to the coven?” I asked while lazily running my fingers along Draven’s rippled abs.

He shrugged a little beneath me. “Not sure.”

“Does he have a second in command or something?”

“Samuel.”

“Was Samuel one of the vampires that came tonight?”

“No.”

“Is he as bad as Renzo?”

“I think if someone was under Renzo’s control for so long, that it’s bound to be imprinted on them.”

“So we did this for nothing?”

“No. We did this for revenge for your father.”

“And you and Athan,” I corrected.

“Us too.”

“Will he come after you?” I asked, referring to Samuel.

“He shouldn’t.”

“He better not.”

“No, he better not.” I heard the smile in Draven’s voice as he spoke.

Draven and Athan had a long talk while I was at work, and it seems that the revelation that Athan is bi and once loved Draven is now water under the bridge. Though, could one ever truly get over someone they once loved? Maybe if they only thought they loved them. I think Athan will once he finds his true love.

If he ever does.

It took my mother several days to grasp the fact that I was a pregnant vampire, who was dating a much older vampire. I also moved in with Draven because of the sun issue and him having blackout curtains that were programmed to go up and down when the sun rose and set. If you had asked me at Thanksgiving where I saw myself in four months, I would never have told you the story that had taken place since Christmas.

Not ever.

Draven and I sat on the back deck, sipping glasses of blood and watching the water glisten under the moonlight. I smiled to myself as I envisioned Selene looking down on us, and then I silently cheered to her. I honestly believed that I wouldn’t have had the courage to muster the strength to end Renzo.

“Ready?” Draven asked.

“Where are we going?”

He grinned. “It is date night.”

I laughed, throwing back my head. “Every night is date night.”

“I’m not talking about sex, sweets.”

“Then what are talking about?”

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course I do.”

“Then let’s go.” Draven stood and held out his hand.

“Are you going to tell me now?” I asked as he drove north.

“Nope.”

We drove some more.

“Now?”

“Nope.”

A few hours later, Draven took the exit for Fairbanks. “We’re going to see the Northern Lights?”

“Maybe.”

I smiled as I looked out the window at the dark sky. When Draven stopped the car, I realized we were at the same viewpoint as we were the first time we saw Aurora together.

We weren’t there for more than a minute before the lights finally lit up the sky and the green waves started. As I gazed up, I didn’t realize that Draven had dropped to a knee beside me until he said my name.

“Calla,” I looked down on him to see that he was holding up a huge diamond ring. My eyes widened, and I covered my mouth in shock. “The first time we came here, I knew I was in love with you. I might not have admitted it, but I knew at the time that I wished we had forever. Now that we do, I was wondering if you’d spend it with me? Will you marry me?”

I didn’t hesitate before I flung myself into his arms.

“Yes!”