“We’re both survivors,” she whispered. “Wounded souls.”
That seemed a little dramatic. He swiveled in his chair to face her. “What wounded your soul, Brynley?”
Her face grew pale. “I-it’s just an expression.” She bit off a chunk of the brownie. “This is so good. Thank you.”
“Brynley. I told you my story. Why won’t you share yours?”
She swallowed and sipped some milk from her glass. “I don’t talk about it. To anyone.” She avoided looking at him, and focused on the flat-screen television mounted on a wall.
Someone must have hurt her bad. It made him angry just to think about it. “I’m not just anyone.”
“You’re . . . you’re on TV!” She pointed at the flat screen.
He frowned at the Blardonnay commercial that had just started.
“Quick!” She shoved at his shoulder. “Turn up the volume!”
With a frustrated groan, he zipped over to the TV and punched the volume button.
“Hello, ladies,” his voice filled the room.
Brynley grinned at him. “I love it!”
He shook his head and returned to the table with the remote control. She giggled when he said he had the family jewels in his hand.
He grunted and took a long swig of Bleer. He’d come so close to getting past her defenses until he’d been interrupted by himself.
“Oh look.” She gestured at the flat screen. “It’s the show Lara was talking about.
On the television screen, Maggie was standing with Heather Echarpe, who was introducing her husband and children.
“Of course, everyone knows that Jean-Luc is a famous fashion designer,” Heather said, glancing at her husband with adoring eyes. “But he’s so much more. A wonderfully loving husband and father.”
Jean-Luc shifted his weight, looking uncomfortable.
“And these are your children?” Maggie asked.
“Yes.” Heather drew a pretty girl close to her. “This is our daughter, Bethany.”
“I know her from the academy,” Brynley said. “She’s a sweetheart. But those twins—my God, they’re a handful.”
After Heather showed off the toddlers, Jean-Pierre and Jillian, she gave her husband a hug. “Did you know Jean-Luc is a champion swordsman? The best fencer in all of Europe.”
“Amazing!” Maggie said.
Jean-Luc smiled, looking much more at ease.
“Would you mind showing us around your home?” Maggie asked.
“I’d love to,” Heather replied.
Maggie smiled at the camera. “My associate will be taking the tour with Heather. Darcy?”
The screen shifted to a sunny day outdoors and showed Darcy in front of the camera.
“This is Darcy Erickson, reporting from Schnitzelberg, Texas. We have a special treat for you. You’ll be the first Vamps to see the Echarpe home in daylight!” She turned, and the camera turned with her to show Jean-Luc’s house behind her.
“Wow.” Brynley sat back. “That’s their house?”
“Yeah.” Phineas frowned at the screen. “I’ve been there before.”
“It’s huge. Is it real fancy inside?”
“Yes.” He sipped more Bleer. “You know, I’m not rich like the old Vamps around here. I can’t afford a place like that.”
“I know.”
He gave her a worried look. “That’s something we don’t have in common. You grew up rich, and—”
“And I was miserable,” she interrupted him. “I don’t care about wealth, Phineas.”
He heaved a sigh of relief. “I make a good salary here, and the commercials pay really well—”
“Phin.” She touched his arm. “I like you just the way you are.”
His heart swelled. He grabbed her hand and kissed it. “You don’t mind anymore that I’m a vampire?”
She winced and withdrew her hand from his grasp. “I was wrong to hate Vamps. I feel bad about it now. I was just . . . so angry.”
“Why?”
She picked up her spoon and swirled it around in the ice cream. “I was devastated when my mom died. And then right after that, Phil got into a terrible fight with my dad and was kicked out. I thought he would come back. But he didn’t.”
Phineas muted the volume on the television. “It must have been hard on you.”
She grimaced. “That doesn’t even begin to describe it. I was abandoned by the two people I loved the most. The only two people whom I could talk to and trust. I—I’ve always felt like my mother didn’t fight the cancer. She just gave up.”
“Why?”
Brynley sighed. “Remember how you were in denial over your father? I did the same thing. I was about twelve years old before I could admit what was happening. You see, as Supreme Pack Master, my father believes he has the right to take any female in the pack he desires.”
Phineas gritted his teeth. “He cheated on your mom?”
“Yes. She endured years of humiliation. Not only was it demeaning to her, but to the other women, too. Some of them were married and didn’t want to be unfaithful. But their husbands didn’t dare say no to the master. Some of the women actually considered it an honor, but the whole thing made my mother so ashamed. She—she didn’t want that kind of life for me.”
Phineas squeezed her hand. “I think she would be proud of you now.”
Brynley smiled with tears in her eyes. “Thank you. I miss her so much. Her death was hard on my younger brother and sister, too. They were just eleven, so I tried to be a mother to them. When they were fourteen, they shifted for the first time, and then Howell thought he was too old to be babied, so he grew more distant. But my sister, Glynis, she’s always depended on me. I hated leaving her there alone.”
Phineas nodded. “You feel responsible for her.”
“Yes.” Brynley took a deep breath. “So after my mother died, Phil had his fight with my father and left. It nearly killed me. I kept leaving notes at Phil’s cabin, hoping he’d see them and come back. I
“You felt betrayed.”
“Yes! And angry. And happy, too. I was delighted to have Phil back in my life, but I was so angry that he’d chosen vampires over me, his twin sister. So I guess I channeled all that rage into a hatred of vampires. Vanda, especially. I’ve been so rude to her.”
Phineas rubbed her back. “It’s okay. I think Vanda understands.”
Brynley sighed. “She’s always been kind to me. I don’t deserve it.”
“Don’t say that. You deserve kindness as much as anyone.”
She gave him a sad smile and touched his cheek. “You’re such a good man, Phineas.”
He rested his hand on top of hers. “Brynley, I’m falling in love with you.”
With a gasp, she pulled her hand back. “Don’t say that. We can’t . . . there’s no future for us. You know that. You said it yourself.”
“I’ve changed my mind. I used to think we were all wrong for each other, but now I think you’re perfect.”
She shook her head. “No! I’m not perfect for anyone. My father would try to kill you.”
“I’m not afraid of him.”
“You should be!” She jumped to her feet with tears in her eyes. “You should stay far away from me. My father will track you down and punish you. You don’t know how terrible he can be. He—” She backed away, a tear tumbling down her cheek.
