“So, when did you find out about David?” I asked.
She sighed. “When I couldn’t stand to be apart from him any longer, I sought him out. Of course, he was thrilled to see me, and we began to meet in secret almost nightly. I fell in love with him, and he said he loved me, too. He promised he’d ask my father’s permission to court me and then, someday, marry me.”
I adjusted to sit cross-legged, and the pain that had been ever-present in my stomach lessened a little. I blew out a breath.
“But then, one night, he just bit me. He didn’t give me any warning. He never told me what he was,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.
My eyes widened, and I forced back a gasp of horror and disgust.
“Naturally, I was scared and confused. But when I saw his face… his fangs… my blood dripping from his lips…” She closed her eyes as if reliving the memory was too painful. “Of course, I tried to run and scream for my father, but David was much faster. He captured me, and I was too terrified to run again, so I let him explain.”
My heart ached for what Whitney went through, how scared she must have been.
“He made it all sound so glamorous.” She laughed bitterly. “He promised me an eternity by his side, and like the naïve girl I was, I believed him. I didn’t even try to stop him when he changed me.”
I momentarily closed my eyes.
“When the transformation was complete, David was gone. He left no word of where he went. I was scared. Confused. Thirsty. Heartbroken.” She shook her head, her body tensing.
Gently, I set my hand on her arm. “I’m sorry he did that to you,” I said.
“Thanks.” She gave me a grateful smile. “I had no idea how to be a vampire, but everything inside of me just instinctively knew that I needed blood. I drank the first thing I could find—the neighbor’s pet chicken.”
I scrunched up my face at that mental image.
“My father caught me. He said some truly awful things to me, and then he said I was no longer his daughter. He made me leave.” She hung her head.
“Oh, Whitney. I’m so sorry,” I said. I was starting to sound like I didn’t know any other words, but what else could I say?
“Wyatt refused to let me be on my own, though, and he left with me. I told him everything that happened with David, that I was now a vampire,” she said. “I fully expected him to run back home, horrified. But he didn’t.”
“Wyatt seems like a really great guy,” I said with an encouraging smile.
“He’s the best.” Whitney stood and stretched. “He begged me to change him, but I had no idea how, and I was terrified of killing him. So, we spent a year looking for David, or for any other vampire, really. Turns out, vampires are very good at hiding.”
I laughed.
“Eventually, we found a vampire named Macaih. He took us in, changed Wyatt, and taught us how to be vampires.” She wandered into the kitchen. “Want another drink?” she asked.
“No, thanks,” I said. “So, you’ve never seen David again?”
“Nope, and I don’t want to.” She shook her head vigorously. “Because if I ever see his face again, I’m going to kill him.”
Her tone was venomous, and I swore I heard her growl, a low menacing sound that had a small tremor of fear slithering up my spine. I made a mental note to never get on Whitney’s bad side.
“Do you like being a vampire?” I asked.
She shrugged. “Back then, no. But now it’s not so bad. You learn to adapt, and soon, it’s just who you are. You really don’t dwell on your human life. At least, I don’t.” She snagged a can of soda from the fridge, then returned to sit on the couch.
“And Wyatt? I mean, he chose to change, so he must like it, right?” I asked.
“Oh yeah. He loves it,” she said with a dramatic laugh. “I think that’s why he and Jax get along so well. Those two own what they are. They make no excuses or apologies.”
“Neither does Trent,” I said, twisting my empty water bottle in my hand. “He likes being a vampire, too.”
“I offered to change you for him,” Whitney said, her gaze intense and probing.
My eyebrows shot up, and my jaw dropped. “You did?”
She nodded. “I know he can’t because of the curse, but I could. Then, you two could have an eternity together. I could give you what was taken from me when David disappeared. Of course, I won’t unless you want me to.”
I stood and headed to the kitchen, needing some space. I tossed the bottle into the recycle bin and took a deep breath. “I don’t want to be a vampire,” I said.
“Yeah, Trent told me that,” she said. And in the blink of an eye, she was in front of me.
I yelped with surprise. “Don’t do that,” I said, placing my hand over my now racing heart.
“Sorry.” But there was nothing apologetic in her tone or her expression. “Look, Trent’s a great guy, and he loves you so much. If you never change your mind about wanting to be a vampire, he’s never going to leave you. But if you do change your mind…” She shrugged. “I’m willing to help.”
“Thanks,” I said, and I sincerely meant it.
“Of course.” She grinned, flashing her bright white teeth at me. “Okay, enough gloomy talk. What should we do now?”
“I don’t know, but no more food.” I laughed and clutched my stomach. “I’m stuffed.”
Whitney tilted her head, studying me. “You’ve been doing that a lot tonight.” She nodded at my belly. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I think it’s just too much junk food and laughing too hard and stress. I’m fine.”
“If you say so.” She glanced around. “Oh, let’s put on some music
