“Nathan, as you’veeven said yourself, this is my life. Whatever happens,whatever comes up, I just have to deal with it.”
“Not this time.” Hefinished stretching and gave me a wide smile. “From now on, youdon’t have t’worry about stray Vampires. You can concentrate onwhat’s important—finding Marko, and saving your family.”
He was right. WithNathan as Colony Leader making sure the Vampires behavedthemselves, it meant that my family and I could concentrate onfinding Marko and finishing this stupid family legacy once and forall. There wasn’t enough Vampires left in the UK to cause anydamage. They had been told they couldn’t feed on humans anymore,and those that listened, well, it would cut down on deaths and thecreation of Bloodlings. Those who did would be made an example ofone way or another, and Nathan would deal with the victims bygiving them a choice, with a full explanation on what it wouldentail—death or immortality.
By taking on thisposition which he still didn’t fully understand regardless of hisargument, he had just made mine and my family’s life a loteasier.
The realization hitlike a ton weight. I stared at him. “Please tell me you didn’t dothis for me.”
He shrugged. “I toldyou I’m doing it so I’m of some use.”
He’d put himself indanger to help me out.
“You’re my family,too.”
“A Vampire in thefamily?” He stated in a shocked tone, hand on his chest. “I’m sureyour Da would love that.”
“You were family to mebefore you were a Vampire, and I don’t turn my back on family.”
“You just almost slicetheir throats a couple of times.”
“Hey, both times werea reaction due t’shock.” I indicated to him. “I didn’t expect tosee you ever again, let alone in such a state.”
“Yeah, I know. I knowI’m a shite friend.”
“No, just a shitehuman being, but that’s been sorted.” I gave him a smile and closedthe distance between us. “I don’t know what is going t’happen, butI will make sure you’re equipped for anything. Having you turnedt’dust is the last thing I want.”
“The Slayer has onceagain admitted that she cares about the Vampire.”
“The friend caresabout her friend.”
He slid a look to theleft. I followed his gaze.
“What do you keeplooking at?”
The space behind uswas empty. The entire trio of houses were empty. We were once againalone.
“You.” His reply wassoft, almost a whisper.
I turned back to him,my brow furrowed.
A grin curled hismouth. “You are what’s kept me going through all of this. Aftereverything, the least I can do is make life a little smoother foryou.”
“That’s not yourresponsibility.”
“I want it t’be.” Heplaced his hands on my shoulders and squeezed gently. “I want youto know that from now on, you can always depend on me.” He rolledhis eyes and glared at the empty room. “What I mean is I’m notgoing anywhere.” His gaze met mine. “I’m immortal so I’ve literallygot all the time in the world.”
“You as an immortal.”I shook my head. “I’ve only just realized what a terrible idea thatis.”
“And a very lonelyone, but for now, I’ve got you.”
I gave him a smallsmile. “And I swear as long as I’m around, you will never be leftalone in this upside-down world of ours.”
He moved his righthand down to my chest, placing his hand over my heart. His coolfingertips brushed across the skin at the top of my breast, and theair caught in my throat. I wanted to bat his hand away at the clearcrossing of barriers, but the sad, serious question that left hismouth made me pause.
Those blue eyes lockedon to mine, causing memories to rush back, of the last time we saweach other when we were both alive. “Cross your heart?”
I placed my hand onhis chest and tried not to let stray tears fill my eyes as I metemptiness. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that despite nolonger having a beating heart, Nathan had somehow remained thebig-hearted fool I had always known.
“And hope to die.”
His hand slid up tocradle the back of my head. He ran the pad of his thumb across mycheek and pressed his forehead to mine. “Not if I have a say in thematter.”
Epilogue
Tuesday27th October, 2015
Farr, Scotland
I pulled up outsidethe ruined house of The Pack. Well, half a ruined house. The secondstorey had disappeared. Scaffolding surrounded what remained.Cement machines, diggers, trucks, and other building equipment weresituated at the right hand of the courtyard.
I switched the engineof my Range Rover off and sat staring out at the half astructure.
Dante had messaged twodays ago to say Heather was back and she was resting.
What did that mean?Was she tired? Was she ill? Had she been hurt? There were manyreasons she could be resting, and not knowing was both worrying andirritating.
None of that washelped by the fact that trying to get in touch with the two maleshad proven useless yet again. Thankfully, after at leasttwenty-four hours of stress, Nathan had reminded me that Dante hadgiven me Heather’s new mobile number, which kept going to anautomated voicemail. Not reassuring.
So, they had left mewith no option but to get back up to Scotland. They couldn’t ignoreme if I was in their faces.
Still, I felt rudejust showing up here without them knowing. Not that that hadstopped me last time, but still, an invite would have made me feelless apprehensive.
Technically, it wasn’twrong of me to come here as we had all agreed to the part in thecontract that stated we would be welcome no matter the time of dayor day of the week.
I reached for mymobile and hit redial on Carter’s number. At the very least, Icould try one last time before I stormed in there demanding to knowwhat the hell was going on. At least that way when he looked at mepuzzled, I could tell him to finally check his phone and that I hadtried to let him know I was planning on visiting.
Surprise, surprise,voicemail.
I hit Dante’snumber.
I couldn’t understandwhy they were being so quiet. Sure, a lot was going on, which wasmade clear with the construction site outside my window, butsurely, one of them could have
