Chapter 27 #3
“When will it be over?” Miranda exchanged a look with Alicia.
My fists tightened. “One last detail to take care of.”
“You’re going to kill Felipe,” Miranda said. “You have no choice.”
Alicia reached for her drink and took a sip. “How do you go on, Daumia?”
I took her hand in mine. “I have you.”
Her eyes glazed over. “I want peace.”
“He’ll never come near you again.”
“Whatever you plan to do, please be careful, Daumia,” she said softly. “I couldn’t bear it if anything—”
“It’s almost over.” I leaned forward and stroked her cheek, wiping away a tear.
A creak outside the kitchen door gave away the person who’d been listening there.
Alicia sprang to her feet. “Ricardo, what are you doing up?”
A wave of anxiety overwhelmed me at the thought he’d overheard our entire conversation.
He ran to Alicia and nestled into her bosom, and she carried him out, back to his room.
I reached for my glass and then thought better of it. Staring at the wine, I yearned for its taste.
Or something like it, something forbidden.
Miranda stood up from the table. “Ricardo’s unruly like his father.”
Unable to lower my gaze, I stared at her pale neck, at the pulsing of her perfect veins.
Miranda gave me a knowing smile. “After everything you’ve been through?” She sat down on my lap, her bosom lingering close to eye level. “I know what you are. Go on, have a sip.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Yes, you do,” she whispered, her intense gaze meeting mine.
My shirt collar was stifling me. I loosened the top button.
She nuzzled closer. “You even smell different.”
The promise of those blue veins beckoned me to taste that alluring, delicate stream.
“I think you’re confused.” I gave her a thin smile.
“You were impaled. It was a mortal strike.”
“I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Felipe left you in the courtyard to bleed out. I was there.”
“You’re wrong.”
She slid her finger into my mouth and rested the tip on an incisor.
I pushed her hand away. “What you saw, or what you thought you saw—”
“I wanted to stop him,” she said. “I couldn’t believe Felipe’s cruelty.”
“That makes two of us.”
“Had I done anything, he’d have killed me. Forgive me.”
“I’m sorry that you had to see Salvador’s murder. And my torture.”
“I saw your murder, too.”
“No one comes back from death.”
I read Miranda’s mind and swore to extract every thought from now on, to reach into the very core of every human interaction, shake off this guilty feeling of trespassing. Self-preservation took precedence. Miranda may have watched my attack, but she’d not witnessed my rebirth.
“I need some fresh air.” I tried to gently ease her off my lap.
She wrapped her arms around my neck. “I couldn’t do anything to save you,” she said, tears in her voice. “I was so afraid.”
“You did the right thing.”
“Please tell me…what are you?”
“Miranda, you have no proof.”
She reached into her skirt pocket and lifted out a small, gold-rimmed hand mirror. Before I could stop her, she held it up in front of our faces.
I gazed into the glass and saw Miranda’s reflection, but not mine.
I was too tired to deny the truth any longer.
Miranda lowered the mirror. “She did this to you?”
“Who?”
“Sunaria.”
Frustrated, I pinched the bridge of my nose. “She saved your life.”
“And changed yours. It explains how she knew Felipe’s men were coming.” She gripped my wrist. “She moves in a certain way. Like you do, now.”
I avoided her stare, trying to ignore her alluring scent.
Just a sip of her blood. Do it for her.
I tried to resist the lie of my own desire.
Miranda blinked long lashes. “What does it feel like to be immortal?”
“I don’t actually believe that part.” I leaned back. “Where did you hear such things?”
“Do you know how seductive you’ve become?”
“I’ve not had much time to think about it.” I laughed at her ridiculous statement.
“Make me into what you are.”
I studied her carefully. “This is a curse.”
“It can’t be. Please…turn me.”
“This thing, whatever it is, has made me do terrible things. Being like this is not what you think.”
“But you’re perfect now.”
I smiled. “I was perfect before.”
“You’ll live forever.”
“I don’t think so.”
“You’ll never grow old.”
“How do you know all this?”
“My husband traveled to Transylvania.” Her eyes widened. “He brought back documented evidence...”
“Show it to me.”
“And you’ll turn me?”
“I can’t promise that.”
“How is it done?”
I’m not staying like this. I will find a cure.
“I’m childless,” she said softly. “I’m ageing.”
“Never discuss this with my sister, do you understand?”
“I’ve thought it through.”
“I’m sorry. You’ve always been so kind to me and to my family.”
“Then repay me.” She flicked strands of hair away from her neck and with her hand on the back of my head, guided my lips to rest against her soft skin.
My fangs grazed her. My thumb brushed along the lace of her bodice, lingering over the material covering her hardening nipple, caressing the bud until I’d elicited the very moan from her that I needed to hear.
Miranda’s fingernails dug into my back.
With willpower I didn’t know I had, I pulled away from her.
“I’ll think about it,” I whispered.