Chapter 2 #3
Ivy sorted through the information that had been thrust upon her.
Leseldh had turned—no, Created—her as a Vampire.
Although she knew Vampires lurked in the shadows of Noctis, she’d never actually met one before Leseldh.
And to suddenly be one? It was surreal. She was no longer Human.
The finality of that hammered into her—but the more she thought about it, the less concerned she felt.
Life as a Human, especially a Human in Naum, was so mundane.
With her father gone, her existence was savagely dictated by her mother: the friends she kept, the men she dated, the jobs she worked.
Annabel was the closest thing Ivy had to a friend, but she still had to censor herself around her.
Ivy knew she was meant for more than working a menial job in the Shopping District.
But that was always held tantalisingly out of reach—Ivy’s past was wielded like a weapon by her mother and used to control every aspect of her life.
The events that led to her Creation were the first choices Ivy had made without her mother’s influence, and that fact excited her.
Of all the things she was leaving behind in Naum, her mother and the acquaintances collected on her behalf weren’t ones she lamented saying goodbye to.
And then there was Leseldh. From the moment they met, she had felt an inexplicable magnetism towards him.
Their conversation had flowed so easily, and she felt it had little to do with the alcohol.
She also couldn’t deny her attraction to him—he was charming, confident, handsome.
None of that had changed after his bite.
Although she should have felt deceived by her Creation, she couldn’t find it in herself to be upset by his actions.
Could she really be his Resonant? It seemed preposterous.
Was he really saying that I’m the reincarnation of his Mate?
He spoke with such conviction, and the passion she saw in his eyes was compelling, to say the least. He truly believed, and what eroded her doubts was the strength of her feelings for him, even though they’d just met.
Then there was the painting of Malia in his study.
At first, she thought it was a ruse to convince her; a ploy to win her heart.
But when she saw how old the portrait was, it decimated her doubts.
It explained the way he seemed to be so taken with her—of course it’d feel like he was picking up where he left off.
Could this explain the pervasive feeling Ivy had that something was missing from her life?
Could this male be what she was searching for?
Things could be a lot worse. The size of this house eclipsed the tiny apartment she shared with her mother in Naum.
Being back in Noctis thrilled her—she hadn’t been here since her teenage years, and she’d always found the place so alluring.
If her mother hadn’t kept a vice-grip on her for all these years, this might have all happened years ago.
Leseldh was willing to give her time to adjust, so she decided to at least try. Perhaps this new path she found herself on would lead her to the satisfaction she couldn’t find in Naum. How’s this for a change in direction, Hannah?
Ivy had been in the tub for so long that the water had gone cold without her notice. After drying off, Ivy found new underwear in the armoire and slid the velvet dress back on. With her body and mind feeling refreshed, she decided it was time to explore her new home.
The hallway was quiet and desolate, and Ivy took stock of the rooms surrounding hers.
Her bedroom was at the end of the hallway.
Something told her that the room across from hers belonged to Leseldh.
A bathroom was situated between the two rooms, full of white tiling, gold hardware and an enormous shower. Leseldh’s study door was now closed.
A door to her right was open, and Ivy saw a bedroom that was begging to spill its secrets to her. From the hallway she could see part of what looked like a large bed with rumpled, navy silken sheets, and a round rug that covered almost the entire room’s floor.
Ivy’s curiosity got the better of her and she found herself stepping into the room, taking in all the luxurious details.
As she stepped onto the rug, she noticed it bore a sky full of constellations woven with golden thread.
The wall behind the bed had a large mural of clouds painted upon it in glorious shades of blue, with golden accents.
Pendant lights shaped like stars hung over the foot of the bed.
Two large windows offered a view of the rear of the house, and a bookcase was nestled between them.
Opposite the bed, a pair of double doors opened out onto a balcony.
Her feet carried her towards the doors, but a voice interrupted her curious roving.
“While it’s not unusual to find a girl in my room, they’re usually here on my invitation.”
Ivy whirled to face the door and found a gorgeous male she didn’t recognise leaning against the door frame. As their eyes met, she noticed a look of shock cross his face momentarily, but he mastered his expression before she could call attention to it.
“I-ah, I’m sorry, I—”
“—You must be Ivy.” He pushed off the door frame and prowled into the bedroom.
He moved with confidence that instantly marked him as a Vampire, even before she saw the flash of his fangs when he spoke.
He walked in a circle around her, eyeing her in silent assessment.
As he appraised her, she did the same to him.
The male was younger than Leseldh. His blonde hair was of a similar length, but it fell about his shoulders in rebellious waves.
His piercing eyes were two different shades of blue—one was light, while the other was an intense cerulean.
She also immediately noted his pointed ears, hinting at a Fae heritage—another race of creature she’d never encountered before.
He wore blue jeans, heavy boots, a form-fitting white t-shirt that showed off his muscular torso, and a leather biker jacket over the top.
A mischievous smile played on his lips as he eyed her curiously.
“How did you know my name?”
“Leseldh told me he brought a Fledgling home.”
“Fledgling?”
“It’s the term used for a Vampire in their first year.”
“You’re… Finare?” She hoped her assumption was correct.
“You’ve heard of me as well, then. Hope I live up to the rumours.” His voice was smooth and enticing, and as his smile morphed into a grin, Ivy couldn’t stop her own smile from growing. Finare was trouble, and he knew it.
Finare turned on his heel and headed towards his bed. He sat down and leaned back, propping himself up with his elbows.
“So, did you join the Idthraki clan of your own will, or is that too personal of a question?” Despite remarking on his question’s probing nature, Finare didn’t display any guilt over posing it.
“It is, but since I’m invading your privacy, I guess it’s only fair you invade mine.” She paused before responding, trying to decide how to respond. “It was… not how I had planned for my night to go.”
Ivy’s eyes roved the room again before ambling towards the bookcase between the windows. Finare’s eyes tracked her, but he didn’t protest. Instead, he let out a small chuckle at her response to his question.
“I hear you. I felt the same.”
“Really? How did your Creation go?” She looked over her shoulder at Finare with interest.
Finare blew out a breath and a haunted look rippled across his features before returning to a neutral expression.
“A story for another time, perhaps,” he responded in a softer voice.
Ivy didn’t push. In lieu of a response, she turned her attention back to the bookcase.
Assorted objects were scattered on the shelves: piles of books stored haphazardly, interspersed with trinkets and tools.
She ran her fingers along the spines of the books, gleaning what she could about this male’s character from his possessions: eclectic, yet chaotic.
“How are you coping with the change, then?” he asked.
When Ivy turned around, she realised Finare was watching her intently.
He had one leg tucked beneath him, while the other was still in contact with the floor.
He’d also shucked the leather jacket while her back was turned.
She got a better view of his muscular arms, but she quickly averted her eyes before he caught her staring.
She tucked her hair behind her ear before facing Finare. “Fine, mostly. The whole Mate stuff is probably the weirdest thing for me.” She noticed his expression change as she said the word ‘Mate’.
“What do you mean?” He cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes at her.
“Leseldh told me that I’m his Resonant. That’s why he Created me.”
“Of course.” Finare gave a slow nod, but Ivy detected a bitterness in those two words. She sensed a shift in the energy in the room and immediately felt that she’d overstayed her welcome.
“I’d better go. I’m sorry if I upset you.” She retreated from Finare’s room before he could respond. She abandoned her exploration of the house in favour of the security of her room.