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“Honey, you need to talk to Erin.” Mother talks softly to me like I’m a child.

“It’s not that simple and you know it,” I grind out.

“This is a unique case,” Dr. Mendhi interjects before my mom can reply to me. “I can’t tell you if the side effects will get worse for certain. It’s an educated guess. I would like to monitor you over the next few weeks. Or until you can cement your bond.”

“Have you ever dealt with this before?” I ask.

“Once,” he states and grows quiet. I definitely do not want to know what happened to the vampire in question. “I suggest you get some rest now. Stay hydrated, and call if you need me.”

As soon as the good doctor is gone, my mother swoops down on me like a vulture, ready to pick at me until I surrender. Holding my hand up to stop her, I take a moment. “I know what you’re going to say. Please don’t. I meant what I said. I’m doing this my way. Of course, I will take into consideration the physical side effects I’m going to suffer. But please, I beg you all to let me handle this.”

“Okay, love—”

“Harlan,” Mother barks.

“Victoria, Amelia is right. This has to be her way. We would never dream of interfering with another vampire’s mating. We cannot do that now.”

“But this isn’t a normal mating,” Mother spits.

“No, it’s not. We don’t know how it will work out, but we have to trust our daughter to do what is best for her and Erin.”

“Please, Mom, don’t fight me on this.”

“Ridiculous!” she snaps, storming out of the room.

“Can I have a minute with Amelia?” Marcus asks. My family filters out after giving me kisses. Lucille socks me in the arm instead. That makes me feel better.

“Are you going to argue, Marcus?”

“No, I understand, and I agree with you. However, you have to adapt to this new information. I’m not sure you can take things as slow as you would like with Erin, not now.”

Begrudgingly, I know he is right. If the pain I felt today is just the beginning of the side effects, I hate to think about what is to come. “I need to think.”

“Yes, you do.” He leans in and kisses me on my head.

Finally, I am alone. Without delay, Erin’s face swims through my mind. The ache in my stomach pulses. How am I going to get through this in one piece? Marcus is right. I need to adapt my approach. As much as I would love to get to know Erin over the next several months before making my interest known, I can’t wait that long.

Chuckling, I think how ridiculous I sound. Erin surely knows where my interest lies. What she doesn’t know is how my very soul aches for her. That her presence is causing me pain. That she is the one person on this entire planet that can make me whole.

Ten

My mother has me mainlining red, like that’s going to solve all my issues. Her constant scowl is the residue of yesterday’s discussion. She is furious that I will not let her, or my family involve themselves. I have tried to reason with her over the past twenty-four hours, but it is in vain. Victoria Loch is the most stubborn and hardheaded vampire I have ever known.

“Mother, if I drink anymore, I’m going to pee the bed. Please don’t make me suffer that indignity.” My playful tone finally elicits a nano grin.

“Fine. I’ll leave it on your bedside table.”

“Thank you.”

She spends the next few minutes tidying my already immaculate room. I understand she is worried, but she’s driving me to distraction.

Marcus knocks on the already open door. He has taken to popping into my room about as frequently as Mother. I never pegged him as a mother hen type. “Amelia, you have a guest. Are you feeling up to a visit?”

“Yes, who is it?”

“Erin.”

Just the sound of her name jolts my heart. I snap my focus to my mother. She shakes her head at me. “I didn’t invite her.” Her answer satisfies me. Mother might be bullheaded, but she would never go against my wishes.