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“Good girl. Right, let’s have some coffee and get to work.”

“What work are we getting to?” I ask, amused. The whole scenario is surreal.

“Yesterday you told me about a legend or tale, one about a vampire mating successfully with a human,” Erin answers.

“Yeah, but it’s just that Erin, a myth.”

“Nope, I don’t think it is. We all know most myths and legends have some grain of truth to them. I think this is the same.”

“Why?”

“Because in all the thousands of years vampires and humans have coexisted, I find it doubtful there has never been a match between the two species.”

“Have you found any proof?” I know I sound like I’m trying to shit on her theory, but truthfully, I’m scared to get my hopes up.

“I think I have,” Marcus calls. “I’ve been wading through folktales all night. The tales are from all across the globe. Usually different countries have different versions of the tale, which in this case is true, but there is a common thread. Every tale talks of a raven-haired vampire born of the original, who fell in love with the human daughter of the first human.”

“Maybe,” I mumble. “Or it could be bullshit and just a story that got passed down.”

“I’m going to smack you,” Lucille announces. “It’s not solid proof, but fuck Amelia, it’s a start. Get off the negative train and start helping out.”

“Lucille’s right,” Erin adds. “Buck up, we have work to do.”

My eyeballs feel like sandpaper. If I have to read another old scroll, I’m going to drown myself in the pool.

“I need a break,” Jacob whines. “I can’t see straight anymore.”

“Hear, hear,” I call. Slowly I get up from the table. My back is on fire from the position I’ve held for too long. “Oh Christ, I’m going to need a chiropractor after this.”

“Amelia, it’s injection time,” Erin calls.

“Great,” I groan. Walking towards Erin, I stumble. A pain shoots in my chest. Erin is next to me in a flash. Without asking, she draws me in close, pulling my head down, kissing me with abandon.

“Did that help?” she whispers against my lips. I nod. “Okay, let’s get you medicated.”

We’ve got the whole injecting me in the ass thing down. Minutes later, we rejoin the family. “I think it’s time we bring in the council,” my father says. “I know we wanted to keep it in the family, but they have access to more information.”

“Will the elders be pissed we kept it from them?” Laurence asks.

“We didn’t. Your father and I spoke to a few people we are close to, remember? The Grand Master is still unaware, but I don’t think we can keep it from him any longer.”

“Will Amelia be safe?” Erin asks, with no thought of her own safety.

“Yes, Erin, don’t worry.”

“Unlike humans, we don’t punish vampires that are different,” I snap.

“Whoa there, slugger, what’s with the attitude?” Erin laughs.

“Amelia hates humans,” Lucille unhelpfully supplies.

Erin rounds on me. “Is that true?”

“No, I don’t hate humans, but I have some issues.” Honesty is the best policy, right?

“So, you have an issue with me?”

“Honestly, I did when I first found out you were a human.”