Page 29

I can’t help feel some anxiety at the fact that Amelia hasn’t messaged yet, and it takes everything in me not to check my phone every few minutes. Focusing on finishing my dish, far too much for just Mom and me, I wonder if I can invite Silva for dinner.

Training usually helps distract me, but it didn’t work today. Back in the day, the Undead were some of the strongest fighters amongst the Supernatural, but as we integrated into American society, we found we needed the ability less. Instead we developed our talent for the art of negotiation. When I was at Tao full time, I didn’t have much time to train, but now, I have nothing but free time on my hands.

Knowing that I need to make a decision doesn’t help matters. Either I tell Mom I’m ready to take Tao over permanently, or I wait for her to think I’m ready. I’ve never been good at waiting for other people, especially when my future is on the line. Pushing the casserole dish into the oven, I lean over the kitchen counter where my phone is charging and see Amelia still hasn’t messaged. Can I blame her after all the times I rejected her? I wouldn’t want to put myself out there again, either. Sighing hard, I make the first move; it’s the least I can do to show her how serious I am about us.

“I’m talking to Mom this morning about our future. Just like I promised. Keep you posted!”

Having never been in love before, I have nothing to compare this to, but I think this is what they mean when they say, “butterflies in your stomach.” Waiting for Amelia’s response is torture, but it's given me the clarity I’ve needed. I’ve been so career driven that I haven’t really lived. I almost lost Amelia because of it.

At the same time, after last night’s events at the ball, it’s time I catch up with Jude while I wait. Shooting off a text to her to meet me for lunch at our favorite hang out, I think, enough with the wallowing in my pity. It's time to start living for the things that really matter. Like the people I love.

Hearing footsteps sounding on the stairs from our second floor, a few moments later, Mom enters the kitchen talking animatedly on the phone. I can only guess with Silva, and she looks stressed. Well, she wanted me out of Tao, and this is what she gets. Trying not to smirk, I grab a bottle of blood from the fridge and down it before passing my mom one. She holds her finger up, letting me know she will be right with me.

Finishing her phone call, she takes the bottle of blood from me and downs it before she says, “Tao was raided by the police last night while we were at the ball. Nothing was found. We were just inconvenienced and losing revenue after we paid the informant hurts, but all in all, it has worked out fine. What’s more disturbing is that another body showed up down the road from us. So soon after Storin, and in Undead territory…I’m concerned about how this will impact the empire.

Spinning to face Mom as she tells me this, my smugness flies straight out the window, and Mom sighs in defeat. “Is it anyone we know? Can I help you in any way?” I ask as Mom presses her lips together in thought as sheconsiders my question, and I can’t help noticing how good Mom is looking again despite the situation at hand. Her dark hair is also in a bun like mine, and she’s barefoot in her track pants and matching sweater ensemble.

“You can’t go back to Tao today. I want you away from this drama.” She starts in her no-nonsense tone. I scowl, but she continues, hands up in mock surrender. “I know things were tense between us last night, but I just had…a feeling. Call it Mother's intuition. It was one of Dominic’s Sorcerers, you spoke to her at one point, and while we’re just getting over the bad press with Storin, I don’t want your name associated with a police raid or the body. Silva will take care of it. Is there something you can keep busy with today instead?”

As much as I want to give in to the petulant child within me, it’s at that moment that I appreciate how much she’s trying, how much stress is on her fragile shoulders again. Not only is she dealing with me and still grieving the loss of her husband, she’s also having to deal with our people being killed off while needing to protect our business dealings.

Accepting Mom’s decision, I make a point of responding, “But tomorrow is it. I want to go back to Tao. You and I both know it runs better when I’m there. I want to do this permanently.”

Mom grins, actually clapping her hands together before wrapping me up in a hug. Blinking in confusion, I’m just about to ask if she’s lost her mind, and if I should call a psych ward, but then she says, “This is how I know you’re finally ready to take things over permanently. I needed you to fight for it.”

My mouth hangs open, the two halves of my reaction at war; I’m enraged at the audacity of this and elated to finally hear her say, I’m ready. Then she adds with a wry smile, “Some of our most loyal patrons have also beencomplaining that you’re not there, so the timing of this has worked out well.”

Once I’ve had a few moments to process this turn of events, I can’t help thinking how this conversation echoes my promise to Amelia, and this is now my perfect opening. “Mom, I need to talk to you about something.”

Sitting down at one of the kitchen counters, Mom grabs a coffee and puts on her glasses while she waits for me to continue. I explain how Amelia and I became friends, until one day, it became something more than that. I swallow as I near the end of everything between us, surprised by the heartache recounting her leaving brings up. Watching her walk away was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, and I never want to go through it again. I need Mom to be okay with her and the future I want with her.

I take a deep breath before finishing what I have to say. “She quit because I rejected her. We never acted on our feelings because I wouldn’t let it go that far. I know it’s almost impossible to be with someone who isn’t from the approved Human Faction, but is there a way for us? There has to be a way, Mom.”

“You know,” she says wistfully, “Dru was just like you. She was in love with her best friend, Renfield, who sacrificed herself so we could make it to America. It’s another reason I didn’t care what your sexuality was when you told me; who you love doesn’t matter to me, as long as they treat you well, and you’re happy. I know you’re familiar with the story, but it sounds like you need a reminder. Dru had similar struggles because not everyone was as accepting of her. But it doesn’t matter; you are not alone.”

Trying to withhold the emotion clogging my throat, Mom continues with her musings. “Dru had children, obviously, because we wouldn’t be here otherwise. But she never allowed herself to love again after whathappened to Renfield. If you truly love Amelia the way you say you do, I don’t want that future of loneliness for you.”

Bowing my head, the pressure of digesting so much mind-blowing information presses on my temples, and my vision turns blurry. My mom notices and gets up immediately. She walks over to me and places her finger under my chin to look me in the eye.

Her voice wobbles, but is so full of conviction I could cry. “You are my child, and I love you no matter what. I will move heaven and hell for you if I can.” She takes a deep breath in, and her eyes fill with regret as she carries on, “But there are some things even I can’t change, which is the need to further our family. If we don’t do that, the rest of the Undead will revolt. So yes, you can still be with Amelia as long as the condition is met. As the Head of the Undead empire, that is something I can make happen.”

I nod, and I get out my phone and text Amelia and tell her I’ve got good news. Kind of. It’s not like we’ve exactly had the chance to talk about future kids, nor is it normal first date territory…We should meet later and talk about it. Seeing the time, I tell my mom, “I’ve got to meet Jude, but there are Dad’s enchiladas in the oven if you’re hungry.”

Giving me a sad smile, she responds, “Go. You should get out more and do stuff people your age normally do. Work will be there tomorrow.” Giving me one final hug, she looks lighter than I’ve seen her in a long time as she goes and puts on the oven mitts as I leave to meet Jude.

After a short drive, I get to mine and Jude’s favorite restaurant, where the staff knows us both by name. Finding my friend already at the table, my stomach sinks as I see she looks upset. “What’s wrong?” I ask her without a “Hello.”

Her miserable voice drips with sarcasm, “I have a fiance. His name is Jayden, and I met him for the first time this morning. Apparently, he arrived while we were at the ball last night.” Sitting down next to her, I signal for a bottle of champagne and respond, “Okay…let’s start at the beginning. Your dad obviously dumped that whole marriage thing on you, and now you’ve already met your fiance? You don’t even have a ring yet. What’s the rush? Can you maybe ask for more time, like with my mom?”

Jude laughs bitterly, “You forget, my mom is not like yours. If they had their way, I would be fucking Jayden already to get pregnant, wedding be damned. Autumn is pregnant already, a boy apparently, and now I should play my part too. Dad threatened to have me taken care of like Alyssa did to Sebastian’s sister if I didn’t go along with things…so I don’t think I have a choice.”

Leaning over, I hug Jude. “We’ll figure it out,” I tell her. “It's not the worst thing we’ve ever been through.” Thoughtful, I add, “Want me to explode your dad’s head?” I was just imagining doing this last night, and I got carried away with the idea. I’ve never tested my magic that way, but I know I could do it.”

Laughing, Jude wipes her tears of frustration away and changes the subject. “Where did you disappear to last night?”

Set to tell her everything about Amelia, my phone finally chimes with the text I’ve been waiting for, and I look down, and my face falls. “What's wrong?” Jude asks. Looking up at her, I tell her, “I’ve just been broken up with over text. After I convinced my mom that Amelia and I truly love each other.”

A waiter sets a bottle of champagne down in front of us and pours me a glass, and I wave him on to speed it up. When he leaves, I down the glassand top it off again, still in disbelief that after putting myself out there, and keeping my promise to her, Amelia just threw that back in my face. And just like that, I know what rejection feels like.