Page 18

Story: The Vampire's Soul

She giggled, her hands landing on his chest while he steadied her hips.

“Still a klutz, squirt?” He grinned.

“Hey, I’m not the one who weighs a trillion pounds, muscle man.” She slapped one of his biceps, blushing further.

“You’re as tiny as ever. You should eat more.” Mack tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear, and she almost stopped breathing.

They’d been so close growing up. As neighbors, they had played in the same backyards, been at the same parties becauseof their parents, rode their bikes at night in the street along with other kids.

Mack had always helped her when the chain on her bike fell off. Once he’d carried it back to her garage on his shoulder, which she’d thought wassosexy. Ella had propped herself up on the bench, letting her legs dangle while he added some black sludge—probably had a real name but that’s what she called it—and fixed it.

“There you go, squirt,” Mack had said.

“I’m not a squirt anymore, if you hadn’t noticed.” Ella had said, jumping down, hoping her miniskirt flapped up and flashed her panties.

She’d been trying to get his attention for so long.

Now she was a grown vamp with breasts and still Mack didn’t show any interest. Except, she was sure there was more than just friendship between them.

Ella took the bike.

“I noticed.” Mack reached over, tucking her hair over her ear. She’d waited that night for him to do more while the dumb bike felt like a mountain between them. His eyes held hers for a long moment, the air heating until she felt the fire on her skin.

Then he’d moved an inch closer, the bike pressing against her legs, but Ella didn’t care.

This was it.

He was going to kiss her!

“Mazzini!” a voice called—his father’s.

Mack blinked, turned toward the street and yelled back. “Coming.”

When he faced her once more, only the remnants of their chemistry lingered. Then vanished when he rubbed the top of her head. “Keep it greased, squirt.”

Stupid bike.

Mack had never complimented her before, not in the way he just had in this non-descript office inside the Moretti castle. Miles and miles from Seattle and their childhood street.

The way he looked at her with barely restrained hunger had a shiver running over her skin.

It had been months since they last saw one another, but Ella could sense something had changed in him. Was it because of the circumstances they all found themselves in?

The world in chaos knowing vampires existed?

If Mack was working for the king, and she now knew for sure he was, then he’d know a lot more about what was going on.

But it didn’t take inside knowledge to see what was happening right in front of you. Or online.

She’d been nervous traveling. Outside the airports people were holding up boards withVampires are the Devil’s Curse, andDemand the Govt to Cage Them.It was horrible to think these people wanted her dead for nothing more than being who she was.

For centuries, vampires had existed and never harmed humanity. No more than any other animal—or humanity themselves.

They didn’t hunt humans, although they did consume their blood to survive. It was done humanely—for the want of a better word—by managing blood banks and procuring it kindly.

Once they understood, would their world calm down? Would it be safe to live as one and walk the earth together as many vampires dreamed of?

Perhaps she should live for today and not have any regrets? The only one she’d have was not letting Mack know how she felt.