Page 60 of A Vow for the Vamp

I’ve been an asshole by not telling her what I had planned. She deserves to know.

I turn in my seat to face her. “I need to confess.”

Layla slips her hand from mine because she knows when I lower my voice to a serious tone that I’m about to drop a bomb.

“I had planned to face the sun the night I met Teddy.”

“What?”

Layla’s fangs drop. She never lets them drop. Yep. She’s pissed.

“Why? Why would you—”

Her voice cracks, and she turns away.

“Fuck you, Millie, for making me cry. You know I don’t like to get my face bloody.”

“I’m sorry. Obviously, I’ve changed my mind, but you have to understand… I tortured myself for the things I’ve done. The innocent lives I took. I convinced myself the world would be better without me. I was miserable, bored, and lonely. Of course, I had you, but I was holding you back from great things—”

“The hell you were!”

“Layla, please. You had given me companionship, and I knew I would never get that type of friendship again. You deserve more than being my advisor.”

“And you thought ending your life would have, what? Released me?”

“Yes.”

“That’s absurd, Millie May.”

“I know. I realize that now. I didn’t want to bother you with my depressive thoughts, and I sought an easy way out.”

She scoffs. “But then you met Teddy, and he’s your blood mate. Your chance at true love. Is that the only reason you changed your mind?”

“Heis the reason, blood mate or not.”

“Was I not enough for you to stay?”

“You will always be enough, but I was blinded by my horrible past. Teddy helped me realize that I’m not the monster I convincedmyself to be.”

“I could have convinced you of that if you had just talked to me.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I’m an idiot.”

Layla sighs, her tense demeanor softening. “Youarean idiot, but Millie, I’m here for you. I will always be here for you. Anytime you want to talk. Or if you need to see someone else... a professional...”

I take her hand again and squeeze it once. “Thank you, but trust me, I’ll never have those thoughts again.”

Layla nods and turns her head to stare out the window. The silence between us lasts for an agonizing two minutes. I know it was that long because I anxiously counted in my head.

She huffs. “So what now? You turn Teddy and live happily ever after as Vampire Queen of New York City and her fledgling prince consort?”

“Yes and no. Yes, we will live happily ever after, learning to love each other. But I will no longer be queen.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I want you to have my crown. At least, that is what I will tell the council once I abdicate.”

“Millie, you can’t.”