Page 127 of Burn Falls

“Are men after us?” she inquired.

“No,” Athan stated as he pulled into Draven’s driveway. He stopped before going into the garage, and I wasn’t sure if that meant because Renzo would be ripped from the trunk the moment we crossed the line inside or not because he wasn’t an invited guest.

“You just left them in the woods. What if they come for us?”

“Then let them,” Athan said. “But we didn’t kill them because Draven and I feel that no one wants to really work for Renzo.”

“Kill them?” Mother asked, looking at Athan and leaning as far away as she could.

“Some might,” I pointed out, not bothering to answer my mother. Hopefully, she’d think she didn’t hear him correctly.

“They won’t have a Renzo to go back to.”

“True.”

“Get your mom settled and I’ll take care of Draven and Renzo.”

“Okay.” We all got out of the car after Athan opened the garage door with the remote.

“Please tell me what’s going on,” Mother pleaded as I gestured for her to enter the house.

“Okay. Take a seat at the island.”

Her steps faltered as she looked around briefly, and I knew it was because of the kitchen she was stepping foot in. It was amazing. But she didn’t say anything as she took a seat and crossed her hands in her lap.

“What I’m about to tell you is one-hundred percent true.”

“Well, I hope that you’d tell me the truth.”

“It’s not because I won’t tell you the truth. It’s because what I have to tell you is unbelievable.”

“Try me, Calla.”

Okay.” I grinned and took a moment before I dropped the bomb. “Draven, Athan, and I are vampires.”

She stared at me, not blinking, and then she laughed—hard. “Thank you. I needed that after being scared for you and all the drama.”

“No, Mom. I’m for real.”

“Vampires aren’t real.”

“They are.”

“Prove it.”

I turned to the refrigerator and opened it. It was full of only blood bags.

She didn’t say anything.

I walked back the few feet to the island after closing the fridge and leaned down, getting eye to eye with her, and let my fangs descend.

Her eyes widened and then she tried to stand. The chair started to fall back, and I dashed around the island, catching her before she fell to the floor. “Calla,” she whispered.

“I know.”

“How?”

I set her back on the stool. “It’s a long story, and you have to be tired.”