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Thirty-Six

HARLOW

As I’m sliding into a bed owned by a practical stranger—Carina—Morgan knocks on the door before poking her head in.

“Hey, wanted to make sure all is good.”

I’m not even sure what “good” is anymore, but I force my mouth into somewhat of a smile, even if it ends up more as a grimace. “I appreciate the bed. Carina’s okay with it?”

“She’s sleeping in Jasper’s spare room, which isn’t anything new. She uses the place to get away from me. You’ll see her in the morning, because I doubt she’ll be able to stay away much longer.”

“Looking forward to it,” I say, and it doesn’t feel like a lie. “Is he…?”

“He’s down in the basement. It’s windowless, so he’ll be safe.”

“Thank you.” I shouldn’t care about the vampire who would have sold pieces of me for his own amusement, but a part of me does. There’s no name for it other than Stockholm syndrome. It’s the part of me that isn’t sure whether to hate him or not. The side of me that latched onto him outside, craved more, wanted to believe his claims.

“Have a good sleep.” Morgan’s yawn tapers into a sleepy chuckle. “We’ve all been awake too long. Night.”

“Night,” I reply to the partially shut door. A second later, her feet tread down the hallway towards her bedroom, and I recline against unfamiliar pillows, settling into Carina’s bed.

For weeks now, all I’ve done is sleep in unfamiliar beds. Ever since Alec took me, it’s been cells, a spare room, his bed, and now Carina’s. At some point, I’ll need to return home to clear it out and sell it; Morgan will eventually expect me to move back into my family home, where the last bed I had would have been a child’s.

My teeth press into the side of my cheek, biting down on the emotions threatening to take over. It won’t do me good stressing about any of that, especially with how tired I am. The bed is comfortable, and sleep is but a moment away.

It’s sweet of you to care about my well-being, his sarcastic voice echoes around the chambers of my mind, and like that, I’m awake again. I completely forgot about this nifty (irritating) development.

“I don’t,” I whisper into the room, since I can’t reply in his head, assuming his hearing can catch it.

Liar. It’s okay. Your resistance was always one of the things I enjoyed about our time together. Breaking you down, getting you to realize.

“Realize what? How much I hated you?”

How much you tried your damndest not to see a man beneath the monster.

“You are a monster.”

Yes. You know, even before our bond, I could pick up a sense of your emotions. Your heartbeat is quite telling, and mortals often release scents of fear and desire, so I had an idea. There was more than one time you looked beyond my revenge.

Maybe. Like when he told me about his family and, for the briefest moment, I felt bad for him. Before he ruined it with more truths.

Or when he took me from the cell after it got too suffocating. Although, that one was all his fault, because if he never put me down there to begin with, it wouldn’t have been a problem.

Or when he climbed on top of me in bed and for a second, I forgot I hated him. Forgot anything but how much my body craved his.

Sitting in a witch’s basement isn’t how I pictured this day going. Then again, everything with you has been unexpected.

“If you’re looking for an apology?—”

I’m not, he interrupts, the sharpness of his mental voice as cutting as his real one. I’m stating this isn’t anything like I ever pictured happening. Sitting in the basement of a witch’s home, not as a captive, while my Bride is in someone else’s bed. You should be in mine.

The possessive growl attached to his words makes my stomach tingle. Stupid body.

I know you hate me, Harlow, and truthfully, I hate myself too. Outside, you were right about the bond pulling me to you. But that wasn’t only it, and what I said was also the truth. From the moment we met, there was something different about you. Something alluring that sparked a feeling besides hate. But you were wrong about something as well. When we met, my obsession with you began. Prior to that, I was obsessed with revenge. Nothing more, nothing less. I didn’t view the Sinclairs as people, but tools towards my goal. But you…the moment you ran through your neighbourhood, I couldn’t get enough. You think I would have visited just any prisoner? No, I never intended on dropping by your cell until the party. You think I would have cared about your claustrophobia? No, but you’ve been casting a spell on me since that moment, long before your powers returned. It’s a different kind of magick; I feel it. You screamed my name, and I didn’t even think, I just knew I had to get to you. Had to ease your agony. I couldn’t—can’t—stay away, Hellion, bond aside. I don’t understand the connection between us, but it’s solidified the fight I was having with myself every fucking day. The side of me that demanded revenge versus the other half, becoming so addicted to you, not wanting to see you harmed, even by me. I couldn’t see you broken— can’t see you break. It's why I hated you more when the cure didn’t work. You wouldn’t fit in the little box I had prepared for you. Instead, you couldn’t suit my revenge, but I also couldn’t dispose of you like I would have anyone else.

My heart pounds wildly, my eyes unfocused as I try to imprint every syllable from his speech into my head permanently.

“Why are you telling me all this?”

Vampires are known predators, and no matter what he claims, I’ll always be the prey. That speech…it’s simply one more example of the hunt he’s putting on. It’s a method to lure me in, nothing more.

Because, like it or not, we have eternity to figure this out, and I’ll be there every second of it trying to make you see reason.

“What if reason isn’t enough? What if I want love one day?”

There’s silence in my head for a moment. And then another. I stare at the alarm clock on Carina’s bedside table, watching the numbers tick two more higher before his mental sigh comes through my head.

As if you’d love me after everything I’ve done.

Could I? If I gave this an honest shot, could I change my emotions from hate to love?

Haven’t they already begun to? Shifting from hate to like, at the very least. If I truly hated him, I would have ended his life in the castle rather than knocking him out. I wouldn’t have cared that he’s safe from the sun tonight.

Before I can come up with an answer for both myself and him, he murmurs, Sleep, Hellion. You’re tired. Sleep…because we’re far from done, you and I, and you need your energy. I’ll stop talking.

I’m about to scream with frustration, but instead obey his command without a secondary thought, pushing away everything today has brought forth in exchange for much-needed rest.

Alec keeps his promise and doesn’t bother me for the rest of the night.

An hour later, I’m still awake wishing he would.

* * *

I sleep until mid-afternoon, my body catching up on its lost rest. The clock reads 1:02 p.m. when I wake, stretching my leaden body as I slide from the bed and peek between the white curtains.

For half a second, I forgot where I was, but the sight of the Rockies brings it all back. It’s so lovely here, open and natural. What a sight to wake up to each day.

I could get used to living in Banff for sure, I think, letting the curtain fall back into place.

Morning, Hellion.

I ignore him and head out of the bedroom, all but running into Morgan as she’s exiting the bathroom across from Carina’s room.

“Good morning! Afternoon, I should say. I placed a fresh towel in the bathroom if you’d like to shower. Figured you might.”

Considering I can’t recall my last one, yeah. It was sometime before bolting through a forest from a maniacal vampire, getting fucked within an inch of my life, and then my successful escape.

“That’d be great, thank you.”

She slides past me and heads for Carina’s dresser, pulling out jeans and a long-sleeved black top. “You’re about Carina’s size, so these should work. Incant them to adjust, if need be. I’ll have breakfast prepared when you’re finished.”

“Thanks.”

I wait until she disappears down the stairs before entering the bathroom, spotting a towel folded on the edge of the sink.

After a hot shower, it feels amazing to put on clean clothes. With a quick fix of magick, they fit. Then I head down with my dirty clothes wrapped inside my used towel and find Morgan in the kitchen, frying something on the stove.

Movement from the table catches my attention seconds before Carina’s head lifts from where it was buried in her cell. “Harlow, hey!”

“Carina,” I greet, shifting foot from foot, feeling awkward in front of the woman who apparently was once my friend, but having no memory to confirm this. “Sorry for stealing your room last night.”

She waves her hand. “Jasper’s been wanting to beat my ass in video games for a while now, so it worked out. He’s excited to see you.”

“He better not have too many hopes considering I have no memory of him.”

Keep it like that.

I tip my head towards the basement door, biting down on my smirk before Morgan notices. I wonder what she’d do if she knew he could get in my head. It feels like a secret I shouldn’t share with anyone else. Nor do I really want to.

Just because you’re back with the coven doesn’t make you theirs. This Jasper will learn that,or else I’ll rip the magick from his body and make him choke on it.

I cough, hiding my laughter behind my hand. It should be a horrifying thing to hear, but the image of Alec literally trying to rip a witch’s magick from them, which is impossible, is amusing.

Carina sips from her mug, pulling my attention back to the kitchen and away from the vampire in the basement. “He’ll live. Anyway, I’m sure it’s strange being back, but I thought maybe I could show you around town? There’s a reason Banff is so highly visited, and if you’re going to live here, it’d be a shame for you to not do all the touristy shit first.”

“That ‘touristy shit’ keeps the town thriving.” Morgan flicks her fingers towards her daughter, scowling. A spark of blue flits from her fingertip and taps the back of Carina’s head, who only rolls her eyes in return.

“Says the woman who owns a crystal shop downtown. Besides, she’ll be busy setting up for the ceremony tonight, so I figured you and I could hang out. If you’d like.”

I want to, a lot. I’d want to more if I didn’t feel like reality was about to slap me in my face.

Morgan nods her agreement, flipping something from the pan onto waiting plates. “She’s right. I have a lot to prepare for tonight. Not that I wouldn’t be thrilled having you around as I do so, but seeing the town would be much more fun. Also, feel free to drop your clothes by the basement door. I’ll have them washed later.”

Both options sound appealing, but they’re right. The little I’ve seen of Banff is breathtaking, and I want to take it all in. There’ll be other full moons I can observe the setup for.

“I’d love to.”

“Great.”

I slide into one of the free chairs as three plates float from the counter, dropping lightly on the table. They’re filled with eggs, toast, and pancakes, and my stomach growls painfully at the sight.

Fuck, I can hear that. The deep rumble chimes through my mind.

Next time, don’t starve me. Even if he can’t hear me, it makes me feel better having said it.

My first bite of eggs makes me groan. It’s been entirely too long since I’ve had something more than granola bars or an apple. “Real food. You have no idea how needed this is.” A statement for every being in the house.

I have better ways of making you moan.

I choke on the same bite, earning concerned glances from Carina and Morgan that I wave off, wishing I could tell the voice as easily. Maybe it’d be worth sipping his blood so the playing field is even and he can be forced to endlessly argue.

“Thanks for the food…and everything. And keeping Alec safe.” I glance towards the window where the deadly-for-some-beings sun radiates.

Carina’s head whips up from her plate, her widened gaze darting between her mother and me, but it’s Morgan who responds, shaking her head. “Between us, Carina. No one can know we’re harbouring a vampire, not even Jasper. Swear it.”

“He won’t hurt you,” I add quickly, feeling the need to defend Alec to them.

Only if she hurts you. Otherwise, I’m past killing witches.

“Oh, it’s not that. I think vampires are cool, that’s all—not that I’ve ever met one, so I can’t wait till dusk.”

The uncertain look that crosses Morgan’s face suggests she’s not a complete fan of the idea. “My daughter enjoys dangerous things that make my hair turn grey.”

Carina rolls her eyes. “A simple enchantment removes signs of aging, duh.”

Chuckling, I comment, “He can be a bit prickly. I’m still in the process of training him.”

Carina spits out her coffee, giggling, while the rumble inside my head threatens violence.

You haven’t trained me. You’ve just unleashed another level of me. One even I didn’t know existed.

Why do I like the sound of that so much? I’ve seen what he can do when he’s being protective.

You’re intrigued. I feel it.

Ignoring him, I listen to mother and daughter discuss the ceremony tonight while we finish the delicious meal. Carina disappears to shower and change while Morgan cleans the kitchen with a wave of her hand, magick doing all her work.

“I have to go to the shop, but you’ll be okay, right?” Morgan stops by the table. “Once Carina’s ready, you two can head out.”

“I’m great,” I tell her honestly. “I’m thrilled you found me yesterday, truly.”

“I’m glad.” She smiles and disappears into the hallway. A moment later, the front door shuts behind her, and I stand from the table.

Upstairs, the shower still runs, telling me I have a few moments, so I walk towards the basement door, pausing with my hand on the knob. Morgan’s enchantment shimmers, letting me know it’s still active, but when twisting the knob, it turns for me.

Wondering if Alec has sucked out my sanity alongside my blood, I descend the steps into the vampire’s lair.