Page 111 of The Silver Fox Vampire

She felt—different.

Stretching her arms above her head, she yawned. It was weird, but she felt like she was truly comfortable in her own skin for the first time in her life. Finally, she opened her eyes and looked around.

Where was she?

And then the door opened, and in walked Oliver, with a steaming mug in his hand.

His face lit up. “Oh my gods, I go to make myself a cup of tea and that’s the moment you wake up.”

“Oliver,” she breathed. He was by her side in no time. Putting the mug down, he knelt by the bed. Taking her hand, he kissed it repeatedly, then laid it against his cheek. “My beloved,” he murmured over and over. “Let me look at you.”

They gazed into each other’s eyes, and Clare realized that her vision was enhanced in a way she’d never experienced before.Every detail of Oliver’s face was heightened. How beautiful he looked, with his dark eyes, his silver hair disheveled, his joyful smile belying every one of his two-plus centuries. She studied the lines around his eyes, the furrow between his brows, the length of his lashes. The burgundy light in the depths of his midnight eyes.

In turn, his gaze panned her face, brows furrowed.

“What’s the matter?” she asked.

“Just checking you’re okay.”

“I feel amazing.”

“No aches and pains?”

“No.” She sat up, “I’ve never felt better. Oh, wait—my shoulder blades feel a bit weird, though.” She wiggled them.

“In what way?”

“Kind of—weighted, I guess. Heavy.”

His lips twitched. “Hmmm. What do you remember?”

She frowned. “Um… bits and pieces, but it feels like a dream. There was the most horrible stinking ugly beast and Matteus was there and… and I think I cut my arm with a knife and fed the humans. Or did I dream that?” He shook his head, and her eyes flew wide. “Oh gods, Oliver, are they okay?”

“They’re fine. I mean, as fine as you can be when you’ve been sucked dry most nights for weeks. But they will be fine.”

“Natalie?”

“She’s recovering at home with her parents. She wants to see you sometime—to apologize.”

“She doesn’t need to apologize. I’m just glad she and the others are safe.”

“She really doesn’t remember much of what happened. None of them do, and frankly Clare, that is for the best.”

Clare’s brows furrowed as more memories surfaced. “And Oliver… you were there, they were going to…” Her free hand flew to her mouth to stifle a cry.

“Shhh, it’s okay, they didn’t. You saved me, Clare—and together we saved the others…”

They sat for a moment while she took this in.

“There is one thing you need to know,” Oliver said. “Apart from the fact that I love you.” He sighed, cradling her hand against his cheek.

“Oh, who is this big softie?” Clare teased, lapping up the attention.

“I really don’t know. You turned a grumpy old guy into… a complete marshmallow.” His face became suddenly serious. “Talking of turning, what I was trying to say was, I—I turned you, Clare.”

Her chin retracted. Well, no wonder she felt different today. “Oh…”

“Things had gotten pretty desperate. It was our only choice.”