Page 59 of The Vampire Curse

My heart thumps painfully in my chest.

Friend… the word tumbles through my mind, and Otherworld damnit, he is. I don’t know how or when he became so, but he is, even if I didn’t realize it until this moment.

A vampire is my best friend.It explains why it hurt when he released me from our bargain the way he did.

I don’t answer him. How can I?

He swallows. The first sign that he’s not a perfectly carved statue. Then his gaze drops to the floor.

“Don’t leave. I won’t pretend to know or understand what you’re feeling…” The fingers of his right hand stretch out, then curl back into his palm, as if he wanted to reach for me but thought better of it. “Hate me if you must, Clara, just, don’t leave tonight. Heal, and then you can go when you are ready.”

If I didn’t know better, I would say he’s desperate to keep me here.

But he’s not. He wouldn’t have told me never to return if he gave a shit—wouldn’t have lied to me like that.

My jaw ticks with anger that burns away all hesitation.

I spin to face him and wince at the pain erupting through my leg. But I march forward before he can offer to heal me again or say another word.

“You don’t know why?” I ask. I stop before him and look up into midnight blue eyes. My fingernails bite into my palms. “Youliedto me.”

His expression goes slack, full lips parting. I expect him to brush it off. Instead, he gapes, looking entirely bewildered.

“You kept things from me, made me believe there was a purpose to our deal. You asked me to trust you, and when I did… youlied.”

Alaric snaps his mouth closed as understanding dawns on him.

“You should have told me what you were planning. You could have told me the truth about Kathrine… that she didn’t need me, but you let me believe she did as you plotted behind my back, acting as if you didn’t know anything more than I did.” I heave a sigh and let my shoulders slip as hurt overpowers anger. “You lied to me, Alaric,” I finish in a near whisper.

He looks down at his feet. The gesture oddly youthful and so unlike him. It confirms everything I’d figured out. He knew Kathrine had never been sick… that she has never needed me.

“How did you find out?” he asks.

“She was never any good at keeping secrets. Then she mentioned our uncle… which is strange,” I say. “Because our parents never had siblings… then she said his name.” I pause. “Mr. Steward.”

Alaric flinches at the butler’s name. Still, he says nothing.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask. My voice is quiet, soft… and full of the betrayal I feel.

I shouldn’t be hurt, he’s a vampire… I should expect it. After all, they are horrible creatures that can’t be trusted. Except, to be betrayed in the first place, there has to have been a foundation of trust. I’m struck by a twinge of guilt.

But Alaric isn’t like that. He is kind. Honorable. Nothing like the monsters I’d always believed vampires to be.

The man I’ve come to know returns. Confident… yet sadness clings to his eyes. “I wanted to give you the best chance at getting back your old life, if not a little better.”

I wasn’t expecting that.

He wanted me to return to my life as it was before he claimed me. But a few hours with Kathrine made it clear to even me that it was impossible.

I could never go back. That life was a lie I’ve been telling myself every day since Mother was taken. It was never real.

Tears come unbidden and burn my eyes, blurring my vision. I clench my fists again and close most of the distance between us. I pound my fists against his chest. Pathetically weak, a strike that wouldn’t phase a blade of grass.

“Did you honestly think I could go back to that life?”

He lifts a hand and presses it against mine until my palm is flat against his chest. He keeps it pinned there, and underneath, I can feel the even beat of his heart.

“What do you mean, Clara?”