Page 84 of The Vampire's Redemption

Will the other covens make it tonight?Gabby preferred to resolve this as soon as possible instead of waiting another night not knowing Maria’s fate.

No, they’re farther.

“That’s fine,” Nikolas said.

“All right. I’ll see you tomorrow. What time?”

“An hour after sunset at Joshua Tree.”

“Sounds good.” Andrea inclined her head toward Gabby. “It was nice meeting you, Lady Gabriella.”

“Thank you for your help,” Gabby said.

“No thanks needed. I live to repay your generosity for giving me shelter in your land.” Beside her, Nikolas’ hands fisted.

Before Gabby could say anything, Andrea was gone.

What a strange woman. Her last words… no one would antagonize a vampire like Nikolas on purpose. “Who is she? Is she with a coven?”

Nikolas let out a long breath, his fingers unfurling. “No, she’s not. We mediated the peace between her and the two covens in our territory and protect her from other vampires.”

“That’s very generous of you.”

Like vampires, the covens were territorial. A witch coming into a new territory must join the existing coven. Witches were dangerous and powerful due to their combined power. It was highly unusual for a witch to be alone, since a single witch was easy prey for the rest of the supernatural world.

“She’s… helpful.”

Gabby had a sense he meant to say something else about Andrea.

“How are things going with you and Felix?” Nikolas asked.

“It’s…” She heaved a sigh and crossed over to the window. “He blames himself for my death.”

Nikolas lowered himself into the seat and leaned back, stretching out his legs. “That’s understandable. He’s your mate. He felt responsible for you, especially since you were human.”

“But it was not his fault. And he refuses to discuss it. If he cannot move past my death, there is no chance for us.”

“And do you want another chance? Have you changed your mind?”

Had she?

Maria—a deep ache in her chest—had asked her the same thing. Felix had changed, even if slightly. When she’d been injured, he left her as she requested. He asked her opinion and involved her when discussing Jiaren.

Yes, his overprotective nature had almost gotten him killed earlier tonight, but his initial reaction hadn’t been to lock her in the van at the first sign of danger.

What he’d done had been stupid yet reasonable. If their positions had been switched, if she’d thought he needed help, she’d have dropped everything to protect him as well.

He was trying to change. Wasn’t that enough?

Gabby paced the room, her thoughts and emotions a tangle of webs she couldn’t escape.

“I have been running away from him for so long. I fear I don’t know if I can be with him again.” She faced Nikolas, voicing one of her deepest fears. “What if I go back and we make the same mistakes? What if we mess up again?”

Nikolas’ steady and thoughtful gaze was the anchor her out-of-control emotions needed. “Gabby, despite our physical differences, we are still human. We make mistakes, and sometimes we even learn from them. It’s part of living. Neither of you are the same person from six centuries ago. For one, if Felix locks you away again, you will tear down the walls and foundations of the prison and bury him in it.”

She chuckled. “I’m not that bad.”

Nikolas’ smile widened. “My point is, don’t let fear of the past hold you back. Mistakes are part of life. Living with another person isn’t easy, even if you’re soul mates. Things aren’t perfect just because you are meant to be together. You still have to work at it. The important question is, do you want a future with him?”