Page 117 of Vampires of Eden

“No. Not one thing at a time, because I can’t imagine any of that. You don’t know what it’s like because you’re the ‘Golden Prince’ and everyone adores you. But your parents? Your peers? They’d treat me like garbage. As if I were not even worthy of being in their line of sight and I refuse to put myself in that kind of situation again. The fact that you would even ask this of me shows how little you understand about the true nature of Eden and the noxious environment you’re accustomed to. The culture that celebrates you but despises me.”

My entire frame is rigid as I sit folded into myself and sullen. Intense memories of the horrible life I left behind course through my veins. I feel nauseous because the PTSD has taken hold of my physical body.

I breathe, processing and internally repeating my personal mantras. That I’m safe now. I’m far away from that life and things are different.I’mdifferent.

When the silence stretches on too long, I glance up. Alexander stares at me.

“Are you going to say something?” I spit.

“I’m sorry that I upset you.”

“I’m sorry that you upset me, too. This is not how I wanted the morning to go.”

He nods, slowly shifting to his knees. “Me neither. Do you want to finish showing me how to prune the vines?”

I huff, irritated. “So, you’re not going to respond to anything I’ve just said?”

“I think anything I say right now will be the wrong thing. And I don’t want to fight with you, Danny. I really don’t.”

A distinct melancholy in his eyes and expression sobers theindignation flooding my head and heart. It subdues the injustice and rage. I take another deep breath. “Fine… I’ll show you.”

We work the rest of the morning and into the early afternoon. Aside from direct questions for clarification, Alexander doesn’t say a word about our kiss or conversation. He doesn’t laugh or make a single snarky joke and works quietly. Efficiently, for once. He does everything I ask.

It’s fucking miserable.

CHAPTER 26

Alexander

Stepping out of his shoes and walking toward the kitchen, Daniel glances over his shoulder. “Do you want to have lunch together? There’s leftover pasta from last night and I… I could make us a couple sandwiches. All veggies for you, of course.”

Kicking off my shoes, I offer a polite smile. “Thanks, but I’m not hungry. You go ahead. I’m going to take a shower.” I head straight through the living room, down the narrow hall just under the stairs and into my room.

When the door is closed, I lean back and rest my head against the wood. I close my eyes.

He kissed me.

Danielkissedme with such intensity and passion. It was the most brilliant, exhilarating and sensual kiss I’ve ever experienced. I didn’t think kisses like that existed in real life—or that I’d ever be fortunate enough to get one.

But before I had a chance to process and truly revel in it, it’s like he slapped me. Hard and straight across my face. Not physically, but Jesus… it might as well have been.

Idoknow what it’s like for ranked vampires in Central Eden. How could I not? You’d have to be ignorant and clueless to notsee the mistreatment ranked vampires receive. It’s everywhere and not exclusive to Central. It’s in the villages and the impoverished housing. The dwindling population and the lack of available goods and services. The emptiness of this vineyard that needs a full staff and not just three vampires running it.

That mistreatment that Daniel spoke of? It’s the root of Eden’s problems.

Obviously, I’ve misread this situation between Danny and me. It was stupid of me to think that he’d want something serious with?—

Tap, tap.

A soft knock at the door makes me tense and stand straight. “Yes?”

“Will you open the door, please?”

Turning, I grab the knob and pull the door open slightly to view Daniel through the crack. “Is something wrong?”

“I would say so.” He takes a breath and his voice and general presence are much calmer now. He’s back to Zen after the messy and angry explosion. “Are we going to talk about what happened earlier, or… will you keep fake smiling at me, pretending like everything’s peachy?”

“Everything is fine, Daniel,” I reassure him. “I understand your perspective. It makes sense to me. We don’t have to dwell on it.”