Page 79 of Vampires of Eden: Oliver

“Go ahead.”

“Has he asked to feed from you? Or has he tried?”

“No. Never.” This detail is none of his business, but I want to tell him that I even offered myself and Aries refused.

“Well, that’s good,” Alexander says. “I’ve heard that there are first-gens out there who will do whatever it takes to latch themselves to a purebred to feed from them. There’s even a whole black market that deals in purebred blood. They sell it for astronomical prices.”

“That’s dark. I’ve never heard of anything like that.”

“There are a lot of dark things beyond the walls of Eden, Oliver. Trust me.”

“It’s not all flowers and sunshine within the walls of Eden, either.” Of course there are a lot of things that I don’t know. But Aries has nothing to do with that. “You’re suggesting that I’m being naïve again. That he’s only interested in me because he has ulterior motive.”

“No, I’m just sharing valuable information that might be relevant to you.”

“Whatever.”

“I’m being serious. Your father has kept you so isolated that you’re cut off from a lot of things. If we were together, you’d have more space to learn and do what you wanted… At least, that was my plan, anyway. What are we going to do, Oliver? What do you want?”

Here he goes, asking me questions that I’m not certain I should answer truthfully. “You don’t want to show Lord Blakeley these pictures?”

“I already told you that I’m not doing that. Your father and my mother are both so… outdated. They don’t need to know about this. But what about me and you? Can we possibly make this work? Do you even want to?”

It feels as if I’m being pushed into a corner. A few minutes ago, I had room to think about my circumstance and try to figure it out on my own. I didn’t know what to do, but I felt as if I had time. Suddenly, there’s no time and I have to make a decision, now.

I set my palms against my thighs as if to hold myself steady. I’m afraid to admit this to him, but I don’t have a choice anymore. “I want to be free and independent. No more vampires telling me what to do, where to go, how to dress and orchestrating my entire life. I want to arrange my own life. Make my own choices.”

Alexander is quiet, but it feels good to have spoken these words—my truth and sincerest desires. He’s right in some ways. I don’t know what awaits me outside the walls of Eden. Whether it be black blood markets or shady vampires with ulterior motives… I can’t imagine. But I’m willing to risk it if it means leaving this golden cage where everything is artificial and forced.

“How do you plan to do this?” Alexander asks after a long pause. “How are you going to get this freedom and independence?”

“I don’t know.”

He looks toward the window, thinking. “May I ask you for a sincere favor?”

“What is it?”

“Can we get through the next five days together in Central? Can you just… try to be open and honest with me like this? Then we’ll decide what to do. Maybe we talk to your father or… something. I don’t know.” He shifts his gaze to meet my eyes. “But first, five days. Is that fair?”

I’ve already been stuck in this awkward situation with him for the past fifteen years. Part of me thinks, what’s the harm in five more days? Admittedly, him knowing the truth already feels better than upholding all the lies and pretending I want this.

Even still… “I’m not going to magically fall in love with you because you’ve decided to be nice to me for five days. To be clear.”

“I didn’t say that you would, you twat. I can’t believe you just said that.”

I shrug. “You asked me to be honest. Here it is.”

“I already regret it,” he huffs, shaking his head. This makes me laugh.

“Fine,” I say. “Five days. I’ll behave myself in Central.”

“No.” He whips his head up to look at me. “I didn’t ask you to ‘behave yourself.’ I asked you to be honest andrealwith me. There’s a difference.”

“Alright. I’ll be honest with you. Deal.” Alexander’s shoulders relax and he nods with relief. I raise an eyebrow because I’m surprised. “You’ve… taken all this pretty well.”

“What do you mean?” he asks.

“I don’t know. I’d expect you to scream at me and call me even more names than usual.”