“Eliana, you have a home here. Always. Nothing that happened last night changed that. Nothing ever would.”
“Okay.”
“I’m so sorry for all the reasons I’ve given you to doubt me. Will you be coming home after you’re done visiting with your parents?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Will you and your mother still join us for dinner tonight?”
“I don’t know.” I glanced at Dad, who was listening closely. “I need to go. I’m having breakfast with my parents. I’ll text if I’m not planning on coming home tonight so you don’t worry.”
I said goodbye and hung up before she could say anything else.
“Baby, we’ve all let you down, haven’t we?” Mom said from behind me. “I wish Megan were here. She wouldn’t have let any of us get away with this. Why don’t you call her and see if she’ll visit?”
Panic stormed through me.
“Oh, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Having someone at your side who you trust is always a good idea,” she said. “Call her.”
The hard look in Mom’s eyes warned me that there was only one answer.
“I’ll call her. Tonight. Today, I just want to spend time with you and Dad, okay?”
They both quickly agreed. Dad and I finished making breakfast while we listened to Mom’s plans for the grand opening of her club. The excitement in her voice and Dad’s encouraging comments and helpful suggestions conflicted me.
I knew Club Blayz’s true purpose and didn’t care if it ever opened. The controlling frost giant meant it to be my feeding grounds, which was the only reason she’d agreed to it, and I was extremely tired of her games.
“You’re very quiet, baby,” Mom said. “Everything all right?”
“Everything’s fine.”
“The sign’s going up today. Would you like to come with me to see the progress?”
“My love, you need rest. You’re growing our next precious child.”
“Jason, breakfast was lovely, but you know I need to eat.”
Dad swallowed hard and looked down at his plate. Mom rose gracefully, gliding to his side. A shudder ran through him as she stroked a finger along his jaw, tipping his head so he looked up at her.
“What am I?” she asked softly.
“The love of my life. The reason I breathe. The purpose of my existence.”
She smiled softly.
“What am I?” she repeated.
“A succubus. A creature who feeds on sexual energy.”
“And without it?”
“You die.”
“I die,” she agreed.
“Feed from me,” he begged.
