“Donovan’s one of my best friends and Sam’s my cousin.”
“And you grew up together?”
“Yes, Sam’s parents died when he was young, and my parents adopted him. We were like brothers growing up. But when my parents divorced, it hit Sam hard, and he started staying away from home more often.”
“Why’s that?”
“I think he felt abandoned, like everything was falling apart,” Connor explained, his voice softening. “After the divorce, he thought he didn’t fit in anymore. He started hanging out with some rough crowds.”
“Did you ever try to talk to him?” I asked.
“I did. It took a while, but eventually he came back around. He started playing music, and I think in a way that helped him.”
“So, you’re back to being close again?”
“I wouldn’t say that …” Connor’s expression changed. “We’re adults now, we have our own interests, and sometimes I don’t agree with the things he does.” His expression grew serious as he drank from his glass.
I seized the opportunity to cut to the point. “You mean like killing people?”
Connor choked on the water he was drinking, “Excuse me?” He looked at me in disbelief.
“You said you don’t agree with what Sam does, because he kills people,” I repeated, locking eyes with him. The truth dangled between us on an invisible thread. “Actually, not people. Vampires.” I cut that thread, hesitated, and then glanced around the restaurant as if checking for eavesdroppers.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about. I saw the weapons in your van, Connor.” I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms, determined to keep the conversation grounded.
He stared at me for a moment before nodding, his expression turning serious.
Our food arrived, and the waiter set down our plates with a clatter. Silence filled the space between us as he left, and Connor turned his focus back to me.
“Sam is my distant cousin. Our grandfathers were brothers. We share a common heritage, but I don’t always agree with his methods,” he explained, a hint of animosity creeping into his voice. “Sam believes that Vampires killed his parents, while my family insists it was a car crash. Still, my dad taught him the ways. Tradition is important, he always said.”
“So, you’re both Vampire hunters?” I asked.
“Yes, Rose. But we call ourselves Slayers. It runs in the family,” he replied, his gaze steady. I knew I should be scared, but instead, a nervous chuckle escaped me. I didn’t expect Connor to be so truthful. This was more complicated than I had imagined, considering they were in the Slayer bloodline. They weren’t just trained to kill my kind. They werebornfor it. Deadly weapons in human form.
“A Vampire Slayer, really?” I teased, batting my lashes and resting my chin on my hand. “Is this the part where you tell me garlic is your favourite seasoning?”
His serious demeanor shifted to amusement. “I can give you the family recipe if you want.”
“Wow, I didn’t realize I was sitting across from a monster Slayer,” I said, half-joking but intrigued. “So, you believe in Vampires, then? I mean, you’re not just killing random people, right?”
“Vampires kill people, too. It’s all complicated,” Connor said. “I don’t know why I am telling you all of this. I must sound crazy.” He shook his head.
“No, I believe you.” I pierced a piece of lettuce with my fork. “My mother used to tell me stories about them when I was little. But they were just bedtime tales—nothing real. How can you tell who a Vampire is?”
“Probably what you expect. They can’t go out during the day, they can’t go into churches … I’m not great at it, but Sam’s really into that. He has a knack for it, a good nose for finding them, you could say. He lives for the hunt,” he explained, sending a shiver of unease through me.
“I think you’re probably better than you give yourself credit for.”
“You’d be surprised by how real it all is.” The weight of his words settled heavily in the air. “But, like I said, it’s all complicated. Sam thinks he’s doing the right thing, and sometimes I worry he’s lost sight of who he really is.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“He’s become obsessed, and it’s dangerous,” Connor admitted, his voice lowering. “There’s a fine line between killing the monster and becoming a monster yourself. I just don’t want him to cross it.” He sighed, leaning back and running a hand through his damp hair. “I don’t particularly enjoy this trade, but it’s something I must do. I believe there arecreatures out there that prey on humans, and I can’t stand by and let that happen. It’s not just about killing Vampires. It’s about defending innocent lives.”
I admired his honesty, but a pang of sadness echoed within me as I thought about my father, Vail’s father, and the other fathers from our town. They’d all shared a similar mindset.
“You’re protecting your family,” I said softly.
