I couldn’t resist a playful tease, so I leaned in just a little, letting my lips curl into a sly grin, my voice just above a whisper. “If you’re lucky.” Then, in a smooth motion, I slid out of the van and closed the door.
I glanced back through the window and added, “See you around, Connor.”
“Goodnight, Rose,” he replied with a soft smile. I walked away still feeling his eyes on me.
Once in my room, I flicked on the table lamp, and it cast a soft glow around the space. The curtains breathed in the night’s breeze from the window I left open. I looked down the street just in time to spot Connor’s van turning a corner. A strange, almost electric tug pulled at my chest, and I realized, without quite knowing why, that I would be seeing him again.
I straightened, a decision forming in my mind. I wouldn’t drink from him. Not yet anyway. He knew my name, and that changed things. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t have a little fun with him first.
I hadn’t let myself think like this in ages. Normally, I didn’t trust humans. But something about tonight had felt different. For years, I had built walls around myself, pushing people away, and keeping my distance. But tonight, after seeing Vail again, something had cracked, leaving me feeling exposed.
I took a quick shower, washing away the dirt and blood from my legs, the hot water soothing the tension in my body. I scrubbed at the dirt from beneath my nails, but my manicure covered it well enough. I wrapped a robe around myself and padded barefoot across the dingy motel carpet.
I reached to close the window and saw a bat swooping through the tree lines.Draven, I thought. His name flickered through my mind, as it often did when night fell, or bats flew across the sky. I blinked, and the bat vanished, swallowed up by the trees.
A bittersweet smile tugged at my lips as memories of Draven resurfaced. The years had blurred, but the memories of him, the first time we met, of the desperate ache that had bound us together, remained as sharp as ever.
I lay down on the bed, and it creaked under me. I tried to relax, but the anxiety of my earlier fainting spell lingered. I hadn’t felt that vulnerable in so long, and it unsettled me. What had happened? Why had I reacted that way? My fingers moved to the spot where my mother’s necklace used to sit, but it wasn’t there. I hadn’t worn it in years, but its absence pressed against my chest, a constant reminder of the day I met Draven.
One of the worst days of my life.
SIX
March 7, 1891
After enduring a long, cold winter, the first days of spring had finally arrived. My mother and I had spent the day bringing the garden back to life. The sun beat down with renewed warmth, and I sprawled out on a blanket in the garden. Even though it was still brisk, I lay there, hoping to absorb its comforting heat.
The branches above me swayed; their movements synchronized with the soft creak of my mother’s wooden rocking chair on the porch. She was absorbed in her book, a steaming cup of tea cradled in her hands. We cherished moments like this. Longer days meant shorter nights, and shorter nights meant less time for Blood Hunters to roam.
Our home, tucked deep in the woods just outside of Elmcross, was both a sanctuary and a trap. Blood Hunters naturally avoided daylight, as the sun burned their delicate skin. But there were exceptions. Over the years, I’d caught glimpses of them, stray figures lurking in the shadows during overcast days, when the sky hung heavy with clouds, and the sun was nowhere to be found.
I looked to the path leading into the woods, silently hoping for Vail to appear, as she had so many times before. Things had grown complex between us sincemy birthday when she kissed me by the river. Despite my attempts to downplay it and assure her that it was of little importance to me, she had avoided discussing it, often citing the need to rush home and help her grandmother. I understood her need for space, hoping she would come around eventually. Pushing her further away was the last thing I wanted.
I wasn’t sure how long I lay there, but my eyes became heavy with relaxation. I rose and looked at my mother. “I am going into town, Mama. Do have you need of anything?”
She looked up from her book, her brow knitting with concern. “No, Rosebud. But don’t take too long. A Slayer passed through yesterday and told me they are organizing a hunt nearby. They spotted a Blood Hunter not far from here.” Her tone held a subtle unease as if she were reluctant to let me go.
I reached for my coat, then turned back to her, pausing for a moment. “Don’t fret,” I said gently, placing a quick kiss on her cheek.
She offered me a soft smile, though her eyes still carried worry. “Take care, and do not travel after dark.”
“I love you,” I promised, making my way down the path.
In the forest, a smile graced my lips at the sight of the snowdrops blooming beneath a tree. I plucked one, its petals delicate under my fingertips, and tucked it behind my ear. A sudden crack of a branch breaking underfoot startled me. My heart skipped, and I stood up quickly.
Henry stood in front of me, a smile gracing his lips.
“Hello, Henry,” I said softly, my gaze fixed on the dark curls adorning his head.
“Rosalia.” He took a step closer to me.
My heart quickened with anticipation. I had first met Henry at the winter solstice party a few months ago, and since then, our secret meetings by my house had become a regularoccurrence. We shared a mutual agreement to keep our relationship strictly physical. If our families were to discover us, they would undoubtedly hope for a courtship to ensue. We cared deeply for each other, but we weren’t prepared to take things further.
Henry closed the gap between us, his touch gentle as he cupped my face, and our lips melted in a fervent kiss.
Things escalated quickly, as they often did. I began to unbutton Henry’s pants, while in turn, he eased off my coat. His hands quickly explored beneath my shirt.
Afterward, we lay on our coats, which were spread across the forest floor, my head resting on Henry’s chest. His fingers idly twisted my hair as we gazed up at the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves and watched birds fluttering among the branches.
