My throat suddenly felt dry. The gravity of everything Pierce told me weighed heavily on my shoulders, and I sank into the bed with a sigh.
“I’m sorry, Benji,” Pierce said. “I didn’t mean to unload all of this on you now, when you must be exhausted.”
“It’s okay,” I replied honestly. “It’s better that I know.”
“I can smell the thirst on your breath. Let me bring you some water.”
Pierce left before I could be surprised that he knew I was parched. I guessed his sense of smell was far sharper than a humans, which was neat, like a real-life superpower - but at the same time made me paranoid that I smelled bad.
“Here we are,” Pierce said as he returned. He handed me the glass, and I downed it in two great gulps.
“Thanks.”
Pierce smiled warmly. “Is there anything else you wish to discuss, or shall I leave you to sleep?”
Truthfully, I was exhausted. The bed called to me. But out of all the burning questions, one in particular stuck out. It was the one Ihadto know the answer to.
“Are you serious? About the whole heir thing?” I asked.
Pierce remained silent. I couldn’t read his expression. He crossed the room to the fireplace to put out the low burning flames. The room turned a bit darker.
Finally he said, “Get some rest. There’s plenty of time to discuss that tomorrow. Goodnight, Benji.”
“Okay,” I said, slightly disappointed. “Goodnight.”
He shot me one last kind smile before disappearing behind the door.
As he left me alone, I kicked off my clothes with the last of my physical effort, and collapsed into the bed. Instantly, my mind and body warred with each other. Half of me wanted to instantly pass out. But the other half screamed thousands of questions that echoed in my brain.
Who really was Pierce?
Why was he being so nice?
And what did hereallywant with me?
6
Pierce
My room was nearly pitch black when I returned to it. Automatically my hand reached for the candle-lighter, but then I thought better of it. Even with all my thoughts, it would be best not to stay up and mull over them uselessly. It would accomplish nothing. The only thing that could change the course of our lives now was Benji’s decision.
Vampires didn’t sleep the same way humans did, but we entered a trancelike state where our bodies regained energy without fully losing consciousness. It was best done in total darkness, and since our eyesight was sharp, the lack of light wasn’t bothersome.
We did not dream. Not anymore. But sometimes, like now, I found myself wishing we could. A small, almost guilty part of me wanted to dream about Benji.
Was he truly going to be our savior? Or would he refuse the offer, and leave, never to think about any of us again?
If I was cruel, I could withhold the money and force him into it. But the thought was stomach-churning, and appalled me. I would never resort to that, even if Margaret wanted it.
I wanted true love. Real romance. Not an omega who resented every fibre of my being and would rather I be dead. Margaret might settle for that, but not me.
This was the first moment I’d had to myself since I left the mansion earlier and ended up finding Benji. I tried to collect my thoughts. I hadn’t lied when I told Benji how delicious he smelled. That was the truth. But what I didn’t understand waswhy- why I found his scent so delectable, so utterly irresistible. It was almost embarrassing.
It wasn’t the scent of his blood, although I’m sure that had something to add to the flavor notes. It was justhim, his pure essence, his natural scent. Was it because he was an omega? It couldn’t be - no other human omega I’d ever met in passing instilled in me the same overwhelming urge that took over me every moment I spent in Benji’s presence.
I purposely shut my eyes, though the darkness remained the same.
If Benji didn’t love me, and if I didn’t love him, then that was final. He would leave tomorrow and our lives would go back to normal.
