“I will do no such thing,” she said. “Not until I know the omega is pregnant.”
I shrunk back behind Pierce, wishing I could disappear into the floor again. Being the subject of her ire was both demeaning and terrifying.
I thought my mind was playing tricks on me when I saw Margaret’s hands curl into claws, but when I blinked, they didn’t vanish. My throat tightened and turned dry.
“Shall I reach in there with my hands and find out, mother?” Pierce asked dryly.
But Margaret wasn’t in the mood for his antics. She stepped towards me, her eyes darkening - literally. The previously white sclera turned grey, then black, and I lost my breath. Out of her lips poked out long white fangs and a low hiss filled the air.
“Margaret, enough!” Pierce snapped. He stood in front of me protectively. I’d never felt both so safe and so frightened at the same time.
The white returned to Margaret’s eyes, but the nasty glare she held on me didn’t go away.
“We’ll take the test tonight,” Pierce told her, “and then youwillleave Benji alone.”
Margaret considered this. She licked her lips, and the fangs faded back into her mouth. “Fine. I will wait here until - “
“I’m back!”
Theo waltzed up the staircase, faster than my eyes could see. He should have been out of breath from climbing so many stairs at once - hell, I would have been keeled over - but he still looked fully energized.
In his hand was a small paper bag, which he held out to Margaret. She snatched it from him without even a word of acknowledgement. Theo’s bright expression faded into a slight frown, and I felt a pang of sympathy for him. He was obviously working so hard to please her, but she was too busy being pissed off at Pierce and I to notice.
“Take it,” Margaret demanded. “Now.”
Pierce and Margaret stared at each other, like two unblinking snakes sizing each other up before striking. I barely dared to breathe.
With a slow, deliberate motion, Pierce pinched the bag from Margaret and handed it to me. He broke first, turning to me and placing his hand protectively on my back as he led me back into the room. He made a point to shut the door behind him.
When Margaret was out of sight, I allowed myself to breathe again. “Oh my god. Not to be rude, but your mom isscary,Pierce.”
He shook his head slowly, as if to himself. “She’s not acting like herself. Even if this is a desperate situation, she shouldn’t be allowing her true form to show. Not to a human. Not to the future bearer of her grandchild.”
I winced. “Great. My vampire mother-in-law hates me.”
“Ignore her,” Pierce said. “I know that’s easier said than done, but right now, she’s not important.”
“I just don’t get it,” I murmured. “Whyisshe so desperate? You’ve been acting a little stressed, too. Is there something going on that I don’t know about?”
Pierce solemnly met my gaze. “I must apologize. It seems you weren’t aware of the whole truth.” He ran a hand through his hair and a few more dark strands fell in front of his forehead. “It’s time you knew, Benji.”
Dread built inside me. “Knew what?”
“The reason we need an heir is to survive,” Pierce said. “Margaret is an elder vampire. She possessed an innate magic ability called the fog, which the rest of us do not have. The fog manipulates the minds of humans in the area, changing their thoughts to what Margaret wants them to see and believe. Thus, when we feed - when wekillhumans - their deaths are not seen as vampire attacks. To other humans, it appears as if those people died of heart attacks, or other natural causes.”
I still didn’t get it. “Okay? And?”
“Benji,” Pierce said quietly. “If Margaret dies, we lose the ability to feed. Without the fog, people wouldknowwe exist, and hunt us down. We will either die of thirst, or go on a rampage that will kill innocent people - and none of us want to see that happen. We would rather kill ourselves.”
Dread and grief hit me like a wave. “Oh.”
“That is why the heir is so important,” Pierce explained. “Margaret said a dhampir will naturally produce the fog we need to survive.”
The weight of this new information was too much. I sat down with a heavy feeling.
“I’m sorry if this is a lot to take in,” Pierce said gently. “I should have told you sooner. This is my fault.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m glad I know now.”
