The air lodged in my throat, like if I breathed once Margaret would turn on me instantly. Behind me, I felt Adriel stiffen as well. He raised his hand as if he meant to put it on my shoulder, but he didn’t. He put it back at his side.
My instincts told me to run, even though logically I knew I wouldn’t make it far.
But Margaret wasn’t looking at me. She didn’t even care that I was standing there. All of her intense focus was on Benji.
Was that…carein her eyes?
This was so, so weird.
“What are you doing here, mother?” Pierce growled at the sight of Margaret. I was secretly glad he spoke up, since nobody else said anything.
Not even Adriel, who's supposed to protect me,I thought bitterly.
“Oh, Pierce,” Benji said when he noticed his mate. “It’s okay. She and I were just talking.”
“We’re all here,” Pierce told Benji. He sat in between Margaret and Benji, acting as a barrier. “Now, Theo is fetching the blood wine. Please take your time. There’s no rush.”
“I know.”
Forcing all other thoughts to the side, I took the seat on Benji’s other side - away from Margaret.
My brother turned to me with wide eyes, like he was noticing my presence for the first time. I was almost offended, until he gave me a small, trembling smile. Instantly I was flooded with sympathy. Benji was terrified. He was too afraid and sick to even speak properly.
I hated seeing my older brother like this. He was supposed to be the strong one - he took care of me the entire time I was sick. Now it was my turn to help him.
I took his hand and squeezed it comfortingly. Benji shut his eyes and leaned on my shoulder for a moment. Neither of us spoke.
In the background, the vampires talked as Theo fetched the blood wine. The situation was so bizarre, but I focused on Benji to make things easier. Even with the baby bump, he still looked thinner than before. Unwell. Heneededto drink this blood.
Theo placed a glass filled with deep red liquid in front of Benji, who eyed it cautiously.
“You can do it, Benj,” I encouraged. “Just think about your baby. That’s who you’re doing this for, right?”
“That’s right,” Pierce said gently. “Think of it as feeding your child.”
Benji nodded and took a sip. He eventually downed the whole glass, and almost as quickly the color returned to his face. It was exactly what he needed. I let out a sigh of relief.
After watching an awkward family moment where Benji and Margaret hugged - I shuddered at the sight of it - Adriel and I decided to leave Benji and Pierce for some time alone. But before we left, Benji caught my arm.
“Wait,” he said.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“Thank you. For being here for me.” Quietly, he added, “I know this is weird. This whole situation is straight out of your vampire books.”
He smiled, and I forced one back, even though right now I wanted to be anywherebutin a vampire book.
“But I’m glad you’re here,” Benji continued. “I really missed you when you were gone.” He lowered his gaze with a guilty frown. “And I’m sorry about not being there for you.”
“What?”
“When you got out of the hospital,” Benji mumbled, staring at the floor. “I know Pierce arranged someone to take care of you, but it wasn’tme.And it should have been. You were struggling while I was here, living some fantasy.”
I grasped his shoulder and made him look up at me. “Listen, Benj. I’ll be honest. It did suck for a while. I missed you like crazy, and not knowing where you were or what was happening with you… That was even worse.”
He frowned deeper with guilt.
“But I knownow. I get it, and it’s fine,” I said. “I promise.”
