My decision made, I called Sam to let him know I’d be away. He answered on the third ring.
“Hey, Lukas.” He sighed either with annoyance—which I doubted, because it wasn’t his style—or exhaustion.
“Hi, Sam. I was just calling to let you know I have to take a trip, and I’ll be gone for a few days.”
“Oh…um.”
“Listen. I know you’re dealing with something you’d rather not talk about, and I refuse to be another person or thing stressing you out, so this trip comes at an opportune time.”
“Lukas…I…”
“Sam, I’m not mad, I see this as a good thing. I didn’t want to text you to let you know I was going away, it felt rude.”
He snorted. “And to think the Lukas I met the first time wouldn’t care if he was rude.”
I smirked. “I can be nice, but only to you. I have a reputation to protect.”
He chuckled, and the tickling of happiness relaxed something within me. “I won’t tell anyone you’re secretly a teddy bear.”
“Thank you.”
“So, where are you going?”
“It’s a business retreat off the coast of South America.”
“Wow!” He guffawed. “Fancy and exotic.”
The urge to invite him was strong, but there were too many reasons I couldn’t. He needed time and the island was full ofvampires, and that was not how someone should find out about them.
“As I said, it’s business.”
“Okay, well, try to have some fun, yeah?” Sam’s voice cracked, and everything inside me want to shout at him to tell me what was wrong so I could fix it. But he didn’t want that.
“I’ll try. I will let you know when I’m home.”
After we disconnected, I let Winston know of my plans. He set off to make travel arrangements for me and to let the island know I was coming.
A few hours later, I was on the boat heading toward a different shore. There was an airport an hour away, but the boat could get me closer in the other direction. The farther out I got, the smaller Brookridge got, and my heart gave a pang of longing. Sam was there, and he was hurting. Was I running away from him? No, he needed time. I’d be back, and maybe when I returned he’d be ready to talk to me.
Divinity Island—Ialways laughed at the name—was the epitome of elegance and opulence. Most of the vampires that came to this island were at least two hundred years old. You didn’t live that long and remain poor. If you had, you’d screwed up somewhere.
My goal this trip was to drink until I passed out and rode the wave of oblivion. Afterward I’d go home, and hopefully Sam would tell me how to fix what was wrong.
“Lukas Farren, it’s been a while.”
I spun on my heel at the check-in desk and saw the owner of the island, Loretta Josephs. She was beautiful, her rich brown hair tumbling over her ivory shoulders. Her red sundress andmatching sandals complemented her skin tone perfectly. Her eyes were a deep blue with green flecks, and her smile was like a beacon for lonely souls in need of companionship. I knew because Loretta had warmed my bed many times.
As I regarded her, I didn’t get tingles in my stomach like I used to. All I thought about was what Sam would think of her.
“Loretta, wonderful to see you. Beautiful as always.”
“I wasn’t sure I’d see you gracing the island again.” I knew she was referring to my request to the council. My need to end this long existence.
As she said that, I realized I hadn’t thought of an end for weeks, or months, even. I found I genuinely was enjoying existing, living.
“Well, then, surprise?”
She chuckled and followed me to the elevator. “How long are you staying?”
