“He wasn’t frightened by you?”
“No, he knew I was different but of course didn’t know what had changed. I explained it and about our bond.” Blake stared at me as he waited for my reaction before suddenly jumping up off the bed. “I forgot Aaron was still here.” He rushed to the living room with me on his heels.
“How did it go?” Aaron asked, from where he sat on the sofa next to Elias. Mark and Josiah were sharing the big chair while they watched something on television.
“Better than I expected,” Blake said and flopped on the sofa next to Aaron. “He wants to meet everyone this evening.”
“What about your parents?” he asked.
Blake shrugged his shoulder before answering. “I’ll write them a note when we leave.”
“When will you leave?” Aaron asked. He was Blake’s closest friend and the fact he’d risked his life sitting in a house filled with vampires waiting for him, said a lot.
“Someday soon. We can’t stay here without people getting curious, and I won’t be the cause of anyone’s death,” Blake said and met my eyes.
“No vampire in this room will harm a human while we’re here,” I said, and hoped they took heed of my warning. To harm someone my mate cared about would bring down the wrath of a hundred years on them.
“I’m not ready for you to leave yet,” Aaron said.
“I know, and I’m not ready yet either. There are a few things I want to take care of first.” Blake would want his family to be happy and not worry about him. Even though he said his parents wouldn’t mind his leaving, I had a hard time believing that.
“We can stay as long as you’d like. Or as long as none of us kill, and as long as no humans suspect,” I said, repeating what I’d learned so long ago.
“Aaron, you don’t have to stay here all day. We’ll be fine as long as we avoid the sun,” Blake said.
Aaron looked down at his lap before meeting Blake’s eyes again. “Promise me you won’t leave before I see you again.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I have a few things I need to take care of, and I want to make sure Grandpa will be okay once I’m gone,” Blake said. “And I need to make sure my friend knows I’m not leaving him forever.”
A growl threatened to bubble up in me that was protective more than a warning. I knew Blake’s heart was mine, and I knew his friend truly worried about him and wanted to make sure he was safe. “We won’t leave until Blake is ready,” I said. “You’re all welcome to leave any time.”
“Would you care if I travel with you when you leave? I’m tired of hiding in the woods. There’s a whole world out there for me to see,” Elias said.
“You’re welcome to join us. But I’m not sure when we’ll go,” Blake said, and I understood. This was his home and the only place he’d ever lived. He’d gone through so many changes in such a short amount of time. And change was not easy.
Aaron left after Blake insisted he did not need to stay, and he decided he’d probably sleep at home more easily than in a house full of vampires. Once he was gone the rest of us all relaxed any way we could. So much had happened, and so much was still unknown. Blake messaged Aaron when it was finally safe for us to leave, and he said he’d meet us there.
“Remember, this is Blake’s grandfather. None of you will harm him,” I reminded them all as we stood outside his home. This was the land Josiah, and I had dreamt of having, and while it was near the original house, it was far enough away to have its own property lines. The house was quiet as Blake led us around the back where there was a screened-in porch. There sat an old man in a rocking chair. I could see Blake in his eyes, and even a touch of Josiah in the cut of his jaw.
“Well? What are you waiting for?” he asked as he stood to open the screen door and held it open for us.
“Sorry, Grandpa, it’s not every day vampires get to meet a human relative,” Blake said and walked over to hug the old man. “Let me introduce you.” Once he’d made it around to all of us, the old man, Joseph, sat for a moment and looked at each of us. Blake was right, he might be old, but he was far from weak.
“So, you’re the one my grandson is in love with,” he said to me before crossing his arms and sitting back in his chair. I was way older than him but, at that moment, he made me feel like a teenager asking permission to take his grandson out for dinner.
“Yes, sir. I love him with all my heart, and I would die for him,” I said, and ignored Blake cringing.
“That’s a little intense,” Joseph said before grinning. “Look, I don’t claim to understand all of this, but I do appreciate the fact you came to meet me, and Blake has told me the same about you, well, except the dying part. Mind if I ask you something?” I knew what it was before he even opened his mouth to form the words. “How did you end up buried at the cemetery?” This time it was Josiah that cringed while Mark patted his back and encouraged him.
“I can tell you that part,” Josiah said.
“You’re the ancestor,” Joseph said.
“Yes, you’re descended from my younger brother. Do you know what happened to him?” Josiah asked and knelt in front of Joseph.
“Well, he got married to a woman who lived in Occident. Her family had a cattle ranch so the two of them worked hard and had lots of kids. They were my great-grandparents. I can remember going to their farm but not much else. It’s actually near here,” he said and described where it was. “Where have you been all these years?”
“I made terrible choices in my youth. I met Marlon on the wagon train out here,” he said, and continued to tell the whole story. How he’d met someone who’d convinced him they could have what I had if they worked together. He even admitted how he’d betrayed me with the help of the other human and the witch. “Every choice I made was wrong and I’ll spend the rest of my existence making up for it. But, most of all, after everything that happened, I am very happy I was able to meet you.” He held his hand out to Joseph who pulled him in for a hug. Josiah froze in place for a moment before melting into Joseph’s arms as though it was the embrace of his mother or father.
