“I understand.”
I turn toward the others. “Make your choices, darlings. Vampire, and you remain here with us. Human, and you leave for the Night Kingdom at sunset.”
Amelia shoves her wrist at Emmanuel’s mouth. He catches her slender arm with his strong hand and closes his fingers around her with a clear of his throat. Eyes flashing red, he moves her delicate wrist away from his lips.
Del is two for two on his guesses.
“I will go to the Night Kingdom,” Samantha says, her smile wide. “I’ve heard stories about how wonderful it is there.”
“It is,” I tell her.
“How do you know for certain?” she asks, eyes eager.
“Because I’m her queen, and I built her.”
Her mouth falls open, and her cheeks flush rose. “Oh my gods,” she whispers.
“Aurelia will join you,” Del interjects, and Aurelia scoffs at him.
“I get a say,too,” she protests, looking at him with teenage indignation.
He raises his eyebrows, and she plants her arms over her chest. The staring contest is one for the ages.
Aurelia finally groans. “Fine. Night Kingdom for me.”
“And for you, Hannah?” Second asks his blonde girl.
She looks up at him and shakes her head. “I have nothing to live for,” she says, voice hollow as her arms wrap around her flat belly.
Second watches her solemnly for a moment and then comes right out with it. “You want to die instead?”
She nods. “I lost my baby.”
“I know. Loss gets different with time,” he tells her. “But it will never go away.”
Is he trying to talk her into the grave?
“Who have you lost?” she asks Second.
He swallows. “My best friend. He was my brother in every way the word matters.” Second kneels before her. “Let us help you through it. Just give us a few years. If you still want to die, I’ll do it myself,” he promises her.
Well, that’s one way to go about it.
Hannah’s eyes search his. “Six months.”
“One year,” he jabs back.
I smirk at the negotiation. Only in the vampire world are we negotiating death sentences.
Hannah sighs. “Fine. One year. And I’d like to spend it as a vampire.”
Second looks at her as she extends her wrist. Then he sets it back on her lap. “I’ll give that to you if it’s what you want. But we’re not doing it yet. You need to bask in the sun one more time.”
Silence falls heavy.
Second’s deep voice filters out with kindness. “And not your wrist. Your bite marks are the last scar you’ll ever have. It’ll mean something to you. Choose a place you can cover.”
She rubs her wrist. “Good to know.”
