I giggled. “She asked me for a cell phone and when she’d be old enough to drive.”
We all burst into snickers. “Learning life through the Kardashians is dangerous,” Demi exclaimed.
“What’s a Kardashian?” Sage looked confused.
This just made us laugh harder.
“I’ll slowly wean her off. Get her some good books. Do they have a library in Vampire City?” I mused.
Demi grinned. “Nope, but that can be your first contribution as queen.”
My face fell and they all noticed. I’d only just gotten back from the hearing and I was avoiding having to talk about it other than to tell them Luka was absolved of Cassara’s murder. I’d shown them the ring and they all just assumed that part went okay.
Demi’s eyes sharpened. “The elders said it was cool you guys marry, right?”
I didn’t say anything. I was trying to find the words, knowing I’d let her down.
“Oh my God, youcanmarry, right?” Liv blurted out.
I nodded. “We can … but in order for Luka to remain king, they wanted one thing … one thing neither of us is comfortable with.”
Sage clutched her chest. “Your firstborn!”
I snorted. “No. For him to change me into a vampire.”
“They didn’t!” Demi slammed her fist on the table and the wood creaked.
“Shhhh. I don’t want to tell my mom,” I hissed, and peered into the kitchen where she was stirring something in a pot. She looked back at me but I waved her off.
“How dare they!” Demi whisper-screamed. “Not to mention it’s fucking illegal to change a human!”
“Well, I’m not exactly human, am I?”
“So what now? If you marry, he’s no longer king?”
I nodded. “It would go to Morgana.”
“Well, screw that. She’s a psycho,” Sage interjected.
Silence fell over the table and I suddenly felt like the weight of the world was pressing on my shoulders. Demi picked at her fingernails nervously. I knew she must be thinking about how this would affect the werewolves and the fragile alliance.
“Demi, I’m so sorry,” I sobbed, reaching for her hand.
She grasped mine and looked into my eyes, her bright blue irises flaring yellow. “Don’t you dare be sorry. Drinking blood is gross as hell, I wouldn’t want to become a bloodsucker either. Besides, if we’re talking supernaturals, you’d make a cuter werewolf.” She winked.
I laughed, wiping my tears. “I’m staying human-ish, but thank you for the offer.”
Demi squeezed my hand. “Sawyer and I will figure it out. We always do.”
I nodded, pulling my hand back, but her reassurance did little to ease the guilt inside of me.
Our lunch was a silent one, everyone lost in their own thoughts. My mom had made some yummy spicy rice and bean dish that was common in her encampment. She’d served it with fresh handmade tortillas as well. The girls stayed for an hour and then took off, telling us they would be back in two days for the wedding.
When I shut the door, I leaned my head against the cool wood and sighed. What a day. Liv’s arm draped around me.
“You can’t feel guilty for this. I won’t allow it,” she declared.
I gave her a small smile. It was hard knowing that you could fix everything if you made a certain choice, but that choice was just taking it too far for me.
