“Because he doesn’t have a death wish,” Iangrowled. “I guarantee if he didn’t flee after what happened at thatcabin, if he was still in the area, he took off when you allarrived here.”
“Would you have known if he was in thistown?” Paige asked.
Her troubled eyes were wide as they searchedhis face. “Not if he stayed far enough away. I never sensed him atthe cabin either. I have a feeling he’s keeping his distance,trying to figure things out, and searching for weaknesses. He maynot have witnessed what went down at the cabin, but when his threefriends didn’t return he got even more information about what he’sdealing with.”
“He’s not completely stupid,” Ethanmurmured.
“No, he’s not,” Ian agreed. “We’ll figure itout and take care of it Paige. I promise.”
“You have something else to take care offirst.” Brian shot a pointed look at Paige.
Turning on his heel, he opened the door andwalked out of the room. Paige stared at the group surrounding her,uncertain of what to say or do. She didn’t think she had manyoptions on that front.
CHAPTER 20
“You were human?” Paige inquired.
Emma put the menu she’d been flippingthrough back in between the condiments. “I was,” Emma confirmed.“And in the beginning I planned to stay that way.”
“But then?”
“But then, as I’m sure you’ve realized, themen in the Byrne family have a way of digging their way into yourheart to the point where they’re all you think about. Being avampire isn’t bad, I know the idea of it is a little frighteningand overwhelming, but you adapt. I only feed from Ethan, I stillhave my family, and with the recent move I’ll be closer to them.I’m still not sure what will happen with my family in the future. Itry not to think about it right now. Before the move, I had a job Ireally enjoyed in Oregon. I’m hoping to find another one soon. I’mgoing to miss being so close to Mandy and Jill, but I know ourfriendship isn’t going anywhere, and I’ll see them as often as Ican.”
“You were working?”
Emma smiled at her. “What else was I goingto do with myself?”
“What else indeed?” Paige murmured.
She’d spent four years of her life huntingfor her father, he was still out there somewhere, but was she goingto spend an eternity with her life revolving around revenge? Thethought had never crossed her mind before, mainly because she’dexpected to die young, but an eternity of hatred and fightingdidn’t feel like a pleasing proposition to her. It made the yearsseem endless and lonely, even if Ian stood by her side through itall.
What would she do without her constant needfor vengeance? The endless possibilities felt not only refreshingbut also extremely daunting. The only thing she’d ever loved wasdrawing, maybe she could return to that or painting. Maybe shecould… She could do anything, she realized. The possibilities wereendless, there was so much to see and do in this world that she’dnever considered before. And she would be with Ian.
Could she move past her hatred and thirstfor revenge in order to do so? The notion caused her blood to turnto ice. She wanted happiness in this life, or non-life, orwhatever. However, she knew she could never truly move on with thethreat of her father constantly looming over her. She’d always belooking over her shoulder, always feel as if she’d let her motherdown. Moving on was a step she had to take; she just couldn’t takeit without making sure her past could never come back to haunther.
“You’ll be with him forever and Ian is agood man,” Emma continued. “They all are. A little overprotectiveand overbearing sometimes, but they mean well. If you’re worriedabout your family…”
“I have no family,” Paige told her.
Emma leaned forward and rested her hand onPaige’s. “I’m sorry, but you will now. Averylarge andextremely loving family.”
Paige’s fork clattered against her platewhen she put it down. “But will they accept me? I disrupted theirlives. Because of me they were forced out of their home.”
Emma’s gold-flecked hazel eyes sparkled inthe light. “They’re not one to hold grudges. From what I’ve beentold, Stefan didn’t exactly enter the family under the best ofterms either. He and Ethan had some problems in the beginning, butthey’ve moved past them. The whole family has. I can assure you, noone holds you at fault for what happened. You’ll see, andunderstand, when you finally get to meet the rest of them.”
“And it sounds like there are plenty of themto get to know.”
“And they’re growing!” Emma said with alaugh. “It took me a good month to get everyone straight, and Istill confuse Vicky and Abby once in a while. They’reidentical.”
Paige shook her head. “Even more fun.”
“They really are, all of them. The Stoogesare like uncles to everyone and a blast.”
Paige glanced out the window at the groupgathered in the parking lot by Ian’s pickup. “I haven’t seen Jackor Doug yet.”
“You will.” Emma assured her. “It’s all sofascinating and strange, isn’t it? I mean I’m a vampire now, andI’m still amazed that such a world exists alongside of ours. Whowould have thought it was all true?”
“Not me, at least not until I waseighteen.”
