Joseph saw in Meadow some of the same fear he’d had in himself, back when he’d first met Laurie on the streets of London all those years ago.
After sharing a glance with Laurie—who nodded, acknowledging he’d let Joseph handle this first—he sat on the sofa opposite Meadow and leaned his elbows on his knees. Laurie moved over to the fireplace and merely watched.
Meadow glanced between them and played with her skirt. The urge to go over, place his hands over hers, and tell her she didn’t need to fret around them was strong.
However, she’d known them less than two days, not to mention her life had just been thrown into chaos and completely changed without her consent. In time, he hoped she wouldn’t feel anxious around them, but they weren’t there yet.
So he kept his gaze on her face and asked, “How many years were you in hiding?”
She blinked, probably expecting him to say yes, they’d claim her now and get it over with.
But Joseph was patient, and he merely waited. Eventually she whispered, “Eight years.”
“Which probably felt like twice that, right?”
“Er, yes. But what does that have to do with anything?”
He threaded his fingers together and replied, “Well, I understand a little about what you went through. You see, I spent five years on the streets, doing my best to survive after I saw my parents murdered when I was twelve.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“It’s true, but let’s back up a bit so you can maybe understand me a little better. Is that okay?” She nodded, and Joseph pushed aside the urge to change the topic. If he didn’t take this step, he didn’t know if Meadow would ever give them a chance.
So even though he’d never told anyone but Laurie about his full past, Joseph took a deep breath and continued. “My parents came to this country not long before I was born. Before that, they had been fighting to end the slave trade of humans and paranormals as part of the largest resistance army in Northern Africa. When it came time to send representatives to the United Kingdom to try persuading the humans to change their laws, my parents were selected; they even changed their last name to Hope in an effort to show their dedication. And while it took them nearly thirteen years to do it, they succeeded in helping to get the Slavery Abolition Act passed in Parliament.
“However, once the law abolishing slavery in the British Empire passed in 1833, there were a lot of people who blamed my parents for destroying their businesses. And despite their every precaution, a group of humans finally found them and killed them. However, right before the mob of people broke into our house, my parents hid me in a secret compartment in the wall. And through the cracks in the boards, I saw everything, only keeping quiet because I’d promised my mother I’d do so.”
Meadow placed a hand over her mouth. “Oh, Joseph, I’m so sorry.”
Even decades later, he remembered his parents standing up to the mob despite knowing they had no chance.
And him trying not to scream or cry because he’d always kept his promises to his mother; he’d wanted her to be proud until the end.
Before more awful memories of that day could rush back, he took a deep breath and pressed on. The sooner he got all of this out, the better. “Thank you. As you can imagine, it broke me a little. I wanted to stay and organize their funerals, but whilst watching my parents being murdered, the ringleader had put a bounty on my head. So once it was dark, I slipped out the back and ran.
“After that, I spent the next five years living in the shadows, struggling to stay warm or even eat, but determined to live and find my parents’ killers. And I might’ve stayed that way forever, full of anger and distrust, if not for Laurie.”
Joseph looked at Laurie, and the vampire male smiled, probably remembering how Joseph had saved him from a group of street boys.
Focusing back on Meadow, he continued, “My point is that I’ve had decades to come to terms with what happened and to accept that I don’t have to stay in the shadows any longer. Even my parents’ killers were brought to justice and hanged. However, you have just come out of hiding. And whilst you didn’t watch anyone get murdered, you were always watching over your shoulder for danger and keeping people at arm’s length to protect them. I have no doubt it took its toll, didn’t it?”
He barely heard her reply. “Yes.”
The sadness in her voice shot straight to his heart. Right then and there, Joseph decided he wanted to bring some light and joy into her life, even if she didn’t want them forever.
Although he was going to try his bloody best to ensure her future was with them.
Focus. This is the first step in helping Meadow deal with her pain.“You don’t have to isolate yourself like that any longer, Meadow.” She frowned and opened her mouth, but he beat her to it. “I know you’re going to say something about platitudes, and how we want to fuck and bite you to complete the claiming, and then walk away. But we want more than that, if you’ll give us a chance.”
“Why, though? I don’t understand why you want me so badly?”
Joseph secretly wished he could punish the males in her time who’d made her feel so unwanted.
However, they weren’t here; Meadow was. So he said, “Because I see a soul who wants to be loved and cherished and accepted. And those are all things we want to give you, to desperately help you fill the holes in your heart as you do the same for us. That might be a bit too much honesty this early, but I’m always honest. All we’re asking for is a chance. One where you don’t dismiss us or think we want to fuck you and leave.”
She searched his gaze for a few seconds and then did the same for Laurie. Finally she replied, “I heard you two were together before, and you must be over the moon to be able to have sex with each other again. You don’t need me.”
Ah, well, their fae witch was just as blunt as her siblings. Not that he minded. It should make things easier.
