Page 117 of Her Vampire, His Ruin

“You’re lying to yourself. You want me as much as I want you. Even now, even after everything you’ve learned.”

“No.” Edie shakes her head, fury darkening her eyes.

I exhale a breath. “I want to show you something. Will you come with me?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“It’s up to you. Come with me or don’t,” I reply, striding towards the door and pulling it open. I hesitate, turning to face her. “But know this. If you run, I will chase you.”

By the time I reach the room, I want Edie to see, she’s already at my back. I unlock the door with the key only I possess and step inside. Her gasp cuts through the silence, making me spin to face her.

“What is this?” she asks, her eyes widening at the mural painted across all four walls.

“This is my home, Grayhaven. Or at least the view from the cliffs.”

“Who painted it?”

“I did. It took me almost ten years to finish. This took a lot of trial and error.”

“So you’re an artist as well as a pianist?”

I shrug. “Three-hundred years of spending my days inside has meant I’ve had to find ways to occupy my mind.”

“It’s beautiful,” she whispers, stepping into the room, her eyes trailing over every inch of the mural as she twists on her feet, taking it all in. The light from the sun spills across the painted sky in long, trembling strokes. Below, a deep azure ocean shifts restlessly, its waves cresting against the shore in soft white peaks.

“It reminds me of what I’ve lost,” I explain, approaching her, my gaze drifting to her profile.

She’s so fucking beautiful. Every single part of her calls to me, and I want so badly to be the man she needs. For the first time in centuries, I want to be human. Forcing my attention back to the mural, I remind myself that’s an impossibility.

“I miss the feeling of the sun on my skin. How a clear, hot day made me feel at peace. I often dream of being outside in daylight, but those dreams always turn into nightmares.”

“What happened the day you turned?” Edie asks.

I grasp her hand, tugging her to the floor with me. She doesn’t pull away, but merely drops to my side, folding her legs as she waits. I’m well aware this isn’t forgiveness, but it’s a start.

“Before I tell you my story, I want you to know I’ve only ever sired three vampires; Sybil, Logan and Viktor.”

“Only three? Why not more?” she asks.

“Because I didn’t want anyone else to be trapped by the same fate.”

She frowns. “Why them?”

“Sybil was my first. She was with me the day I was cursed.”

Edie flinches, understanding dawning. “She was one of your lovers, wasn’t she?”

“She was. I brought her back to Grayhaven that day because I was an arsehole. By that time Basilia had already withdrawn from me in every way possible.” Edie opens her mouth to speak, but I curl my fingers tightly around hers, urging her to listen. “She had every right to. I’m not blaming her for that.”

“You were cruel.”

“I was,” I acknowledge.

“So, what happened?”

“I was with Sybil. We were walking through the grounds of my home. We’d just⁠—”

“Had sex?” Edie scowls, removing her hand from my hold.