Page 135 of Her Vampire, His Ruin

Elizabeth pretends not to notice him, but I spot the faint blush blooming on her cheeks beneath his gaze.

“She’ll be here soon. We’re also waiting for Henrietta. I thought she might arrive with you.”

“She got distracted by a man in the foyer,” Elizabeth replies. “I’m sure she’ll come when she’s ready,” she adds pointedly.

Across the dining table, Logan scowls. “What man?”

Elizabeth shrugs. “I didn’t see who it was. She rushed off before I could stop her.”

“That fucking woman,” Logan grumbles, pushing to his feet. “I’ll fetch her.”

He gets up and strides from the room; the door slamming shut behind him.

Elizabeth rolls her eyes. “Henrietta will eat him alive.”

“I highly doubt that,” Viktor says, smiling behind his glass as he takes a sip of wine.

From the opposite side of the room, Edie enters. Her eyes immediately find Elizabeth, and happiness draws her lips up in a smile. “Beth,” she exclaims, rushing forward.

Elizabeth stands abruptly, fists clenched, hurt burning in her eyes. “Don’t you ‘Beth’ me. Why have you ignored us for weeks? Nina’s heartbroken. She thinks she did something wrong.”

Edie stills, her smile slipping. “I’m so sorry. I... I never meant...”

“You’ve been shacked up with him,” Elizabeth snaps, pointing an accusing finger at me. “Meanwhile, your niece has cried herself to sleep every night.”

“I couldn’t come to see you any earlier, I⁠—”

“Why?” Elizabeth’s nostrils flare as she turns her anger on me once again. “Have you kept her prisoner?”

“No.” Edie shakes her head, her hand slipping into mine.

“Elizabeth, perhaps you should sit back down. There are things we need to discuss,” I say, looking to Viktor, who gives me an encouraging nod.

He’s the one who suggested we tell Elizabeth and Henrietta the truth. I hadn’t wanted to at first, but Edie’s struggles with her immortality and the fact that she’ll never be able to spend time with her niece during daylight forced me to reconsider. This isn’t something we can keep secret if Edie is still to have a relationship with her family and friends. And I want her too. I want her to be happy.

“I should leave you both to it,” she snaps, her voice tight with hurt and frustration. Yet instead of storming out, she drops into her chair, seizes the wine Viktor offered, and downs it in a single gulp.

“Easy now,” Viktor says.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” Elizabeth snaps at him.

He holds his hands up. “I meant no disrespect. I’m just looking out for you.”

“Then don’t,” she replies, before exhaling sharply and focusing on Edie. “Alright, out with it. What’s been going on?”

“What I’m about to tell you is going to sound unbelievable, but I need you to keep an open mind, okay?”

“I’m not sure I like the sound of⁠—”

Elizabeth’s response is cut short by Henrietta’s familiar giggle following her through the door. “Wow, this place is incredible!” She stops abruptly, Logan almost running into her back. “Edie, look at you, you’re glowing,” she screeches, rushing forward and throwing her arms around Edie’s neck.

“I’ve missed you,” Edie whispers, untangling herself from her arms as they grin at one another.

“You’re talking as though you haven’t been here before,” Elizabeth says, looking at Henrietta as though she’s lost her mind.

“Of course I haven’t,” she replies, waving a hand at Elizabeth distractedly. “And hello, handsome,” she adds, focusing her attention on me. “Aren’t you just delicious?”

She holds out her hand, and I take it with a grin. “Henrietta.”