Page 22 of Hunger & Harmony

An overhead light flickers. His bottom lip wobbles. Tears well up in his eyes, and he takes a sip from the pouch before he continues.

“I’m not a pureblood. Plenty of vampires nowadays aren’t. I just got unlucky . . .and then more unlucky.” He takes another sip. “I’m originally from a small town, closer to New Lure.”

That’s almost as north as you can get. New Lure is known for its shiny skyscrapers and vibrant luxury, but quiet suburbs and forests surround the metropolis.

“I’ve always loved music, but that wasn’t practical. So, I resigned myself to taking over my family’s post office and keeping my artistic dreams on the side.” He laughs sadly. “Funny, right?”

“What happened?” I ask softly.

His spare fingers drum on the table. The whir of the heating system kicks up above us.

“I didn’t know a damn thing about the supernatural, let alone vampires. When I heard a singer who’d been growing in popularity was coming to New Lure, me and a couple of buddies went. I mean, of course. I was twenty-three in the sixties. What else were we going to do?”

A singer growing in popularity . . .Does he mean Niko?

“My fate took a turn that night. Hunters launched a surprise attack on the musician, but we humans didn’t know what the hell was going on. I really thought I was some kind of hero.”

His grip on the pouch tightens enough that a few drops dribble onto the table.

“Maybe I was. Everyone made a run for it, but I took a direct hit for His Majesty. By the time I woke up, my heart wasn’t beating.”

Without thinking, I rest a hand over his. His teary eyes flick up to meet mine.

“That’s not the worst of it,” he says, and my stomach twists.

“You don’t have to say,” I whisper, but he shakes his head.

“I became a target. Not only was I turned, but Hunters were well aware that a fledgling had foiled their best shot at killing the last heir to the throne.”

His hand turns in mine, and he’s suddenly holding onto me.

“Cadence . . .They didn’t go after me,” he whispers. “I was reckless, foolish even. I was lucky to earn His Majesty’s favor, right? The best outcome of a shit situation. I assumed since I was safe, it’d be fine. But it wasn’t. My siblings . . .”

My heart sinks as he continues.

“Twins. Bright and hilarious . . .The greatest kids, much better than me.” A smile touches his lips. “Eloise and Edward Black were doing the family proud.”

His shoulders shake as he rasps the awful truth out.

“I didn’t know . . .How could I have known that Hunters have more tricks up their sleeve? I didn’t understand what a glamour was.”

Neither do I. As he continues, the horrifying pieces fall together.

“I never turned them! The twins weren’t vampires. Yet, veiled in this fucking . . .glamour, they paid the price . . .Touted as ‘double trophies,’ taken out like a game.”

Tears escape down my cheeks as I take both of his hands into mine.

“I should’ve been there. I should’ve protected them! They were powerless . . .”

It’s not just grief scarred on his heart, but guilt. The exact look on his face echoes from opening night. I swallow my own sob.

“It was decades ago, but I still see every new face as a threat. Especially when they don’t feel . . . normal.” He sniffles and releases my hands to wipe his face again. “And you never felt normal. You still don’t.”

I chew my inner cheek, not sure what to make of that.

He exhales slowly, even if his lungs don’t need oxygen anymore. His stormy irises return to their usual emerald.

“But I won’t do that again. You’re not a threat,” he says with a resolute nod. “You’re something else. Something good.”