Page 79 of Fated to Her

“That may not be an option. Maybe I can see if she can come to visit at the council,” Eli says.

I become choked with emotion. If I can’t get the bloodlust under control once I get changed, I may not see her again or Maya. Cyrus says it takes centuries for some vampires to control it.

“Hey, don’t cry. Everything will work out. I’ll make sure you get to see her again,” Cyrus says.

“I’m not crying,” I tell him, and he smiles sadly. Stupid hormones. One minute I’m fine; the next, I’m blubbering like a baby or ravenous. Makes no sense.

“I’ll make you something to eat,” Cyrus says, getting up.

“I told you I’m not hungry for food.”

“You still should eat. You may not be hungry, but you can’t survive only drinking blood,” Cyrus says before leaving out.

Eli sits up, patting his lap. “Come on then, but please eat, too.”

I roll my eyes, straddling him. He runs his nail down his neck; I have been feeding on him so much it has actually scarred him, which even he finds strange because he heals so quickly. Eli has barely moved his hand away before my hunger takes over, and I bite into his neck. He groans then hisses at my blunt teeth. Yet even feeding on him is a major task, and Eli has to slice his neck open a couple of times before the hunger inside me, that is our son, dies down. I pull my mouth from his neck, and Eli wipes at the blood on my lips before pressing his lips to mine.

Now that I’ve fed, I just want to go to sleep again. My eyes drift closed, and Eli pulls away, chuckling, when I don’t kiss him back, instead leaning on him. Cyrus comes in with a sandwich, but I shake my head, crawling back on the bed and lying down.

“No, Addie,” Cyrus says, handing the plate to Eli to hold. He pulls me up into a sitting position, and I whine, needing to nap.

“You are growing weaker from not eating enough. Now up, or I will force-feed you,” he says, sitting behind me.

I lean against him, sparks rushing over my body from his skin.

“Addie, Cyrus is right. Eat,” Eli says, bringing a piece of the sandwich to my lips. “Open,” he says.

I groan but open my mouth, forcing myself to chew and swallow.

Cyrus and Eli shake me awake when I start dozing off until I finish the sandwich.

“You can rest now,” Eli says, but I’m already starting to drift off.

“I don’t think we should wait a week. All she wants to do is sleep,” I hear Cyrus say.

• • •

I’m awoken by the phone ringing next to my head. I groan, feeling around for it in the darkness. I find it next to my pillow and squint at the screen. My vision blurs as the screen lights up, making me squint at its brightness. My mother’s name pops up on the small screen; I find it a little odd. I rarely get reception in the bedroom. Then I realize the window is open; the draft a little chilly, and I pull the blanket over me, shielding myself away from the cool breeze as I tug it over my shoulders.

Sitting up, I realize Eli and Cyrus must be out having dinner with the pack. I press the answer button, pulling the antenna out, so I can hear better, not wanting to go outside in the cold. I always get so excited speaking to my mother, feeling normal. I look forward to talking to her every day when she gets off work.

“Hey, Ma,” I say tiredly, covering my mouth with my hand as I yawn.

She doesn’t say anything, and I glance at the screen to make sure I haven’t dropped reception but I have two bars. I also check the antenna is all the way out then place the phone back against my ear.

“Mom?”

“Hello, Ada.”

My blood runs cold at the sound of his voice. He sounds the same, the exact same voice that haunts my dreams; I cringe, memories of the cabin flooding my mind, before I push my walls up, not wanting Cyrus to see into my head. I do my best to keep them away, so he won’t accidentally overhear or see my thoughts.

“Sam?” I choke out. Why is he using my mother’s phone?

“Miss me? I have missed you, though I’m quite mad you got yourself knocked up.”

“Where is my mother?”

“Safe for now, but not for long. I have Maya and Taylor, too, so if you want to see them alive again, I suggest you do as I’m about to tell you. I’m sick of playing this game of cat and mouse.”