****
Hours later, Harlowlies curled on my bed, her dark hair fanned across the pillows like a midnight halo.Her breathing is finally even, but I still sit beside her, motionless, watching her like she might disappear if I blink too long.
She didn’t leave, but she didn’t say she would stay either.Exhaustion swept her under, and she fell asleep against my shoulder.I stayed there for an hour before I carried her up to my bed, where she could rest more comfortably.
I watch her sleep, but I don’t join her.I couldn’t even if I tried.
Every time I close my eyes, I imagine her in that forest.Bleeding, hunted, and afraid.And I wasn’t there.It sends me into an irrational fit of rage just thinking of what could have happened.
The sun has long since set, the moon high in the sky, but I feel no relief.Only guilt.And dread, for what comes next.Because I can’t hide the truth from her any longer.She deserves to know everything.And when she wakes ...she will.
She stirs just before midnight.A faint groan escapes her lips, and her eyes flutter open.For a moment, they’re unfocused, dazed, and then they find mine.
She jerks upright.“Where am I?”
“In my room,” I say quietly.“You fell asleep on the couch.I moved you to my room so you could be comfortable.”
Her eyes flick around the space.Dark wood, stone walls, iron candle sconces, but no windows.Panic flickers in her gaze.She starts to push the covers off, and I don’t stop her.But I do speak before she can bolt.
“Harlow.Sit down.Please.I need to tell you something.Actually, I need to tell you everything.”
She hesitates, then lowers herself back onto the bed.Her arms wrap around her knees, like she’s bracing herself for impact.I shift to sit across from her, but not too close.
“I’m not human,” I blurt out, ripping off the proverbial band-aid.Her breath catches.“I’m a vampire.”
She doesn’t speak.Doesn’t scream.She just stares, but I can see the battle behind her eyes.
“I was born over two hundred and forty years ago.I’m part of a coven.We live here, in this compound, hidden and protected from the outside world.”
She shakes her head slightly, disbelieving.“No.No, that’s not ...vampires aren’t real.”
“They are.”My voice is steady, calm.“I am real.And so are the people who want to hurt you.”
“What are you talking about?”she whispers.
“There’s a group of humans, hunters.They call themselvesjagters.They know about us.And they want us all dead.You were being tracked, Harlow.They were closing in.”
“But why me?”she says, voice trembling.
“Because you’remine.”Her mouth opens, but no sound comes out.
I lean forward, slow and deliberate.“You’re my consort.The Oracle told me I’d find you, and the moment I scented you, I knew.Every vampire has one true match.And you’re mine.”
“Consort,” she echoes, like she doesn’t quite understand the word.
I nod.“You’re human.But your soul is bound to mine.That bond has started to awaken, which is why you felt it in the forest, whyIfelt it.We’re connected now.You were never just some random girl, Harlow.You’ve always been ...destined.”
She looks down at her hands.They’re shaking.
“You said I was safe,” she says quietly.“But now you’re saying I can’t leave.”
I hesitate.Then I speak the truth.“No.You can’t.Not now.”
She finally looks at me, eyes full of anger and disbelief.“You lied to me.”
“I protected you,” I say.“And I won’t stop.You’re not a prisoner, Harlow.But out there, you’ll be a target.The hunters don’t just kill vampires.They kill anyone who sides with us.Anyone whomattersto us.”
She flinches like I struck her.“You had no right,” she whispers.