Page 118 of Fighting for Her Heart
Now that I’m a vampire, I guess mismatched ages and appearances is the kind of thing I’ll have to get used to.
“I have spoken at length with the Council of Magic Keepers,” Anna says. “They too wish for the discovery of the Illuminant to remain confidential.”
I nod.
“Also, they have expressed their apologies that they did not protect you from Evanora, and also their gratitude that you found and stopped both her and her accomplices.”
“What will happen to the other witches?” I ask. “They told us they were acting under Nora’s control.”
“I am not certain.” She shifts back on the sofa, folding one leg under her. “Their fate is not up to vampires. But I do trust that the Council will be fair and will give them a chance to explain their actions.”
“I’m glad.” I take a long breath. “I hate to think of them suffering if they truly had no control.”
Anna nods. “Yes, I imagine it will take some time before the world of magic keepers reconciles all that happened.”
All because of me. I close my eyes for a moment, as guilt shudders through me. But it’s not like I could have prevented what happened. I didn’t even know what I was.
“Evanora’s actions have impacted the vampire world too,” Anna says. “Using the witch’s power, Octavia did a lot of damage to this organization. Unwinding all the ramifications of her actions is proving complicated.” Her brow furrows.
“It must be a lot of work,” I say. “I can’t even begin to imagine.”
Anna flicks her wrist. “Enough about legal and business matters.” Shifting forward again, she grins. “Tell me more about your handsome lovers?”
The warmth in her eyes is so genuine and warm. This is only the fourth time we’ve spoken—and some of those were official interviews—and yet, while Anna may be a princess, she feels like the closest thing I’ve had to a friend.
“What do you want to know?” I bite my lower lip, thinking of all the things about my men that I’m not going to tell her.
“Are you planning to marry?” she asks, her skin flushing and her eyes showing clear interest and excitement.
“I hope so.” Now it’s me who’s blushing, my whole body is blushing. “Axe and I, well, we actually already had a shifter mating ceremony, but I gather it’s not official in the vampire world, and the others...” I bite my lip. “Well, neither of them has asked me.”
The three of them have barely let me out of their sights since our ordeal ended, they’re waiting outside for me now. And while we’ve made love nearly non-stop the past few days, we haven’t really talked about how our lives will go forward from here.
“Why don’t you ask them to marry you then?” Anna grins. “I mean, itisthe twenty-first century. So I’m told.”
We both smile, but then her expression turns wistful. “I missed most of the twentieth century, but I have heard that women are allowed to make at least afewof their own decisions now.” She winks.
That we are.” I laugh. “But why did you miss out on the twentieth century.”
“I spent the vast majority of it sequestered in the Vampiric Palace.”
My breath catches. “Held captive there?”
“Not at all. I just…I suppose I was suffering what people call trauma now, and after I recovered, well, I became verycomfortableat the palace.”
“I get that.” I shift on the chair. “I mean, Nora told me a lot of lies to keep me from leaving the farm. And I’d like to blame her for how isolated I kept myself after I moved…” I shake my head. “But I suppose I too got comfortable in my sheltered life.” I could have gone out after dark sooner. I think part of me liked hiding myself away, risking nothing.
I squeeze Anna’s hand. “If you don’t mind me asking. What’s up with you and Timur?” I glance around to make sure he’s not nearby.
Anna asked him, along with my guys, to wait outside, so she and I could talk in private, but her tall handsome vampire companion seems to move without sound. This is the first time I’ve seen Anna when he’s been more than a few feet away from her.
Sighing, she leans back against the sofa cushions. “Actually, if you don’t mind, I’d love your advice about Timur.”
“Of course.” I’m not sure what kind of advice I can offer a hundred year old princess, but I do like that she’s asked me.
“Can we talk in confidence?” she asks. “I know we’ve only met a few times, but other than my sestra, I have never felt this close to another woman.”
It warms my heart to know she feels the same way as I do. I don’t know how long she’ll be in Philadelphia, or how long I’ll be, but it’s nice to think I might have a friend.
