Page 22 of Claim the Twilight
“Yes, isn’t it wonderful?”
His awe is contagious, and I see the grove as if for the first time through his eyes. It hums with life—flora and fauna crafted with careful consideration to create this nighttime haven. And in the center of it all stand two silver trees. They lean toward each other, branches entwined like laced fingers, leaves like silver starlight brushing the night sky.
Tor’s smile ebbs then falls away. “What if she finds this place…finds us?”
“She can’t. Not here. This is our place. Trust me. We’ll be safe here. I promise.”
His trepidation and fear brush at my senses, awakening my own, but I push it down. I’ve worked too hard for this moment. To be here with him. To not be alone.
“Isn’t it worth it, Tor? Even if for a little while?”
His lips thin, but he smiles, and warmth fills me. “Yes, it’s worth it. Now show me everything.”
I was naive, I guess, believing that it would be enough, that she wouldn’t find out, but that’s a story for another day.
This day, this memory, was a good one.
I’ll stay in it for a while.
Chapter 10
ORINA
Everything was brighter. The colors sharper, their hues deeper. This was how Ezekiel saw the world all the time, and now so did I, and Ezekiel himself…well, I’d been stunned by his beauty before I turned, but now it was hard to look at him for too long without losing my breath.
Every plane and dip, every sharp angle of his face was heightened. His skin was smooth and glowed with an inner light, and his golden eyes gleamed like topaz gems, and when Hemlock had entered the room, I’d lost what little breath I had left in my lungs. His dark hair was glossier, the natural auburn highlights glinting in the lamplight. His ice blue irises burned bright against the shadows beneath his eyes. Shadows that spoke of concern. Of lack of sleep, and yet when he’d spoken to me, his words were clipped and short.
Was he withdrawing from me because I was a vampire now?
Fuck, I was a vampire now.
But I was still me—a version that wasn’t disgusted by the thought of drinking blood—but still me.
My thoughts carried me to the moonlit library, where Ezekiel ushered me to take a seat before turning up the lamps.
An awful realization settled in my bones. “I won’t be able to go out in the day, will I?”
“Of course, you will. You’ll need to shield from the sun, that’s all. The rays are damaging to our kind, they weaken us, and for someone as ancient as me, both aspects hit harder. Best to avoid the midday hours when the sun is at its peak.”
Kaster had used a UV blocking umbrella. I could do the same. Where was Kaster now? I’d need to contact him and let him know what had happened. Unless he’d already been informed by Ezekiel or Hemlock.
In which case, why wasn’t he here? Maybe I didn’t mean as much to him as I’d thought. Maybe?—
“It’s normal to feel off balance,” Ezekiel said. “To experience bouts of heightened emotions. Panic, fear, doubt, and anger. But you’ll find your equilibrium. I’ll help you.”
My face was clearly giving away too much of my inner turmoil for him to read me so easily. “I trust you, and…I’m grateful. To be here.” I squeezed my eyes closed as memories of my death threatened to surface. “I’m truly thankful to be alive.”
Matthew entered the room and set a tray of blood bags on the table. His gaze darted to me for a beat, and an uncertain smile lifted his lips.
“Ah, thank you, Matthew,” Ezekiel said, scooping up one of the bags. “Can you please inform Daisy that we’ll be dining at nine tonight?”
“Yes, Master.” Matthew bowed and dipped out of the room.
A giggle burst from my lips. I covered my mouth. “I’m sorry. I…I don’t know why I laughed.”
Ezekiel crouched beside me. “Like I said, your emotions will be heightened for a while. Unpredictable as you adjust to thetransition, and to be fair, this—” He tapped the bag in my hand. “It is a little funny.”
“A juice box.”
