Page 223 of Shifting Hearts 1
I shook my head, stepped back into the cold air. I needed space. Needed to breathe, even if I didn’t have to.
I leaned against the far side of the house. A moment later, Paul joined me, arms folded, letting me come down from whatever this was.
Then Em appeared. Someone trailed behind her, tall, steady. Her brother.
“Hey,” she said softly. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I lied. “Your dad’s not exactly thrilled that we’re here.”
“Doesn’t matter,” she shrugged. “Everyone else is. I want you to meet my brother. Ryan.”
I turned to him and froze. It wasn’t just his posture. Not just the jawline. It was in the eyes.
All I saw was Collin. My brother.
I stared too long.
“Tash, this is Ryan,” Em said, nudging gently. “Ryan, my best vampire friend.”
“You all right?” Ryan asked, brows furrowing.
I couldn’t stop staring. My brain refused to reconcile it.
How the hell could this boy look like Collin?
“I think I broke your vampire, Em,” he said lightly.
I blinked and shook it off. “Sorry. You don’t look anything like your sister.”
He laughed. “Yeah, I’ve heard. Got my looks from my mom’s side. Some say I look like Salvatore himself.”
I stilled. “Salvatore?”
“We call him Collin?” He answered.
I couldn’t breathe. “Wait… what?”
Em looked nervous now. “Please don’t freak out. That’s why I didn’t tell you before.”
“I don’t understand,” I said, my tone was too sharp. “Em, how do you know him?”
“He’s my uncle.”
Everything stopped.
My brother.
Her uncle.
That wasn’t possible. It didn’t make sense.
I was still frozen in place and didn’t see the tornado of a woman coming directly at me. Her arms wrapping around me tight.
I knew that scent instantly. Jasmine and musk, with a trace of ash.
Gabriella.
Her voice muffled into my shoulder. “I’ve been searching for you for the past sixty fucking years.”
