Page 230 of Shifting Hearts 1
Em gave a short, bitter laugh, but I couldn’t untangle any of it. My head spun.
Gabby turned to me, her gaze steady. “Listen, okay?”
I forced a nod.
She crossed the library and pulled the door open again. “They’re waiting.”
This time, she didn’t speak. She just walked in. The scent of her was unmistakable, sweeter, stronger, clinging to the air. Dom didn’t hesitate; he caught her in his arms, lifting her clean off the ground.
“Stop running,” he murmured, his voice breaking. “I don’t care what your past is like. You are family. And you are home.”
“Don’t, please.”
“Fine.” Dom eased her back down onto her feet. “Then let’s hear it. How bad was it?”
Morgan gave a low chuckle. “Oh, it’s bad. It’s messed up.”
Dom only shrugged.
“Don’t do that. I’m not her anymore. Not even close.” She sniffed and crossed to the window, keeping her back to me. She still wouldn’t look my way.
Emily hurried after her. “We can leave whenever you want, okay? I promise.”
Morgan’s hand trembled as she touched Emily’s cheek. “I’m sorry.”
Emily shook her head and pulled her into a hug.
Then Morgan’s voice sharpened. “Why did you change their names?”
The question was for me. My throat tightened, vision blurring with tears.
“Jason,” she snapped, “I’m asking you a fucking question.”
My own anger rose to meet hers. “Where the hell were you? Why didn’t you come back?”
“I tried!” Her voice cracked. “Every house I knew was gone. Either you’d never lived there or it hadn’t even been built. Richard’s companies weren’t his yet. And Irene’s organization helped, but it couldn’t bring me to her.”
“Sweetheart,” Irene whispered gently.
Morgan’s gaze softened, but only for a moment. “You didn’t know me then. So it’s understandable. But it wasn’t easy. And I realized it would always be like this, every time I jumped back, I’d face the same struggle. Always trying to survive just to find you.”
“So I did the only thing I thought might help.” She lifted her chin, eyes burning. “I became a vampire.”
“How?” I asked.
She let out a bitter huff. “Steven. He was the only one I knew. I gave him a different name.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know, Jace. It felt right at the time. I thought he’d change me, but I was wrong.”
“Did Steven ever call you?” Annie asked softly. “It was only you who met him there, Jace.”
“No. He didn’t.”
“Wait,” Bobby cut in. His eyes widened. “You gave him the name Natasha?”
She nodded once.
