Page 46 of Fanged Secrets
“Maxine too?” she asked out loud, her expression incredulous.
“Yes, Maxine too. Even if she does look like a walking cupcake,” I confirmed, smiling slightly at the shock on her face. “Vampires come in all shapes and sizes. Some are born, and some are made. But they’re all sworn to the Leyore coven and are forbidden from preying on unwilling humans.”
Amara raised a brow at “unwilling,” and I sheepishly explained. “Some humans enter into contracts with vampires. The human offers blood, and the vampire shows them a good time or spoils them. It’s all consensual and beneficial for both parties.” I hurriedly added that last bit when she looked appalled.
As I explained more about vampire life and the Leyore coven, I noticed the tension in Amara’s shoulders easing slightly.
We talked well into the night. When we had both laid everything bare, shown our hands and spilled out secrets, we sat in silence together. The apartment seemed both quieter and fuller at the same time. The silence was comfortable, a stark contrast to the tension-filled exchanges we were used to. It felt good not to keep secrets from her anymore, And from the look of exhausted relief on Amara’s face, it was clear the feeling was mutual.
After everything, neither of us wanted to be alone.
We ended up in my bedroom, standing awkwardly on either side of the bed. The proximity was almost unbearable, the air charged with the memory of our earlier entanglements. I could feel my pulse quickening, my body recalling the way it had melded perfectly to hers. I could see the same thoughts mirrored in Amara’s eyes, her cheeks flushed.
For a moment, neither of us moved. Then, with a small, almost shy smile, Amara slipped off her shoes and climbed into bed. I followed, and the mattress dipped under our combined weight.We lay there stiffly, side by side, each acutely aware of the other's presence.
The silence stretched on, filled only by the soft sounds of our breathing. I turned my head to look at her, taking in the way the moonlight played across her features. She was beautiful, even more so in the vulnerable intimacy of the present moment.
Slowly, I reached out and touched her hand, my fingers brushing against hers. She turned her head to meet my gaze, her eyes soft and questioning. Without a word, I shifted closer, slipping my arm around her waist. She hesitated for a heartbeat, then shuffled closer still, resting her head on my shoulder. Her tousled hair tickled my throat and I could feel the warmth of her breath against my skin.
The bond between us was undeniable, and despite the chaos of our lives, this truth was the one solid thing I could cling to. Despite all odds, I had found my mate. Or more accurately, she had kicked down my walls and found me. I didn’t voice it to her yet, but the admission settled in my heart, bringing with it a sense of peace.
Amara's heartbeat thrummed against me, a steady, reassuring rhythm that lulled me. I tightened my hold on her, feeling the way her body fit perfectly against mine. The connection between us was electric, yet soothing, a paradox that felt entirely natural.
For the first time in a long while, I felt myself relaxing. The tension ebbed away, replaced by a gentle contentment. Amara snuggled closer, her arm draping over my waist as she nuzzled into my shoulder. I could feel her heartbeat slowing, syncing with mine as sleep claimed her.
I watched her for a while, my mind wandering over the events that had led us here. The danger, the deceit, the revelations – they all seemed distant now, overshadowed by the warmth of the woman in my arms. As her breathing deepened and she drifted off, I allowed myself to close my eyes. Her presence was a balmto my troubled mind, her touch a grounding force that kept the darkness at bay.
I pressed a soft kiss to her forehead and finally let sleep take me, my lullaby the steady thud of her heartbeat.
Chapter 24
Amara
Despite the fact that I found myself surrounded by a group of beautiful, blood-sucking vampires, I was not freaking out as much as I probably should have. Maybe it was because Dylan erected herself like a shield at my side, standing so close she was practically on top of me. Or maybe it was because they didn’t act like how I’d imagined vampires to act.
“Amara, you look lovely.” Maxine’s lips moved slowly and spread into a warm smile as she adjusted a pristine white blouse. “I’m sooo sorry I left you stranded at the library yesterday.”
“Please.” I caught Dylan’s sneering retort in my peripheral. “Your hair appointment nearly cost Amara her life. None of this would have happened if you’d just kept her out of Don’s reach.”
After learning about the tainted perfume, Jordan had called a meeting. I learned from Dylan that these coven meetings were a regular occurrence, one of the reasons she disappeared from the apartment as often as she did. This time, Jordan was inclined to include me, albeit begrudgingly.
I suspected the Leyore vampires were still a little suspicious of me, but I was a goldmine of information for them, being the turncoat daughter of Don Leone. River and Maxine were there too, along with a few other Leyore vampires I hadn’t met before.
River, ever the odd presence, gave me a knowing smile, painted lips mouthing the words with intention. “Your aura is quite interesting, Amara. And it must be having an effect on Dylan. Her energy has become more... harmonious since you’ve been around.”
I wasn’t sure what to make of that, but I tried for a watery smile. Dylan rolled her eyes and I watched her mutter, “Ignore her,” and then turn to Jordan. “This is serious. I don’t know what Don’s up to, but it’s bigger than we thought.”
Hunter, the quietest and most intimidating of the group, leaned back in her chair, her eyes dark and inscrutable. “Don’t scare her off, River. She’s only just coming to terms with the fact that her wife is a vampire. Maybe hold off on the woo-woo bullshit for the time being.”
I nodded, unable to suppress a nervous smile. It was true. The sheer beauty of the vampire women around me was almost overwhelming. Maxine’s petite frame and fashionable appearance, River’s enigmatic and almost otherworldly demeanor, and Hunter’s relaxed but commanding presence made me feel like a bug in comparison. They were all stunning, but still, none of them held a candle to Dylan in my eyes.
River leaned closer, her eyes sparkling, and I read her lips. “Dylan never tells us anything. Is she treating you well? She can be so... intense.”
Dylan shot her a searing glare. “I’m right here.”
Considering River’s blood still stained our living room floor after Dylan went at her, ‘intense’ was an understatement. But her smile had me feeling a bit more at ease. “She’s beenwonderful,” I typed quickly on my phone, letting the app speak for me. “Ferocious bloodlust aside…”
Jordan waved an arm to hush whatever retort Dylan was about to fling, bringing us back to the matter at hand. “We’re not here to discuss Dylan’s temperament. We’re here to discuss why Don Leone would want his own daughter dead.”
