Page 190 of The Last Vampire
She frowns at him. “What will they think happened to Salma?”
“That is for her to decide.”
For everyone’s sake, William makes the choice not to tell anyone, not even Salma, that she is a Stoker.
Lorena sets down Salma’s hand and gets to her feet. “Was it Minaro?” she whispers. “Is she connected to Grandsire and the spell?”
“Formidable as your looks may be, it is your mind I will miss the most,” says William. Reading the despair in her eyes, he adds, “It is far from what I want to do, believe me. Yet I cannot see any other way forward.”
“I will always be a human first, and you will always be a vampire,” she says, quoting his own words back to him, and it saddens him to know that he was right. “Does this mean Salma has to hibernate, too?”
“I am sorry,” he says, and fresh tears spring from her eyes. So he moves closer, his voice a whisper. “If you ask me to turn you, I will do it.”
He sees her eyes grow wider, and he hears how she inhales deeper, as if her lungs have grown tenfold at just the thought of immortality. He can practically see her thinking of how she would never again have to worry about sickness or aging or running out of time. It is what crosses most mortals’ minds at the prospect of being turned.
She opens her mouth to answer, and for a moment, William thinks they might actually get their happy ending.
“Ask me again when you next wake up.”
Her face is slippery wet, and he kisses her like he means to steal every particle of oxygen from her lungs.
“What if you stayed?” she asks when she comes up for air. “If everyone else hibernates, won’t that be enough?”
He shakes his head. “The spell hinges on me.”
She nods, like she was expecting that, and he can sense the presence of the other vampires nearby. He would give anything to stay with her. If only the rest of the world did not exist, and they could live just for each other.
Yet he also knows Lore deserves better than him.
She deserves everything.
“It is time,” he says, taking in every detail of her face so he can dream of her forever.
More tears spring from her eyes, and she looks like she is struggling to speak. “H-how do you think our love story ranks among the greats?” she asks through a watery grin.
He gives her a sad smile. “Better than Romeo and Juliet.”
“And Jane and Rochester.”
“And Elizabeth and Darcy,” he says, his voice tender. “William and Lorena.Ours will be the best love story never told.”
“Lorena and Williamsounds better.”
“Always trying to get the last word.”
“I’ll never forget you.” Her voice breaks.
William wants to speak, but something is holding him back. There is a shift in his vision, as if the room were darkening—and then something streaks down his cheek.
Lorena’s eyes grow round with wonder, and she reaches out to touch him. When her fingers come away, they are streaked with blood.
“I didn’t know vampires could cry,” she says softly.
He looks into her sunny gaze as a twin tear rolls down his other cheek.
“Neither did I.”
CHAPTER 56lorena
