“I do call them,” I protest.
“Once a month if that versus once a week. Your mom called me earlier today because she was afraid she would bother you.”
I flinch and rub the back of my neck. My phone chirps with a text, and I have to refrain from grabbing it.
“It’s all right that this… girl means so much to you, but will she in a year? Two years? Five? Twenty?”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation.
“And what will that mean for your family? For your friends?”
“I…”
I grimace and drop my gaze. As much as I want to say that Romelia and I can start our own family, I don't know if we'll be able to. She is part-demon, so maybe she will be able to conceive, but if we have hatred, scorn, and persecution, what will our children face? They'll be part-vampire, part-werewolf, and part-demon. That's a lot to handle. Will they have to drink blood and shapeshift into a large wolf and possess dark magic like all demons?
"I don't know what it'll mean," I mumble. My eyes have to flash as I glare at Bermon. "I know she is my future, though, and I'm going to see her again."
“When?” he asks.
“When we can do so. Tonight if possible.”
“Just… just be careful,” Bermon warns. “She may care for you—”
“She does,” I interject.
“But that doesn’t change the fact that she’s a vampire. She needs blood to survive.”
“She needs air too, and so do I.”
Bermon just blinks and then slowly shakes his head. “Mercy’s right. There’s no reasoning with you, is there?”
"Love doesn't have a reason."
“They do say love is blind. Just… be careful,” he repeats.
I nod as he leaves the room, already replying to Romelia and asking her when she thinks we can see each other. It's been far too long, and I want to hold her again.
Chapter 18
Romelia
I know it's dangerous and maybe we shouldn't, the time might never be right, so I don't want to wait any longer. When can we go out together?
I read and reread Julian’s text, a wide smile slowly curling my lips.
Someone just wants his gold cufflink back, I tease.
You can keep it because you stole something else that night.
I didn’t realize I was such an accomplished thief. What else did I take?
You know what you took.
I close my eyes, and as ridiculous as it is, I hug my phone to my chest. He’s referring to his heart, and mine warms at the thought.
I accept your offer of a date. Where do you want to meet? Silver Ironwoods?
No, that’s too close to Moonstone Academy. Just head to Blackwell Summit. When do you think you can get away?
I’ll let you know.
Tonight?
I cover my mouth to suppress a giggle. I can try, but I think tomorrow night might be easier for me.
Then tomorrow night, my sweet lady.
Until tomorrow.
I hug my phone again. Tomorrow night, if I’m able to get away, I’ll be able to hug Julian. No matter what it takes, I will see him.
Nerves. All day long, my nerves have been bothering me, so much so that when Professor Marius calls on me in Blood Magic, I fumble for words and can’t answer his question.
When class is over, he calls me over to him.
“Romelia, what is distracting you?”
“I…” I don’t have an answer to give him. I can’t exactly tell him the truth, even if he does suspect that a werewolf might be the cause.
"You have found someone. I understand that. Young love can be intoxicating, even more so than blood, but that doesn't mean that your studies should suffer."
I blink a few times and stare up at him. “I…”
“And I’m certain you don’t wish to be hounded about this,” he says pointedly, “but the sharp fangs and claws can sink in and tear you apart if you aren’t careful.”
He clearly knows I care about a werewolf, but he's mistaken if he thinks to warn me away from Julian.
“Fangs can be filed down and claws retracted,” I counter.
“While that is true, that does not mean they are removed altogether and when the moment is wrong…”
“But when the moment is right, that is all that matters, and the moment is right.”
“For how long?”
I grin broadly, unable to help myself. “For as long as the sun and moon are separated.”
He wags a finger at me. “Ah, but there are eclipses.”
“Yes, but it’s not as if the sun and the moon ever touch even if one does blot out the other,” I counter.
Professor Marius just shakes his head.
“You disapprove.”
“Oh, no. That is not my place. You have to do what you feel is right.”
“Believe me. I understand your concerns, but I have no reservations.”
“You also haven’t known this… boy for very long.”
"Long enough and far longer than a day. It's not as if we're… We have our eyes open. We know that not everyone will be understanding, but the future… We're going to take things one day at a time and live our lives with love and not be ruled by fear."
The professor nods slowly. "You are walking on dangerous ground."
“No. He makes me float.”
And I float away, too blissful to be worried about the doubt that has kept Julian and me apart for so long.
That night, I slip out of the castle and head to the west. Blackwell Summit is westward of Blood Haven, and Moonstone is to the east.
There seem to only be guards patrolling this night, and I hold up my hand. Quickly, I blow, and a cloud of black pepper and cumin float on the breeze toward the nearest guard. He sneezes, and during the moment when his eyes are closed, I'm gone and past the boundary of Blood Haven Academy, racing toward Blackwell Summit.
It’s not a true mountain but a large massive hill that overlooks a bunch of boulders almost arrayed like a mountain range. Perhaps giants had arranged the massive rocks here one day long ago. The tops of the boulders are covered with moss, and I climb onto one and slowly jump onto the next.
A shadow approaches, and amber eyes stare at me, glowing. I’m not alarmed, even if my heart does beat faster. The wolf is massive, far larger than an animal wolf would be. I would’ve thought that werewolves would retain their eye color when in their animal form, but evidentially not as the wolf rears up to stand on two legs. A cloud covers him, obscuring him from sight, and by the time the fog dissipates, Julian stands before me, adjusting his pants and then the sleeve of his shirt, his eyes once more that lovely light shade of green.
“Romelia,” he murmurs, holding out his hands.
I jump, and he catches me, and we embrace tightly, clinging to one another, neither wishing to let go. My head rests on his chest, and I listen to his pounding heartbeat until I recognize that his heart and mine share the same beat.
Slowly, I pull away and tug his hand. “Do you want to climb or dance or…”
“Whatever you want to do,” he says, brushing my hair back.
I’m wearing the same dress I wore the other day I wished to see him, complete with his cufflink attached to my box, and I finger it.
“You can have it back,” I murmur.
He slowly retrieves the cufflink, his gaze never leaving my eyes. “I can have this back, but not the other item you stole.”
“Claimed. I claimed it,” I whisper, slowly reaching up to touch his hair, pressing it to the side. His locks are shorter than they had been before, no longer falling across his eyes.
“You like my hair longer.”
“Maybe. It makes you seem a bit… untamed.”
“I am tamed.”
“So long as you don’t lose your fighting spirit.”
“You don’t have to worry about that,” he says with a laugh as he leads me over to the rocks. “I will fight for you, for us.”
�
�It won’t come to that.”
“It might.” His hands drop to my waist, and he picks me up and places me onto the smallest boulder. “That suitor your parents want for you—”
“They don’t live my life.” I reach down and give him a hand up beside me.
“Oh, I realize that, and I don’t worry one bit that you will choose him over me, but your parents—”
“Mine do not know what’s best for me. Sometimes, I think they don’t know me at all.”
We continue climbing on the boulders, making our way toward the hill.
“Maybe you should try to reconcile with them,” Julian finally murmurs. “They should know what a wonderful daughter they have.”
"You're so sweet, but I don't think my father wants a wonderful daughter or will ever think I am one. He wants someone who I'm not and will never be."
“Your mother then.”
“Julian, not everyone has loving parents.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I wish…”
I stare up at the moon. Somewhere in the distance, a wolf howls, and I smile wistfully.
“What is it you wish?” I ask, turning back toward him.
“I wish my parents could meet you, my siblings too.”
He’s worried. If he thinks his own family won’t accept me, then no one will.
I touch his shoulder and jump down from Blackwell Summit. The air from my decent makes my hair flutter way up high, and I land lightly on my feet.
Julian remains above me.
“Come on down,” I tell him. “We don’t need to worry about anyone else today. Just you and me.”
He jumps, landing beside me. His arms wrap around me, and he stares into my eyes. Mine shut, and I wait for him to kiss.
But the sound of his heartbeat, such a comfort before, makes me thirsty, so very thirsty. I had been so excited and maybe a little anxious about our date that I hadn’t been able to drink before, and I draw back, pushing Julian away just before our lips touch.
“What’s wrong?” he asks immediately.
My fangs ache from my desire to drink. It's almost impossible to think about anything other than my unquenchable thirst.
“You need blood, don’t you?” he asks.
Understanding and acceptance burn in his eyes, and all I can do is nod.
“Here.” He rolls up his sleeve and offers me his wrist.
“No, Julian, I can’t.”
“I’m telling you you can.”
"You don't understand. I've never drunk from the… from someone. Not directly."
“Never?”
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop.”
“I’m not afraid.”
“Julian…”
“This date has been wonderful so far, don’t you think? It would be a shame if it has to end because my vampire champion is too afraid to believe in herself.”
“I thought I told you I don’t care for that,” I gently admonish even though I’m staring at his wrist. I can see the tiny tremble of his heartbeat pulsating by the vein.
“You don’t have to worry,” he says. “I know you need blood. That doesn’t frighten me.”
“So you say, but to drink your blood…”
“I would rather you drink mine than someone else.” He cups my cheek and lifts his wrist.
My mouth waters, and I close my eyes. It's taking everything in me to not grab him to yank his head to the side and shove my fangs deep into his neck. But I hold back.
He brings his wrist even closer to my mouth. “You’re thirsty, so drink.”
Slowly, I touch his hand and arm. At his nod, I touch my fangs to his wrist. Keeping my eyes focused on his, I bite down as gently as I can.
Immediately, a rush of warm liquid flows into my mouth. It’s shocking how warm it is. The blood I drink from the goblets isn’t nearly as warm, having cooled from its time removed from the body.
Two tiny swallows are all I allow myself before I back away, and Julian chuckles.
“You can drink more.”
“No. I… I should be fine now.”
“For how long?” he challenges, lifting his eyebrows.
"Maybe… maybe for a half-hour," I admit.
"You want the night to end in a half-hour?"
“No…”
"Well, then?" He lifts his wrists. The twin pricked marks from my fangs are already healing.
I want to smile, but I don’t for fear that my teeth are stained with his blood. Again, I drink, three deep swallows this time, good for perhaps three hours if I’m lucky.
“How do you feel now?” he asks, finally lowering his arm to his side.
"Much better. Thank you," I murmur, staring at Julian's chest rather than his eyes, mumbling the words so that he can't see my teeth and fangs.
Julian lifts my chin, and I stare deeply into his eyes.
“You are perfect for me. I will give you anything you ask for.”
“I don’t want to ask you for anything.”
“But you have it without asking as well.”
This time, when he goes to kiss me, I allow him to. The kiss is just as perfect, wonderful, and life-altering as our first, and I wish this magical night would never end.
Chapter 19
Julian
I've heard that when a vampire bites to suck blood from his or her victim, it's excruciatingly painful, and it feels as if a part of your soul is leaving your body as well as the blood itself. Of course, I've learned that tidbit from werewolves. From my research on the matter, and yes, I've been studying more on vampiric lore instead of my classes, some humans actually enjoy giving their blood. It's possible for the experience to actually be a pleasant one.
When Romelia bites me, there's a slight pinch as her fangs pierce me, and then she barely sips. It can't nearly be enough, so I insist she has more. It doesn't hurt. She's delicate and dainty even when drinking blood.
After, she can barely look at me, but I hate that she feels shame. She cannot stop drinking blood just as I cannot prevent myself from having a wolf inside me.
And now, now I am kissing her, and my heart swells. It doesn’t escape my notice that our hearts beat in perfect rhythm, and when the kiss finally ends, I cup her face.
“My dear heart,” I murmur.
She smiles up at her, her red eyes shining, and she grips my wrist. Tenderly, she takes the one she drank from and kisses the already healed wound.
“I think you maybe have found a nickname for me that I finally accept,” she whispers before kissing me again.
Drawing back, I take her hand and glance all around. The entire world lies before us. I want to take her away from our academies, to take her from her terrible parents, to find our own place in the world.
But that would mean leaving my family behind. It would mean abandoning my siblings and not even meeting the pups my mom is still carrying inside her. How can I profess to care for Romelia if I am willing to abandon my family?
“What are you thinking about?” she asks, drawing me from my thoughts.
“What do you want to do now?” I ask.
Her giggle is like a bell. “You don’t want to kiss me all night long?”
“I will steal a thousand kisses and a thousand more, but I don’t merely want to be with you just to kiss you.”
“I know.” The way she stares up at me makes me feel as if I am a king among men.
But I am not just a man. I am a wolf too, and I cannot neglect that side of my persona. Some have tried. There have been werewolves who have fallen in love with humans, so they suppressed their wolf, pretending to be as human as their spouse.
Without fail, their wolf would one day come out, and they could not control him. The beast was feral, untamed, and frenzied. Wives or even children were slaughtered at the hands of the wolf. The paranormal hunters or whoever would be sent would have to move quickly to hide the evidence as more times than not, the werewolves would commit suicide once they're finally in control of the body once more.
It’s a terrible tragedy that has played out many times, and I know better than to ignore my wolf. I cannot ignore that part, just as Romelia cannot ignore her thirst for blood.
We are what we are, but together, we are so much more.
I steal a kiss and then another. She sighs when I pull back.
“Mates,” she murmurs. “Is any of that mythos true? Do werewolves have mates?”
“It’s just another word for spouse, for husband or wife. There’s no such thing as love at first sight, as a wolf needing to claim his wife, none of that.”
She frowns. “I wonder where that story came from.”
“It’s possible that some werewolves may have used that story to try to claim a woman or man as theirs even though it’s not strictly true.” I shrug and tug her close to me, wrapping my arms around her waist as I start to sway to the music that’s playing in my heart.
“I don’t like the idea of using that term.”
“You don’t want me to call you my mate?”
“No.” Her eyes close. “I don’t know why. It can just mean spouse, which I’m not…”
Yet. I don’t voice the thought aloud, but I know she’s thinking it too.
“But it just seems… false. Possessive.”
“You’re mine, but I’m also yours,” I murmur into her hair.
“That’s better. I like that so much more.” She hugs me tight and then looks up at me, her chin resting on my chest. “I’m being ridiculous, aren’t I?”
“Not at all,” I assure her.
We dance and twirl. I dip her, and she giggles, holding onto me. Tightly even though I won’t let her fall and even though a fall won’t hurt her.
Then, she dashes away from me, standing atop Blackwell Summit in the blink of an eye. There, she waits for me, and we dance there, jumping from the hill to the boulders. We laugh the entire time, talking, enjoying each other.
Eventually, we lie down on the grass, staring up at the moon and the twinkling stars.
“Selene,” she murmurs.
“You’re stuck on her, aren’t you?”
Blood Haven: Year One: A Mayhem of Magic World Story Page 12
