by V. Vaughn
"A feeling I can sympathize with." He looks longingly at the door. "She's tempting."
She?
"After all that exercise, we both need blood," he says. "I'll be right back."
After Adly leaves, I contemplate who she might be, because Kitty is Alexander's girlfriend, and maybe they had a little rendezvous. Jealousy I don't understand fills me and makes me want to get to her more. I let out a scream I have no desire to control as I wonder if I'm envious of Kitty being with Alexander or if it’s the other way around. Do vampire boyfriends feed on their girlfriends? I lick my lips as if I can find remnants of my last drink as I contemplate the convenience of that.
While it feels like forever, judging by the distraught look on Adly's face when he returns, he rushed to get me more blood. I throw my head back without an ounce of shame so he can pour it down my throat. When my belly is full, I moan.
I watch as Adly makes a face and finishes what's left. He shudders before he says, "That never gets better. But it does work."
I recall that Alexander said Adly was a newer vampire, and I ask, "You still struggle with control?"
"A little bit. It's probably because I've spent a lot of time with Maggie lately and it's testing me."
"Jesus, please tell me you're not another one of Kitty— Maggie’s men. That girl— " He frowns at me, and I wish I hadn't said anything. "Never mind."
"It's not like that. I think of her as a sister." He waggles his eyebrows at me. "You're more my type."
I chuckle as I recall how I compared him to Aiden earlier. Their looks are similar, and he has the same playful personality as my former love interest, so I say, "You're mine too."
"Huh." Adly grins. "We'll definitely have to spend more time together." He tilts his head at the door. "I should go. It was nice meeting you, Lyndsey."
"Thanks for taking me cliff hopping. It was fun."
"Later," he says before he walks out and shuts the door softly behind him. My bloodlust has subsided a bit, but I'm thankful when Kitty is out of the house a few minutes later.
The bed springs squeak as I shift around to get comfortable in my chains, and I close my eyes to rest. It doesn't last long, though, because Alexander enters my room as I begin to doze off. I open my eyes to look at him, and he says, "I hear you had a good time with Adly."
I yawn as I sit up. "It was great. You were right. I do like the physical things I'm capable of as a vampire." I sniff and catch the faintest scent of Kitty on him. "Did you and your girlfriend have a good meeting?" His mouth hardens into a straight line, and I add, "I'm not jealous, if that's what you think."
Alexander's expression relaxes. "Sorry. Of course you're not." He walks over to sit near me, but when I pull back, he stops in his tracks. "Right. I smell like her."
"Yeah."
"You look tired, anyway. Why don't you go to sleep and we can talk later."
I tug on one of my chains. "I don't suppose I can sleep without these?"
"I don't see why not." Alexander approaches me as he pulls a key out of his pocket. "Hold your breath." He chuckles. "Vampire jokes never get old."
I chuckle too. "Cute."
"I am going to lock you in your room, though."
I nod, but it occurs to me that I'm likely strong enough to break free if I want to. But I won't. It's clear Alexander only wants what's best for me, and I'm grateful enough to follow his rules. "Thanks," I say when he releases me.
"You're welcome. Sleep well, Lyndsey. Tomorrow is going to be much better than today."
After he leaves me, I snuggle down under the plush comforter and close my eyes to let exhaustion take over. I dream about surfing, the taste of salt in my mouth, and warm sand on my toes as my wet braids drip on my back.
I wake in darkness, and it takes me a moment to determine where I am. Only a small night-light helps me find the bathroom, and as I walk toward it, I think about my dream of being at the beach. I decide I'm going to surf today, before reality slaps me in the face. I'm a vampire. When I return to the bedroom, I flip the light switch, and as the room is bathed in yellow light, I wish for the sun instead.
I glance over at the blackout curtains, which reach from the floor to the ceiling, and I walk slowly over to them. What would happen if I just... My hand hovers at the edge of the heavy fabric. How much will it hurt? I grab a fold in the curtain and pull it slowly away from the window until a sliver of sunlight shines through. As one can do with a candle flame, I run my finger through it. Huh. I don't feel a thing, so I try again a little more slowly and still feel nothing. "Weird." I put my hand into the sunbeam and hold it still. "Wait a minute. This can't be right."
I pull the curtain halfway open and step into the light. Is the window protected by some coating to keep vampires safe? I don't care right now, because the warmth of the sun on my body makes me lift my arms and tilt my head back to bask in it. I let out a moan of pleasure as I hear the door behind me open.
I turn around to face Alexander and say, "My god, I never knew how much I love daylight."
Alexander stands in the doorway with the look of awe he had when he'd discovered I'd bypassed the self-destruction phase. He says, "I knew it. Do you have any idea how incredible you are?" I frown. Is he hitting on me? He lifts up a glass full of blood. "I have breakfast, but you'll have to draw the shade first."
"Don't you like daylight?"
"No. I haven't for decades."
"Well, someone in this house must." The curtains rasp over the rod as I pull them shut. "Is that a UV coating or something on the window?" I ask as I turn back to Alexander.
He shakes his head as he walks toward me. "No." He smiles as he hands me my drink. "You're a daywalker, Lyndsey."
"What?" My dream comes back to me, and I grin. "Sweet. I won't have to give up surfing after all." I guzzle down my breakfast as I try to figure out when high tide is based on the last time I was on the water a few days ago. I wonder if there's any way I can get out today.
"No. You won't have to give up surfing. But that's not the incredible part," says Alexander.
"I gather being a daywalker isn't a usual thing for vampires?"
"Not even close." Alexander shakes his head as he smiles as if he's in disbelief. "Fate is truly amazing when you think about it. If Maggie hadn't given you Sebastian's blood, you wouldn't be here, and we— " He stops himself and places his hand on his chest for a moment. "I don't want to freak you out, Lyndsey, but this is a big deal." He tilts his head at me and squints. "Do you know what your ancestry is?"
"Full Irish. My last name is O’Kelly.” Before he can ask what everyone does, I add, “Yes. With an O.”
Alexander throws his hands up in the air and lets out a whoop before he bows before me. "It's an honor… Princess Lyndsey."
***
Maggie grows closer to Sebastian as Alexander trains Lyndsey to be a vampire. Called by the Vampire Part 5
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V. also writes about werewolves, bears and aliens. Find out more at www.violetvaughn.com.
About the Author
V. Vaughn lives on an island in Maine with her three Portuguese Water dogs.
V. Vaughn also writes Contemporary Romance as Violet Vaughn and Cozy Mysteries with her bestie as Lucy Quinn.
www.violetvaughn.com
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