Elara POV
I run to the front door as fast as I can after receiving the ssage that I have a visitor.
“Mama,” I throw my arms around her waist, and she hugs tightly. “You’re here.”
It is surreal to see her standing there in the entryway of the Constantine mansion. I left ho for the mating ceremony barely a week ago, but it feels like a lifeti ago.
“Oh, my beautiful girl,” she smiles, pulling back from , and studying my face.
I see my own reflection in her green eyes and cinnamon-red hair. Her nose is covered in way more freckles, though, a trait she passed down to my sister instead of .
“I miss you,” she says before I can say another word, but her eyes travel over my shoulder, and I turn around to see what she is looking at.
“Mother, this is Gabriela,” I smile brightly, relieved that it is not Axel or Kane.
I have been avoiding them since last night. I lose myself when I am with them, and I need a clear mind to figure out who I am.
“Yes,” Mother blinks in surprise. “I know.”
“Of course, you do,” I grin sheepishly. Gabriela is the Luna. Everyone knows who she is.
“Nice to see you again, Julia,” Gabriela greets politely, and an uneasiness passes over . Did Gabriela say again? There seems to be more than polite recognition between them. But Mother never told she knew Luna Gabriela. “Please join us in my living room.”
I am uncertain if I should be flattered or concerned that Gabriela invited us to her quarters. Mother ca because I invited her. I never anticipated that Gabriela would join us.
As soon as we sit, Mother turns to .
“What is it, my darling?” She asks, her brow furrowed with concern.
“Sothing happened,” I confess, taking a deep breath and telling her everything. “And now I have all of these questions, and I am worried that you might lie to if I couldn’t look you in the eye.”
“Oh, my,” Mother smiles stiffly as she fumbles with her blouse’s top button while glancing from Gabriela to .
“Am I really part vampire?” The words tumble out as I anxiously look at her.
“Honey,” Mother sighs, her hands knitting together in her lap.
“Please,” I sit forward in my seat, placing my hand on top of hers, forcing her to et my gaze. “Just tell .”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Gabriela give Mother a small nod. What the hell is going on between them? Does Gabriela already know about this?
For a brief second, I can relate to Axel and Kane. Learning that people you love and trust, keep secrets from you, sucks.
“Yes, you are,” Mother finally replies bluntly. “My father was a vampire, likely with so human blood, otherwise, it would’ve been nearly impossible for him to reproduce.”
What the fuck?
“Did you just plan on keeping this from for the rest of my life?!” I demand furiously.
“Elara, you must understand,” Mother looks at pleadingly. “I kept this from you to protect you.”
“If one more person tells it is for my own good, I’ll ...”
“It’s not just about you,” her voice breaks, and I look at her in shock. “If the Council ever finds out, they wouldn’t stop at killing you. They’ll kill and your sister.”
“That’s why you had that witch do the spell?” I ask, and she looks at in surprise.
“An elder told ,” I shrug.
“Yes,” she answers. “It was supposed to bind itself to you and Selena so your vampiric powers would never awaken. And no one would be the wiser.”
“Except,” I exhale deeply. “It didn’t work. My vampire side did awaken. And what about Selena? Did the spell work for her?”
Another look passes between Mother and Gabriela, and boiling rage bubbles up from deep inside . They are still shutting out and not telling the whole story.
“Oh, co on!” I snap. “This isn’t gossip during high tea, this is my life we’re talking about. I have the right to know. In fact, one can say my life depends on knowing.”
“We don’t know,” Gabriela answers calmly. “Selena’s sixteen. We have two years to figure it out. You, however, are out of ti.”
A look of fear washes over Mother’s face, and an uncomfortable heat begins to creep up my neck.
“How many people know about this, Elara?” Mother asks.
“Kane, Axel, Braden and I,” Gabriela jumps in before I can respond.
“Braden?” Mother looks confused. “You an the vampire from ...?”
“Yes,” Gabriela snaps sharply.
Braden, from what? First Anton knew him, and now my own damn mother?!
“Before you ask,” My mother says. “Your dad doesn’t know.”
I expected her to explain the whole Braden thing, but this caught off guard. Why the hell does he not know?
“I never told them that I have vampire blood,” Mother swallows hard. “So, I certainly wasn’t going to tell them about their daughters.”
A pang of sadness jolts through as I think of my mother, hiding who she really is from her mate. I think of Kane and Axel, and how nothing changed when they found out who I was. Or at least ... it did not appear to. I never considered that this was not the norm, that there is a world in which a mate might harm for revealing my true self.
“You can’t stay like this, Elara,” Gabriela says solemnly. “Not when more and more people are finding out about you. It’s too risky.”
“What’s the alternative?” I huff. “Can I make the vampire side of go away?”
“There is one way,” Mother inhales deeply, staring into space. “We could cast the sa spell on you that was cast on .”
“But it didn’t work,” I protest. “If it did, we wouldn’t have this conversation.”
“It worked partially,” Mother replies. “I’m concealed, but it was supposed to cover you as well. That’s the part that didn’t work.”
“But ...” Gabriela raises her eyebrows.
“But what?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper. The tension in the room grows thick, and my palms start sweating.
“But if you do the spell,” Mother looks at sympathetically. “You’ll give up all your mories.”
User Comments
0 comments from readers