Page 61 of Midnight Kiss

“That’s right. It’s my job to make sure they never cross the line and kill humans. I’ve noticed a lot of vampire activity around our apartment building of late, and I’ve been looking out for you from afar.”

“And these vampires want me because I’m giving off an aura,” I said.

“They wanted you before then,” he said. “But it’s worse now.”

“What do you mean?” I asked. “I’ve never experienced anything that could …” But I trailed off, flashes of my time with Alex coming back to me.

“That’s right,” Mike said. “He’s exactly what you think he is.”

“That’s … That’s impossible.”

“Nothing’s impossible. His name is Alexander Knight, and he’s a vampire. A part of the United Covens. It’s the only reason I haven’t yet staked him through the heart, even though my superiors would want me to. I can’t risk upsetting the tenuous balance in the city.”

I was at a loss for words. Alex, my Alex, was a vampire? He was … How? Why? But it made sense. He’d appeared out of nowhere and saved me. He’d disappeared just as easily, and he’d been completely intoxicating.

And I could swear that there was something I’d read recently that?—

“I’m sorry, Em, but he’s been using you.”

“No. I don’t— Why would he be using me? Look, this is a lot. Like, too much. What use would any vampire have for me.” I’m actually saying the word vampire.

“He wanted something from you,” he said. “I’m assuming it wasn’t blood. Has he bitten you?”

“No, he’s never bitten me,” I said. “And I’m sure I would have known if he was a vampire?” But the defense sounded weak, even to my ears. “He wouldn’t hurt me.”

“Wouldn’t he?” Mike asked. “Where’s the book, Emily?”

“What book?”

“The book that you’ve been keeping in your apartment. The one from the library that you told us about. The diary of a French nobleman who believed in vampires?”

The memory came crashing into the front of my mind, and I sucked in a breath. The book. How on earth had I forgotten it so easily? I’d been convinced that the book had been making me sick, and I’d told Mike, and he’d basically told me that I was lying.

“But I said the book was evil or cursed. You told me I was crazy.”

“I couldn’t let you know that I knew the truth, Em,” Mike said. “I wanted to tell you, but telling you would mean breaking the vows that I took. The only way I could reveal the truth about who I was to you was to save you like I did today. You know that vampires are real now, and that means I can tell you what I am.”

“You still lied to me.”

“I had to lie to you. If I hadn’t, things would have been much worse. What would you have done if I’d told you that Alexander was a vampire?”

“I don’t know.”

“You would have either called me crazy or, worse, you would have believed me.”

“How is that worse?” I asked.

“Because if you believed me and confronted him, he would have dropped the act and killed you. All he wanted was the book.”

“No. He cares for me.”

“He’s a vampire. They’re soulless. He doesn’t care about you. He was just doing whatever it took to get what he wanted.”

But what had happened between us had seemed so real. So perfect. I’d felt as if he adored me, as if he couldn’t get enough of being around me. “He cares for me.”

“No, Emily, I’m sorry.” Mike’s words were firm. “He doesn’t care for you like that. He only wants what he wants. He was using you. If you don’t believe me, go next door and see if you can find that book.”

“What—?”