Page 37 of When Night Falls

I jump up onto my register desk and watch his text indicator trickle again, waving up and down but it feels like hours pass by with no response. Tingles prick my skin and my heart feels like it's heating up inside my chest. Anxiety eats at me as I grow impatient waiting for his answer.

Rivian? Would you feed on me?

I text him again and this time his answer comes immediately.

Yes.

My breath hitches, forbidden thoughts fill my head as ambivalence racks me. I quickly try to draw my attention back to the present situation, forgetting about the way him sucking on that girl's neck made me feel, in tandem with the idea that it could be me.

Why does the Society need a queen? Can't you just run this kingdom on your own?

It's tradition that a king reigns with a queen. It has been done, but blood power is weaker that way and vampires need strength to survive and strength is essential in regard to the treaty.

What treaty?

That's a story that requires an explanation too long for text, little one.

Okay, fine.

I accept the fact that he’s answered more than I’m sure he wanted to. But nonetheless, the idea of everything he’s told me so far captivates me.

Anything else?

Yeah, do you sparkle?

Sparkle?

Yeah, like in those one movies. I have seen some stuff about vampires, you know.

I know my response is a joke, mainly to lighten the heavy load he's dumped on me.

Don't believe everything you see in a movie, Lucynda. No. I don't sparkle. In fact, quite the opposite.

My stomach turns with a feeling of butterflies and danger all the same. I'm so close to calling out his name and I don't even know why. I’m sure he’s still across the street, I could just walk to him. But as I lean forward to peer my head out the window, I don’t see him and disappointment washed over me.

I want to know how compulsion and manifestation works.

We'll have some time to teach you all that.

Teach me?

Lucynda…

Yes, Rivian?

I’m not sure what kind of response that was, but I kick my feet at the base of the desk as I sit and wait for his text to come through.

Lucynda, marrying me is a lot more than a fancy party and the title of wife or queen. If we marry, and you accept your role into the Society, I have to turn you.

Turn me?My breathing turns sporadic as I jump off the desk frantically. I rush to the window, searching for him along the walls of the buildings across the street. He really is gone.

How come I never thought of that?

You mean…

Yes. You'll need to become a vampire.

My heart pounds in my chest like an avalanche of mountain rocks pummeling down to the valley below, sinking deep into my stomach.