“Like maybe you’re losing your marbles, old man,” she crossed her arms over her chest. Despite being an older vampire, Helena looked every bit as young as she did when we’d been turned. She was lovely, but her eyes held so many different things: pain, sadness, determination. We’d been friends for long enough that I knew she fought her own battles and rarely asked for help.
She’d never taken someone to love the way she had with Raven, though. Their relationship was something I stayed out of. Helena wasn’t exactly the jealous type - most vampires weren’t - but I didn’t give her any reason to think that I was going to share my opinions about her relationship. She could do what she wanted. She could love who she wanted.
But I could, too.
Apparently, my heart had chosen Kimberly.
“I’m not losing my marbles.”
“You could be, you geezer.”
“What’s with the old man jokes?” I said. “I’m 35.”
“And how long have you been 35?” She raised an eyebrow. “Fifty years? A hundred? It’s been a long time, Liam.”
“I stopped counting long ago.”
“We both did,” she said. “But this thing...” She gestured vaguely. “You’ll have to turn her, you know.”
“I know.”
“She’ll hate that.”
“She won’t have a choice.”
“Liam, I don’t know if you’re listening to what I’m saying,” she came over to me and placed her hands on my shoulders. “She might hate you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“This woman has wrapped her entire identity in being a hunter. That’s what she loves to do. Her entire life, she’s been fighting. She’s been focusing on getting her body to be as fast as possible and as strong as possible. She’s perfected her fighting skills. She’s great with weapons. There isn’t anything she can’t do.”
“Except find me,” I pointed out.
“But she’s trying,” Helena reminded me. “And if she does, she’s going to want to kill you, Liam. You had her friends slaughtered.”
“Her friends were harvesting the hearts of vampires to make illegal drugs,” I pointed out something that we both knew.
“Does she know that?”
“I didn’t tell her,” I shrugged.
“Fuck, Liam,” Helena shook her head. “For a Vampire Lord, you’re kind of dumb.”
I bristled, irritated at being called dumb.
“I think you’re forgetting who you’re talking to.”
“Don’t you pull rank with me,” she said. “You want to turn her, fine. Make sure you’re on the same page before you let your guard down around her, though. She’s got fire in her eyes, and it’s not from burning passion. It’s from burning hatred. That girl will slaughter you in your sleep if you give her the chance.”
“I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“Better vampires than you have died from arrogance,” she lowered her voice. “And I don’t want to lose you.”
“You aren’t going to lose me.”
“I better not,” Helena said. Then she turned toward the door. “Raven is waiting for me. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She left, and I stared at the door before moving back to my desk. I knew Helena was right about Kimberly, but I didn’t want her to be. I wanted her to fall madly in love with me. I wanted to save her from the monotony of her life. Mostly, I wanted to show her that she could be so much more.