My eyes immediately dart around the room, looking for Stephan. I don't have to look far this time because he's sitting right beside the head of the bed.
I let out a gasp when I'm assaulted by his peculiar golden eyes staring intently at me. Jesus, every time I've ever seen these eyes, they’re blazing at me with an intensity that rivals the brightest flame.
“Why do I keep passing out like this?” I ask him. It's a rhetorical question, so I don't really expect an answer, and I don't get one, though Stephan’s eyes flick away from me for just a moment before they come back to rest on me again—with that same intensity.
“You have questions,” he states simply.
I blink, surprised at his forthright manner. Yes, I have questions. I have a shit-ton of questions, and my head spins as I try to think of where to begin.
“The time for secrets is in the past,” Stephan voices softly. “I will answer any questions you have, Elena.”
My eyes flick back up to him, and I note the seriousness in his gaze. What does he mean the time for secrets?
I decide to start off with a more imminent question, though. “Where am I?”
He doesn't blink as he answers stoically, “At my castle.”
I blink. I knew he was rich, but seriously, he has acastle?
“What happened with Dorian back in the elevator?” I ask him.
“He attacked you.” Stephan’s jaw clenches, and his eyes flash a brighter gold.
“I know that…” I say slowly, “but what was he planning on doing to me before you showed up? His head was lowering down toward mine almost as if he was going to kiss me…”
If possible, Stephan’s jaw flexes even tighter at my words.
“But then he went for my neck,” I continue, “and I could have sworn—as crazy as this is going to sound—that his eyes were glowing red.”
Stephan is silent for a long moment. When he speaks, what he says is so shocking that I ask him to repeat himself.
“Your ears didn't deceive you, Elena. Dorian is a vampire, as am I.”
I gawk at Stephan as I shake my head slowly, searching his eyes and waiting for him to retract his statement and tell me this is all some sort of sick joke.
When he doesn’t, I reach down and pinch my arm hard.
Stephan’s lips quirk up into a half smile. “No, you're not dreaming, Elena.”
His smile fades and turns into a frown as he admits, “Nor are you having a nightmare. This is all very real, unfortunately.”
“So, what?” I say slowly as I try to process everything. “Your brother was going to bite me and drink my blood?”
Stephan’s eyes flash with anger, and I see a muscle ticking in his jaw before he growls, “Yes.”
“But you’re a vampire too?” I ask him for confirmation of what he’s already stated.
“Yes,” he answers me again, a bit impatiently this time.
“So you and Dorian are both vampires, and to keep me away from your brother who was going to bite me, you brought me to your castle in where?” I let out a humorless laugh as I joke, “Transylvania?”
“Exactly,” Dorian says, and I blink again.
“No shit. We're really in Transylvania?”
Stephen frowns before his deep voice growls, “It's a cliché, I know, but it's the least likely place for me to be. No one will look for me—or consequently—youhere.”
“So Transylvania…is it like the vampire capital of the world?” I can’t help asking him.