Mum laughed a teary laugh.
“And you know what? I don’t care anymore. Please, just don’t make the mistake I did. If Hans is the one you’re in love with, do whatever it takes to be at his side and don’t let anyone stand in your way.”
“I won’t, don’t worry,” I assured her.
She nodded. “Good. I only wish I’d had the chance to do the same.”
Her words hit me in the gut. I wondered if she’d ever see my father again.
I hoped so.
At least the storm was passing now. My grandmother’s ultimate spell was breaking apart, and Mum was breaking her chains. Thank God, I could be part of it.
I looked up at the clock on the kitchen wall. One daytime of sunlight left before I did whatever it took to be with my vampire lover for ever.
I was going to enjoy every second before my transition. I was going to spend my final hours of sunshine with my mother, asking her about my father, and for once, finally, I knew I was going to get the truth and not the lies.
Mum smiled, and I knew she could read my thoughts. She had the same gifts I did. She’d just been denying them to herself for years.
“I havesomeof the same gifts you have,” she told me. “But a lot of yours are from your father’s side. And yes, I’ll tell you all about him. So how about we get you your jam on toast and have our breakfast out in the sun?”
“I’d love that, Mum,” I said.
Chapter Thirty-two
“You’rereallygoingtodo this?” Mum asked me. “Hans is going to turn you into a vampire tonight?”
I told her all about him. From how we met in the Regency bar, to how he’d pursued me in my dreams across the cobblestones. I recalled all the memories that had come back to me about the times I’d seen him in the grounds of Garway church when I was younger.
I shared with her how strongly I’d fallen for him, and how incredible it felt to be by his side. His fated mate across the centuries, returning to be his lover. This time for ever.
She finally listened to me without telling me I was astupid girl.
It was as though a light had been flicked on inside her head, revealing her own truth to herself. But that shouldn’t have been much of a surprise to me, since I’d experienced the same thing for myself. It was just a shame she was a little bit older when the truth hit her.
So long after my father walked away…
I smiled at her, loving the closeness.
“Yeah, I’m going to become a vampire tonight, at least I hope so. Happy Halloween to me.”
I was looking through the clothes in my wardrobe for something suitable to wear. I came across one of my old white dresses – a really pretty one with a bow around the waist and a lace overskirt. I hadn’t worn it in years.
“Do you think it will still fit?” I asked Mum as I held it up to myself in front of the mirror.
She came over and took hold of the hem, running her thumb over the lace at the bottom.
“Yes, almost definitely. It’s a good choice. Quite fitting for someone being turned into an immortal on Samhain.”
My heart raced at her words. Spoken out loud, it all felt so real.
I still had no idea quite what was in store for the transition. Hans was keeping his thoughts to himself besides the instructions ofhead back to Edwin’s manor when your soul feels the calling.
Standing there, in my old family bedroom as the sky turned to dusk, there was no doubt about it. My soul was beginning to crave Hans.
Badly.
It wasn’t just his teeth in my throat, or in my breasts, or his cock buried deep, and not just his body next to mine. There was more to it than that.Longing for his blood in my mouth. Longing to feel what it felt like to be a vampire.