wouldn’t kill me, but I burned and blistered easily, and the glare made my head ache.
The night was cool and damp. Crickets called raucously as we walked along the sidewalk toward the river. The park was likely to be empty this time of night, and there wouldn’t be many people out on the sidewalks. We passed a man toting a bunch of grocery bags. His eyes met mine as he approached us and his gait slowed. He gave me a smile, as though he were captivated. I averted my gaze, so he wouldn’t see my silver eyes- and so I wouldn’t accidentally draw him to me. We kept walking and I clenched my mouth shut as my fangs elongated. Everything in me wanted to turn around and pin the man to the ground.
Peter squeezed my hand. “Keep walking.” He spoke softly, but it wasn’t a suggestion, it was a command. I let his aura wash over me and kept walking.
We made our way to the empty park, and I stood looking out over the dark river. I took deep, calming breaths of the cool, night-scented air. Finally, when I was in control again, I turned to Peter. “It’s pretty out here at night,” I said sincerely. “I wouldn’t have thought to come here after dark…before.”
He sighed. “I’m sorry,” he said in a flat tone.
I didn’t ask what he meant. “Don’t worry about it,” I replied cheerily. “You’re just keeping people safe.” Peter had created me. He was my master now, and he had the power to command me. I could disobey him, but it would be extremely difficult. I knew he felt guilty about this- and on the surface, it sounded like a really big barrier to our romantic relationship- but he never abused the power. He had only used it on me a few times, and always in order to keep me or the people around me safe.
I took his hand, giving it a squeeze. “I trust you.” I shrugged. “And thanks. I mean, I know you don’t enjoy it either.” This was part of the reason he had refused to turn anyone. He didn’t want the burden of being able to dominate someone’s will, or the responsibility that would come with it if he failed to do so at a crucial moment.
We stood silent, watching the moonlight glint over the black mirror of the river. I took a deep breath. “So what did you discuss with Leah?”
“Coven business.” His answer was just a beat too fast.
“You mean regarding new vampires?” He was worried about me. I knew that I wasn’t what you would call normal, even for a vampire.
He slipped an arm around my waist and drew me against his side. “It will be okay,” he said confidently. “I just worry too much.”
I poked him in the ribs, making him jump. “I’m not supposed to sleep.” He was silent and I poked him again. He made an indignant noise and swatted my hands away. “I’m not supposed to dream either, am I?” I shivered at the remembered horror of my dream.
He ran a hand over my head, smoothing my hair. “It’s not like we come with a rule book, you know.” His voice still sounded distracted, and I wondered if my issues were the only thing bothering him. I had a sneaking suspicion there were other things going on at the coven house. If that was the case, I was being carefully kept out of it because I was too weak- and maybe too unstable- to take part.
I gave him a playful shove and ran to a big willow tree growing near the water. Reaching above my head, I grasped a limb, enjoying the feel of the rough bark against my skin. Every sense was so much stronger now. I felt like I was experiencing everything for the first time. Exerting very little effort, I pulled myself up into the tree. Gracefully folding my legs, I swung forward and back. I contorted myself into a back flip and landed on the limb, balancing on my toes and laughing ecstatically at what I had just done.
Peter came to stand under the tree, where he regarded me with a lopsided grin. “I couldn’t have done that sort of thing when I was new,” he admitted. “Most new vampires take a little bit of time to get used to their new reflexes.”
I shrugged. “So I’m more talented. See, nothing wrong.” But I knew I was slower than him, and I didn’t