Bless The Beauty - By Stacey Kennedy Page 0,16

with Chase was real. I wanted it to stay that way.

I looked back at Chase, pleading. “I’m not going to deny that Kellen and I have been together and I won’t lie that he has returned to be with me again.” Chase’s eyes burned with such rage, it was a surprise his head hadn’t blown off. Quickly, I added, “But it’s not what you’re thinking, I’m not breaking up with you for him. You just don’t understand vampires.”

Chase gave a firm nod. “Yeah, ’cause I am fucking not one of you.”

“I know that,” I whispered. “But that’s what I’m trying to explain to you. We’re not monogamous.”

Chase snorted a laugh that was in no way a happy sound. “That’s clear, isn’t it?

Since the vamp isn’t at all put off that you’ve been fucking someone else while married to him.”

The term he’d just used broke my heart. “We haven’t just been fucking…we’re in love…”

Chase’s gaze would kill me if able to and the look forced me not to continue. “Do not even fucking go there, Hadley.”

My mouth clamped shut. I didn’t know what to do. To me, it was normal to be married and have a mortal lover. Of course, it was almost unheard of for a vampire to be in love with one. Consorts were treated with great respect and thought highly of. But to be loved? It just never happened. Truthfully, I hadn’t been looking for love, nor expecting it. Just like the fairytales say, Chase just rode into my life and swept me off my feet.

I glanced to Kellen, feeling lost and confused. What was I to say? I’m sorry. I wouldn’t dare say something like that. I would never say I was sorry I hurt him. He deserved so much more than that. What I wanted was for him to accept this and forgive me on his own accord.

Kellen gave me a reassuring smile. Then, his gaze fell on Chase. “The name is Kellen.” He extended his hand.

Chase crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes blazed with hatred. “I don’t fucking care who you are.”

Kellen lowered his hand and laughed. “You do love her, no?”

The point-blank question snapped Chase away from his anger for a moment and the barrier of protection he’d created around himself fell. Sadness washed across his face and he gulped deeply. He glanced at me with soft eyes and the gentleness in them spread goose bumps along my skin. This was the man I loved standing right here in front of me, vulnerable.

It only lasted a moment before his gaze returned to hard steel. He focused back on Kellen. “And what if I do?”

“Then, best we introduce ourselves.” Kellen extended his hand again. “If you want to be in her life, you will be in mine also. Our being friends will make this better for her.”

Chase dropped his arms, clearly stunned. “Say that again? You want me in her life?”

Kellen nodded without hesitation, lowered his hand again, looking annoyed and nodded toward me. “If you’d get over yourself and stop being so angry for a moment, you’d realize that is what she is trying to tell you. Nothing has changed between the two of you. Her love for you remains. Therefore, if she wants you in her life, the choice is not mine to make.”

Chase gave him a speculative glare, plainly disbelieving him. He stood quiet a moment clearly trying to process this all. Finally, he found his voice. “As in, you are willing to share her with another man?”

Kellen gave his head a slow frustrated shake. “Mortals.” He sighed then continued.

“The way about you all is amusing. Of course, I am willing to share her. Why would I refuse her someone who makes her happy?”

I stepped forward then placed my hand on Chase’s arm, pleased that he didn’t tense beneath my touch or flinch away. “Kellen is a vampire,” I told him softly.

Chase looked back at him, gave him a once over. “Point being?”

“We are wed under vampire law. Yes, we love each other and yes, he is back to stay, but I want you in my life too.”

Chase’s brows furrowed as his gaze searched mine. “He may be okay with sharing you, but I’m not sure I’m capable of such a thing.”

I sighed and prayed this wasn’t the end. I hoped I wouldn’t have to erase our time together from his mind. Those were the rules if a mortal knew about a vampire and if things got messy. Their mind