Immortal Hearts Page 0,19

I knew I should let the two of them talk privately, but I couldn't help myself. It wasn't like me not to eavesdrop.

knew I should let the two of them talk privately, but I couldn't help myself. It wasn't like me not to eavesdrop.

I tiptoed over to the kitchen's entryway and hung outside of view.

"So what Can hear mor are we going to do here?" I heard Stormy ask. "I want to see the town. And Luna."

"We'll see her sometime."

"But when? I've missed her so much."

"I don't know."

"I can't wait to see her."

"But don't you think Raven's cool?"

"Yes, she is very pretty. Mother and Father raved about her when they came home."

"They did?" His voice was bright.

"All they talked about for a week straight was Raven." Her voice grew dark.

"Well, I know you guys will be fast friends."

There was a pause.

"Why haven't you come home?" Stormy asked softly. "Is it because of me?"

"You know I had to leave. For the family. There was too much turmoil if I stayed. Why would it be because of you?"

"I wasn't sure if you were mad at me - from the night of the covenant ceremony."

"I couldn't be mad at you. It was my decision."

"But I was so angry."

"I understood. Everyone was upset."

"But it's been a year. You weren't supposed to stay this long."

"I like it here," he said.

"And you like Raven."

"Yes, I do."

"But why ... why didn't you turn Luna? She's beautiful and so much fun! All you had to do was turn her. Then we all could be together in Romania. And she could have been a vampire - a Sterling vampire."

"She wasn't the right girl for me. I'm sorry to have disappointed you. But Luna is doing fine. She doesn't need me to get along in this world."

"Well, now that Luna is a vampire, why don't you like her?" she asked.

"Stormy... I wasn't ... it just wasn't right. You'll understand when you're older."

"I understand now. You don't think I know about love?"

"If you do ... well, you'll know that you need to wait for the one you really love."

"So you didn't love Luna?"

I didn't hear him answer. I figured he was shaking his head.

"You love Raven?"

He was quiet again. I was hoping he was nodding this time.

"We don't have to talk about all this tonight," Alexander finally said, "do we?" Just then I stepped back into the room.

Stormy looked at me as if she wondered how much I'd heard.

"We were just catching up a bit," Alexander said. "I kind of left home in a hurry. Not the best situation. But now we're together - "

"Yes," she said. Stormy flashed a grin.

"I'm going to take Raven home," he said to his sibling. "Maybe you can take a catnap?"

"But it's only midnight," she whined.

"I know - but you've traveled quite a bit."

"I'm not a child," she said, just as I probably would have in her situation.

It was odd to leave and have to be the one going to bed while a twelve-year-old girl got to stay awake until sunrise. Being a mortal had its drawbacks. "It was nice to finally meet you, Stormy," I said. "I hope to see you again soon."

"Yes, it was lovely meeting you, Raven," she said with a sweet grin. I was hoping for a hug, but it didn't happen. She politely offered her hand instead.

I gently shook it, and she raced up the grand staircase, just like I had a hundred times before.

I felt kind of lonely, knowing that I had to go home while the siblings got to hang out together. But this was really about Alexander and not me, and I took comfort in knowing that his loneliness, living in the Mansion with just Jameson for company, was minimized again.

"She seems really sweet," I said when Alexander and I had settled into the Mercedes.

"I'm glad you like her," he said.

"What's not to like?" I asked.

He shrugged his shoulders.

"Why do you call her Stormy?" I asked when we drove down the long and winding drive.

"She has her moments."

"Really? She seems very polite."

"She is. But she can be very vocal and dramatic."

"Like me?"

"Yes, I'd say that," he said with a chuckle.

Then I remembered the private chat that I'd overheard. "I don't want her to resent me," I said.

"Why would she? She just likes to be the center of attention, that's all. She always has."

"No, I mean that you didn't return to Romania. She might think that you are still here because of me."

"Well, I am." Alexander sported a