To Love a Vampire - A.K. Koonce Page 0,28

petite shoulders as she wraps her arms around herself.

I shake my head, not wanting to answer her.

“Answer my question and I’ll answer one of yours.”

I stare up at her, her face is so painful to look at.

“My mother, I see my mother.” My voice shakes but I don’t allow the emotion to grow. “Why are you different from the other witches?”

She smiles, a tired look that etches thin lines around my mother’s beautiful face.

“Because I’m done. I wait for no one, other than death, my child. I spent centuries devouring love like a vulture to decaying meat. And I’m… exhausted. I want to be light again. Like youth before the dawn of adulthood, like sorrow before the tears, like the power of trust and the weakness of envy. I want to be full and I want to be empty all at the same time…”

My eyes widen at her confession.

“How long have you lived?”

“Sometimes life isn’t about the number of years lived, but the amount of emotion felt.” Her pale eyes appear lighter in the clear moonlight. She studies me for a moment, my mother’s features smoothing into a sight of kindness. “In all of my life, I’ve never once had anyone look at me the way that hybrid looks at you.”

I swallow hard and blink up at her. How does Asher look at me?

She lifts her arms and dithers for just a moment, unsure of herself, before wrapping her thin arms around me, embracing me.

“What do you wish you would have told your mother?” she asks, as I cling to her, wishing I would just push this strange witch away but also never wanting to let go.

My breath catches, coming out uneven and harsh, as my lungs grow tight. “I-" I gasp in an attempt at finding my breath again. “I wish I would have said thank you.”

She knew that I loved her. So much. But she didn’t know how much I appreciate all that she did for me. She lost her life to give me a better one.

“You’re welcome, Fallon.”

Ten

The President

The much-awaited Treaty Celebration is finally here. My stomach fills with dread at the thought of meeting the representatives. Luca’s swift fingers tangle my waves into a simple knot, a few loose tendrils curl around my face, threatening to cling to my lips.

“The mortals don’t have much taste but I think this should do,” she tells me, her mouth twisting in a look of uncertainty as she eyes my hair.

“That sounded incredibly close to an insult,” I say as my eyes narrow on my friend.

She smirks at me, the dim light catching her golden-like eyes as she appears lost in thought. Flipping her long maroon hair, she turns away, striding to the door in a few long steps.

“I’ll meet you at the dinner in just a few minutes.” She races from her hut without explanation, the thin door creaking shut behind her, leaving me staring after her.

That was odd. She seems to be in a bit of a hurry.

Raske’s warning for the hybrids to stay out of sight tonight circle my mind. I wonder if she’s helping them hide, if she’s using it as an excuse to get closer to Gabriel.

I sigh and begin pulling on my dress for the evening. It isn’t the Wanderer’s normal attire. It’s a black dress that falls to my mid-thigh with thick straps over my tan shoulders. The smooth material feels nice against my skin. It swishes around my thighs with each step I take, reminding me of how calming the simple fabric feels. It might help me with my nerves tonight.

The sound of the door shutting quietly is heard as I pull the dress over my thighs. My heart skips a beat as I hold the fabric to my chest, glancing over my shoulder my gaze collides with hungry eyes.

Asher clears his throat, brushing a hand through his messy hair as he hastily looks to the floor. “Sorry, I-” he stammers. The always assured hybrid can’t seem to fill a sentence right now.

A shy smile pulls at my lips as I finish pulling on the black formal dress, the dress hugs my shoulders, barely revealing any skin in the front. The length of my spine is displayed with the low dip of the material in the back.

I face him when I’m fully clothed and he finally meets my eyes again, a sweet smile fills his face.

“I just wanted to see you before everyone got here,” he tells me in a quiet voice.

He