I opened my mouth to speak, but the words were heavy, and I hung back. “I went back in time, Theseus, because I burned the grimoire.”
“You burned it?” he questioned.
I nodded, messing with my hair a bit.
“Why did you burn it?” he pressed.
Forget it.
I would just tell him.
I’ll rip the bandage off.
After taking a breath I didn’t need, I met his gaze again. “I burned it because I was mad and frustrated…and…and worried about you.”
“About me?”
“Yes!” I snapped. “When I touched the grimoire, it said my name was Druella Zirie Omeron. There was a spell in it, and when I said it, you shone, then you were in pain, but you said your memories were coming back. Before you collapsed, y-you said… You said I took your memories and that I killed you. And I…” I shook my head over and over again, the tears I was holding back finally coming forward. “I don’t remember what I did or why, but I hurt you, and I’m so sorry.”
I was so happy my heart was dead because I was sure it would be pounding. I wanted to run far away—
“Why do you look so pained? There is a reasonable explanation, I am sure.”
My head snapped back up. When I looked into his eyes, he smiled down at me and reached over to cup the side of my cheek, using his thumb to clear the tears from my eyes.
“What if there isn’t?” I asked.
“There is,” he replied.
I sighed, pushing his hand away. “Theseus, have you ever thought that you might be too trusting!”
“I do believe this is the first time any being, mortal or immortal, has ever said such to me.” He grinned.
“I am serious!”
“So I can see. But you are aware that you wish me to be untrusting of you, correct?” he argued back.
I frowned.
“Stubborn one.” He leaned in closer.
“Do not call me—”
“Or what? You shall kill me and steal my memories—again.”
My mouth dropped open, and he just snickered at whatever stupid look I was making, which annoyed me more! He was joking about this, of all things.
“Who knows, maybe I will!” I snapped. “Maybe that’s what happened. You annoyed me so much I had to kill you and took your memories to hide the evidence.”
He nodded calmly. “Then it is not a murder, but a lovers quarrel? Thus, you killed me as a reprieve of your anger, knowing I would return. Therefore, you are merely abusing my gift of immortality. Quite extreme, my dear, but possible.”
I crossed my arms and tilted my head to the side as I just glared at him. Seconds ago, I felt miserable, confused and frustrated. Now…now I was completely and utterly dumbfounded by Theseus Christian Apollo de Thorbørn, the Prince of Night, the vampire eternal. The man believed against everything that I was his fated love, and we were destined, no matter all the chaos that seemed to unfold around me—no matter if I was the number one suspect in the case of what happened to him.
And his unwavering belief was making me believe it, too.
Dropping my hands, I felt a bit like a child. “Well, now I feel a little bit dumb for all the guilt I have when all you do is brush this off as if it is no big deal.”
“One can only feel guilt when one cares. Thus, I am greatly pleased by yours, Ms. Monroe,” he replied slowly, his accent making me shiver.
“Ms. Omeron.” It was only at her voice that I remembered the rest of the vampires were all watching us. Rhea’s voice held all the rage and malice I was expecting from Theseus or even Sigbjørn. “Do your ears fail you, son, or does your heart blind you as it once did?”
She stood directly in my face. “Did he tell you of his first wife?”
“Mother—”
“You’ve had your moment, Theseus,” she snapped over her shoulder to him. In the corner of my eye, I caught her hand move. However, as she was older and fast, I saw it coming but could not back away.
It all happened before a second had passed, her hand reaching for my neck, Theseus at my side ready to stop her, and Sigbjørn calling out to her, stopping her before she could even get the chance to touch me.
“Draka, we have guests,” Sigbjørn stated, coming over and offering her his hand. Meanwhile, her nails were barely half an inch from my neck, ready to rip out my throat.
No sooner had he said it, Pelopia, who frankly looked like Tim Burton’s version of a vampire—tall, lean, dressed in black—entered the room. She bowed her head without emotion. “A number of witches, claiming to be Omerons, have arrived, my lord. They demand an audience.”
Rhea dropped her hand away, but her gaze never left mine. She did not say a word.
“Theseus, you will stay with Druella. We shall meet the witches without you both.”
“But—”
“I have spoken, Druella, and so shall it be,” Sigbjørn stated, giving me the same look he had given Arsiein before, and I immediately knew why Arsiein had drawn back in silence. Sigbjørn’s presence felt like a calm father figure one moment, and then, in a second, with a single glance, it was as if you could feel the danger he posed. I was sure his power to read minds was not as simple as he made it seem.
And because I thought that, he heard it, and the corner of his mouth turned upward slightly.
“You are keen, young one,” he said. “And you have may have been an Omeron witch once upon a mortal existence. However, now, in this immortality, you are vampire, Druella, a Thorbørn, your magic does not alter reality—until it does.”
I didn’t exactly know what he had meant, and he didn’t bother explaining, lifting his tattooed covered hand for Rhea, who gently put her delicate white hand within it.
Like the king and queen they were, they turned and walked majestically toward the doors. Simultaneously, the rest of the family followed behind, Ulrik and Melora first, Hinrik behind them, and then finally Arsiein and Atarah.
“My apologies,” Theseus spoke when they were gone.
“For what?”
He didn’t do anything other than support me.
“My mother. She can be a bit…overbearing.”
That was an understatement. Just when I’d thought she was warming up to me. Now she was ready to rip out my throat. Then again, I was not helping my cause. Theseus brought my wrist up to his lips, kissing the back of it.
“Druella, whatever the truth is, I know you are innocent of all malice.”
“How?” I whispered, hanging my head. “How can you possibly know that?”
He smiled. “Because you radiate goodness.”
“I do not—”
“You turned back time for a Lesser Blood vampire who spied on you. You defied the president of America for her.”
“I told you that Lucy is my friend—”
“You turned back time to prevent the murder of that witch Simone even if you did not like her.”
“I mean, it’s not like I was trying—”
“You drank from animals because you prioritized mortals and their grieving families over your own hunger. As a vampire, you could have used your new abilities or enhanced beauty to get anything you wanted. But you were content to go work and live in a small apartment quietly for the rest of your days. And before you claim it is because of a lack of wealth, know that I have seen newly reborn vampires steal gold from banks. I have seen them exact revenge on all those who had so much as sneezed at them while they were mortal. I have seen cruelty beyond what you can ever fathom, Druella. So do not think it is merely pure love that makes me trust you so.” He cupped my face, smiling at me. “I am confident you did no wrong, for, at your core, you are good and benevolent.”