My gut does a slow roll. We owe Neli and Boz so much. I know how I could repay them both—agreeing to be his mate, setting Neli free—but I can’t. It would mean stepping into a supernatural world that scares me. Yet something pulls at me, a need to talk to Neli. I want to understand their world. I hate feeling so conflicted over Boz.
I stand, taking my coffee with me. “I’ll text her to see when’s a good time to stop by and bring the flowers myself.”
“Don’t go yet, Stella,” Dad says. “Let’s just enjoy this quiet morning together.”
My eyes sting with unshed tears over what he’s not saying—it’s one of our last times together here in this house looking out over our vineyard. I don’t think it will take long for a sale. There’s new vintners popping up all the time, and this is prime real estate in Napa Valley. Even if it takes months to sell, it’ll never be enough time.
I take my seat again. “Of course.”
My parents gaze silently out the wide kitchen window to our vineyard. I do too, trying to memorize everything about this moment before we have to say goodbye forever to the land we love.
Neli didn’t answer my texts, so later that day I decide to walk over to deliver a nice bouquet of fresh summer flowers. Her phone’s probably charging after the long flight. If she’s sleeping off jet lag, I’ll just leave them at the front door. There’s a small card attached that we all signed. I cross the road and make my way up the long front walkway to the castle. I know it’s cowardly of me to stop by during the day, when Boz sleeps, but I’m not ready to face him. (I really hope he doesn’t sleep in a coffin like in that movie I saw. Creepy.) The truth is, I’m both attracted to and terrified by the man. The vampire, not man. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around that and all his lies. So many damned lies! Oh sure…he works nights because the customers are overseas, I mock inside my head. I know it’s weird to get hung up on that, but he and Neli were so good at lying straight to my face. How will I ever be able to trust either of them?
I’m being silly. I know I am. They can’t very well run around introducing themselves as immortals. Still, the entire thing is just…well, it’s a lot.
My steps falter as a wave of dizziness comes over me.
I bend at the waist, taking a few deep breaths, waiting for the dizziness to pass. Okay, better now. Just focus on Neli, your friend, who’s completely normal, except for the majordomo immortal thing. At least she doesn’t have fangs!
I straighten, feeling slightly insane at my twisted reasoning, but continue on in my mission to thank her (and, from a distance, Boz). I probably won’t be around much after this, anyway, since I’ll be on the job hunt. I need to wrap everything up, even though it kills me to even think of leaving the only home I can remember.
I square my shoulders and cross the moat, taking in the castle with new eyes. It’s real. A medieval castle from Transylvania. My mind conjures Prince Bozhidar in that long-ago time, ruling over the castle and the people on his land. Powerful, commanding, but also fair. Neli said he took care of her when she was a vulnerable child.
She also said I could never have children if I was his mate. What if he didn’t turn me into a vampire? Then could I have children? I could still live in the light and have my family. But wouldn’t that make our children half human, half vampire, never fitting into either world? Why am I even thinking about this? I swear I’m going crazy. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
I lift the knocker on the ancient wooden door and bang it a few times. No response. I wait a moment, listening for movement, and bang it again. Maybe she’s sleeping off jet lag. Though I’m a little surprised. She’s so energetic, I thought she’d bounce back from the trip and get right back to work. I pull out my phone. Still no response to my texts. She’s usually a quick responder. I hope she’s okay.
I leave the flowers by the front door and head home, my limbs heavier with every step.
Boz
I am back at Castle Sangria, which appears to be vampire-hunter-free now. My sweep of both properties upon my arrival revealed that all is quiet. No sign of the mercenaries, and Stella’s attic is spotless save for some old boxes of family photos and broken glass on the wood floor.
Oops. I had a bit of trouble with that sticky window.
Otherwise, Neli has done a great job dealing with the issue. Very good news because I must prepare to make the grandest of gestures to woo my mate. It is all my doing, not Neli’s. She left France before I could get her assistance with my gesture, letting me know by text that she was worried about Stella, so she went home ahead of our party to check on her. I appreciate the fact that Neli takes my mate’s protection seriously.
Speaking of Neli, where is that girl? She has not been answering the Summoner, and I’ve checked her rooms and the kitchen. Perhaps this is like the last time she didn’t answer my repeated texts. She wants me to have alone time with Stella to accomplish my gesture on my own. I don’t need my Neli, I mean, my…servant to speak for me.
I know it is wrong, but I cannot let Neli go. We are family.
But now I must secure my mate before she closes her heart permanently against me. First, as is proper, I must go to her father to ask for her hand in marriage. Then I will go to Stella and seduce…no, I will express my love and my sincere desire to share a future as equals as per issue No. 62, 1973, of Psychology Today. I am fully prepared to love a modern woman as a modern man (with centuries of experience). Yes, let’s not dwell on my age. It is just a number, after all, according to many informative internet articles.
I dress in my white collared shirt—the modern one—that brings a healthy glow to my skin, my favorite black leather pants, and my finest black leather shoes. Just a spritz of fresh pine scent, and I am prepared to take the first step toward my destiny. I refuse to believe Stella will ruin me as the curse says. No one as sweet as my mate could ever do anything but worship and adore me unconditionally for eternity.
It is dark as I approach her family’s house. The light is on in Stella’s room, so I know she’s home. In my eagerness, I speed to the front door and knock three times for luck. Not that I believe in luck. I create my destiny.
Her bloodhound raises hell from somewhere inside the house, her old claws scrabbling on the hardwood as she races to the door. I was careful to rinse my mouth with fine wine after my evening snack, but bloodhounds can sniff out blood almost as well as vampires. I should have brought a distracting bone.
The door opens to Stella’s mother. “Oh, hello, Boz, so nice to see you. Please, come in.”
I step inside, pleased by the reception. “I received your flowers and note. Thank you.” The dog growls at me, baring her fangs. I remind myself not to rise to the occasion. My fangs are much scarier.
“So sorry about Sadie,” she says, pulling her back by the collar. “I’ll just put her in my office. She’s extra protective since we got home. I guess she missed us.”
Stella’s twin sisters wave at me from the living room, where they’re watching the TV. “Hi, Boz!” they call in near unison.
“Hello, Mabel and Eliza. Is your father home?” I can’t tell the twins apart. Though they dress differently, they still look exactly alike. I will get Neli on that. It’s important I know Stella’s family members.