Chapter 101

They hugged again, then laughed and turned to me. Zara gave me a big smile and pulled me into a warm embrace.

"Now we’re cousins too! Balthazar, I love that you gave up everything for her! You have to tell me all the details!"

"You wouldn’t believe it." Lio winked at me.

"Oh, this is so exciting!"

I found her dramatic reaction amusing as she threw herself onto the couch with Lio, the two of them chattering nonstop.

"You look amazing! Like you’re going to a party!" Lio pointed at her all-black jumpsuit with heeled boots, her makeup perfectly done.

"I was going to a party! You know, I have a cousin who doesn’t care about me, didn’t even tell me she was home! Then I overheard my parents talking and freaked out! I had to come here!"

"Zara, so much has been happening! But of course, I was going to tell you!"

At that moment, a guard appeared, informing us that the visitors were approaching the gate. I stood up.

"I’ll go talk to them."

"Alright. We’ll be here."

They went back to chatting as I stepped out to meet Thorn.

***

POV Lio

I laughed, unable to believe I was truly home, with my family, joking around with my cousin. And with Balthazar by my side.

"Sometimes it feels like a dream! I can’t believe it. I thought I had lost him, and now we’re even talking about marriage and expecting a child."

"My heart is racing! My dad almost lost it. He was furious when the vampires showed up and suggested you be with Caliban, of all people—the most insignificant vampire. And now, he thinks Uncle Riuk should chase Balthazar away!" She rolled her eyes. "You know how crazy he can be sometimes!"

"Uncle Jax will like him once he gets to know him better. The whole family will."

"I already like him because he makes you happy. I’ve seen it more than once. As for my dad… well, you know how overprotective he can be. But what matters is you." She grabbed my hands, her eyes shining. "Lio, you’re getting married! You’re going to be a mother! Do you know how much I’m going to spoil this baby? If it’s a girl, she’ll have the most beautiful dresses in the world!"

"Don’t start!"

"I’m serious!" She bit her lip, thrilled with the news. "But it’s not all sunshine and roses, is it? How did his family react?"

I told her what I could. Later, I would calmly explain Balthazar’s wings to her—I trusted Zara. And Balthazar would allow me to tell her.

"And now?"

"They’re secretly bringing some medicine and blood bags for him."

"Are those the visitors you went to meet?"

"Yes, and also…"

Zara suddenly froze, her excitement replaced by a serious expression.

"What’s that smell?" she asked, sniffing the air.

"Smell?"

I found her reaction strange. She seemed rigid on the couch, alert, her nostrils flaring. I tried to understand but only caught Balthazar’s scent as he returned. And another vampire’s—most likely Thorn’s. Before I could say anything, Zara jumped to her feet, bristling.

"What’s wrong?" I stood up as well.

Her eyes looked bigger, shining, her wolf instincts kicking in.

"It’s the same scent, Lio. The one I smelled only once. I told my mother, and she sensed it too through her powers, but she couldn’t identify it. Then I forgot about it—it never showed up again…"

"But is it something bad?"

"I don’t know. At that party, I felt like I was being watched. I had the sensation that someone was following me, but I didn’t see anyone. And that scent was there. Now it’s back."

"You think…"

I fell silent when she suddenly paled. That was the exact moment we heard movement at the front door and approaching footsteps. Then I recognized the natural scent of the two vampires—Balthazar and his friend, Thorn.

Zara turned toward the entrance, rigid and tense. I did the same, trying to understand. It wasn’t common for my cousin to lose her composure like this.

They appeared—tall, gorgeous, blond. Balthazar stepped forward as he spoke.

"Thorn is here, Lio. His two guards, who are outside, took the blood bags to the pantry fridges as your father instructed." He stopped, frowning when his friend remained motionless at the entrance.

Staring directly at Zara. And she at him.

Silence fell over the room. It was as if we had ceased to exist, the intensity of their gaze consuming everything. Both frozen in place.

I looked at Balthazar, and he at me, both frowning. We didn’t understand, but we said nothing, as if speaking would break some kind of spell.

Then Zara exhaled and took a step back, her expression heavy, almost frightened. Her breathing was unsteady. She turned to me, her voice rushed.

"I have to go."

"But you just got here! What happened?"

She shook her head, disoriented. She glanced at the vampire again and moved forward, as if she were going to push past him or even attack him.

"Zara!" I followed her.

Thorn didn’t move, a towering, dark statue, just watching her approach. It felt like he would grab her the moment she got close.

I grew nervous, but she didn’t stop. She slipped through the space between his body and the hallway, disappearing into it, her heels clicking against the floor.

"What was that?" I asked Thorn, who merely shook his head as if shaking off a trance. Then, to my surprise, he turned and followed her.

"Hey!"

"Lio!" Balthazar grabbed my arm before I could chase after him.

"Stay here."

"But why did he go after her? What if he does something, or…"

"Thorn would never hurt her. It seems like they have something to sort out."

"Zara has never spoken to him! She only saw him from afar at the Alliance Party, and…"

I stopped, remembering Salomé, who had said she saw that vampire following my cousin. And Zara had mentioned the feeling of being followed, the scent she had only encountered there. I understood.

"It was Thorn’s scent!"

"What?"

"I think they do have some sort of connection. But she would have told me! This is so strange!"

"Calm down. Let’s wait a little. If they don’t come back, we’ll go after them."

"Did Thorn ever tell you anything about her?"

"No."

We were both confused, full of questions. I paced around the room, trying to piece things together. It was all so odd.

Nearly thirty minutes later, just when I thought I would go insane with worry, he returned. Alone, looking very serious.

"What happened?" I asked immediately.

"Nothing." His expression revealed nothing.

"Nothing?" I almost laughed at his coldness. "My cousin turned pale like she had seen a ghost, ran out of here, and you followed her."

"I went outside to check if my guards put the blood in the freezer. Not after her."

That was an outright lie, and Balthazar sensed it too. He was the one who pressed further.

"Did you two know each other?"

"No. I only saw her at the Alliance Party." He changed the subject. "One of the guards is bringing the medicine case. I’d like to stay longer, Balthazar, but I don’t want your family to become suspicious."

"Let’s talk."

"I have no news. Everything in the clan remains as I told you. Your mother and Calliope send their regards—they want to know how you’re doing."

Thorn seemed distant, troubled, as if he were trying to conceal his inner turmoil.

"Everything is fine here. Thank you for taking the risk to bring me these things."

"We’re friends." He finally seemed to snap back to reality. "I’ll be staying there for a while, and we’ll communicate through telepathy. Soon, I’ll bring more blood. The medicine should last for months."

"You’ll stay at the palace?"

"You might need me. I believe I can stay here for about a month."

"But what about your affairs in Oregon? Any news from your family?"

"Everything is the same." He stepped closer, his body stiffening again. He extended his hand. "Count on me. I promise I’ll return with more time and update you on any news."