CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 26
“I don’t even know your name,” I muttered.

“Alaric D’Armand.” He said it like it meant something important. “And you, Aine, are my daughter.” The words felt unreal; they didn't mean anything to me.

“I don’t—” I began, but stopped. My throat tightened, and before I could think, he held out his hand, just a silent offer. “Let me show you,” he said. “If you still want to walk away after, I won’t stop you.”

I stared at his hand for a long moment, weighing my options. Maybe it was the feeling of desperation, the need to belong. But the truth was, I had no one left, like literally. I didn't know the first thing about my mother's whereabouts, and Raven is the man who chose an old friend over me. Those are the only people I had.

So I reached out. The second our hands touched, the world broke apart.
It felt like being pulled through a storm. Air turned to ice, my stomach twisted, and sound vanished into a ringing hum. Then it all stopped.

The world stopped spinning before I realized I was still holding his hand.
Cold air brushed my face, carrying the faint scent of pine and rain. When I finally opened my eyes, I gasped in shock.

We stood in front of a massive stone mansion nestled between towering trees. It looked ancient, but still in excellent living conditions. 

“What is this place?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Home,” Alaric said, his tone calm, confident. “Our home.” I looked at him, quickly wanting to correct him, but before I could say something, the front doors burst open.

Warm light spilled out from the house, and loud voices filled the air. A woman with wild red curls ran toward us first, her excitement practically vibrating.

“She’s here!” she yelled back inside. “Oh, look at her, she’s perfect!”
Another woman followed, trying to calm her down. “Rina, let her breathe before you squeeze her to death!” Rina ignored her completely, stopping right in front of me with a grin so wide it made me blink. 

“You must be Aine! I’ve waited centuries for this well, maybe not centuries, but it feels like it!” She said, looking at me with her hands intertwined like she was fighting back the urge to grab me into a squeezing hug.

“ I-uh—hi,” I said awkwardly. Alaric chuckled. “Aine, this is your Aunt Rina. The woman attempting to scold her is Aunt Sabine.” Sabine gave a tired smile. “Welcome, dear, ignore her. She’s been overdramatic since 1643.”

“I heard that!” Rina snapped playfully. Then a tall man stepped out behind them, his arms crossed and expression half-bored, half-amused. “I’m Lucien, your uncle,” he said. “Welcome to the madhouse.” I chuckled slightly, freaked by his tallness. 

Behind him came two teenagers who looked like they’d just stepped out of a fashion magazine, both with matching dark hair and mischievous eyes. The girl smirked. “I’m Celine, and that’s my brother, Adrien. We’re your cousins.”

“Technically,” Adrien added, “we’re the cool ones. You’ll like us best.”
“I doubt that,” Alaric said dryly. Before I could respond, a blur of movement darted forward a little girl, maybe six or seven, with black curls and tiny fangs that peeked out when she smiled. She tugged on my coat.

“Do you like pancakes?” she asked earnestly. “Uncle Alaric said you do.”
The absurdity of it made me laugh. It came out choked, nervous, but real. “Yeah,” I said softly. “I do.” How did he even know that? Has he been reading my mind this whole time? I looked at him, and he immediately diverted his eyes; he had been reading my mind.

“Well, that’s good,” Rina said brightly, clapping her hands. “Because we made an entire stack for you! And maybe a blood blend for the adults, don’t ask, it’s a family thing.” The crowd around me was loud and chaotic, their laughter overlapping, teasing each other like they’d been waiting for this moment forever. 

I stood there stunned, not knowing what to do with all the warmth suddenly surrounding me. Sabine placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?” She must be the therapist of the family, always trying to dig into people's feelings.

I nodded weakly. “You could say that.” Her expression softened. “Then let us be your peace for a while.” They ushered me inside, voices carrying through the grand hall. 

The place was stunning, featuring crystal chandeliers, dark wooden floors, and portraits that seemed to watch from the walls. It smelled faintly of rosewood and something metallic.

Celine walked beside me, grinning. “We’ve got ten bedrooms, two libraries, and one creepy wine cellar none of us are allowed in. Uncle Lucien says it’s cursed, but I think he doesn’t want us finding his stash.”
Lucien shot her a glare. “You talk too much.”

Adrien elbowed him lightly. “She’s fitting right in already, Uncle.”
I couldn’t help but smile. A real, complete smile that surprised even me.

We ended up in a long dining room filled with candles and laughter. Rina poured me tea, Sabine served what looked like chocolate pastries, and Alaric sat quietly at the end of the table watching me not with judgment, but with a soft pride I didn’t understand. 

He almost killed me to have my blood, and now he must be realizing that he could've done things a lot easier.

When our eyes met, he said quietly, “You belong here, Aine. You always have.” I swallowed hard.

For years, I’d convinced myself I would forever be alone, that no place could ever really be home. But now that I am here, surrounded by people who look at me like I matter, it is harder to believe that. 

Celine leaned closer and whispered, “He’s been talking about you for decades, you know. He almost drove us all insane. Thank God he found you." 

“Celine,” Alaric warned lightly.

“What? It’s true,” she said with a playful shrug. “You’re basically a family legend.” I chuckled, shaking my head.

“That's great to know, no pressure, right?” Lucien smirked. “None at all.”
As the conversation grew louder, I felt something inside me shift. For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t thinking about heartbreak, betrayal, or danger. I just felt warmth, laughter, and joy of being around people who are blood-related to me. And yet, there was this small voice in my head whispering that this won't last.