Chapter 6: Chapter 6

The next morning, a strange feeling loomed in the back of her mind, a sense of foreboding. Ever since her soulmate had stumbled into her life, she had not felt safe anywhere. He could find her anytime he wanted, and she was terrified at the thought of him taking her blood against her will.

Only the peaceful atmosphere of her flower shop succeeded in calming her somewhat. Elena tended to the germinating plants she kept in the back of the shop. She watered them, taking care of them with motherly affection. Even though they were still tiny, she sensed a familiar essence of life pulsing within them. It felt comforting and made her smile. They would grow up to be yellow sunflowers, and she hoped they would find a place in the garden of one of her customers.

Hearing the chime of the doorbell, she put down the watering can and wiped her hands on her flowery apron before she turned around with a smile plastered on her lips.

“Hello, how may I help—” she cut herself off once she recognized the visitor, and her smile disappeared. “What are you doing here?” she asked and stared at Ryder. A bolt of panic hit her, and her good mood was chased away by fear. Now he had even invaded her haven. The only place where she had felt comfortable.

“Good morning, Elena,” he said and came closer.

She snuck behind the counter, preferring to have a barrier between them, even if it wasn’t much. The iciness of his vampiric aura made her uneasy—it was a stark difference to that of a human or even a wizard. Vampires only brought misery along wherever they appeared.

“I told you not to come back,” she retorted defensively. His unwelcome intrusion into her shop destroyed her illusion of safety. This place was as unsafe as any other when he was involved. Now she couldn’t unsee it anymore.

Ryder didn’t show a reaction to her words. His cool blue eyes darted over her appearance, took note of the earthy stains on her apron, and the way she clutched one of her paper charms in her hand. Elena felt highly uncomfortable under his scrutiny, but she refused to show weakness in front of a leech, so she stared at him as he stared at her.

His unruly black hair cast a shadow over his eyes, and as her gaze moved on, she noted he was wearing the same silver lip piercing from the night before. He flicked his tongue over it, and she quickly looked somewhere else. Her gaze came to rest on his leather jacket and the ripped shirt he wore underneath. He was a far shot from the other vampires she had seen—most preferred to dress elegantly, but Ryder was not one of them. Elena didn’t dislike his style of dress, but at the same time, she wanted to roll her eyes at his bad-boy attitude.

“I had to see you again.”

“I don’t care about that. Leave me alone.”

“I can’t,” he answered and exasperatedly ran his hand through his silky black hair. “We are meant to be together. I don’t know why you were chosen as my soulmate when you don’t like vampires, but I’m sure there is a deeper meaning behind it. Let’s give it a try. I want to take you on a date.”

“Didn’t you hear what I said?” she sighed. “I don’t want to be with a vampire. You are dangerous and only bring trouble along.”

“Give me a chance. One date is all I’m asking for, and if you don’t like it, I will accept your decision,” he said persistently.

“Why are you so pushy? I already have a boyfriend, and you know that,” she grumbled and put her palms on the wooden counter. “The only reason you are interested in me is that I’m a witch. You’re planning to use me and my magic, aren’t you? Your clan would surely benefit from having a witch on its side. I refuse to play along with that. Get yourself a different soulmate.”

“That’s not how it works!” He curled his lips in distaste, allowing her to see his dangerously sharp fangs. The sight made every muscle in her body tense.

“Why do you accuse me of things I would not do? Why is it so hard for you to give me a chance? I’m not asking much of you, I just want one simple date,” he said. His tone dropped in annoyance, sounding low and huskier than before. “Promise me you’ll join me for one date, and after that, I will leave you alone if you still insist on it.”

“You’re asking me to cheat on my boyfriend?” she hissed, her eyes gleaming with disdain. “Typical vampire.”

“He won’t be your boyfriend for long.”

“How can you be so arrogant?” she said. Maybe her exasperation already outweighed her fright.

“It’s the truth. I won’t let him take you from me,” Ryder said. He oozed self-confidence, and it infuriated her. Did he think she would bend to his will, just because he was a vampire? She wasn’t some toy he could play with.

“You’re not my type,” she claimed.

“What?” he hissed. “Of course, I am your type. You’re my soulmate for a reason!”

“I prefer tall guys,” she sniped.

“I am tall,” he growled and put his hands on the counter, leaning in. Red sparked in his eyes. “Why do you act so immature around me? Sometimes you yell at me, other times your heart is racing in fear. I don’t understand what your fucking problem is.”

His loud and annoyed tone had her shrinking back. Her hand clutched the wood of the shelf behind her. She stared at him with wide, frightened eyes.

“Ah, damn it,” Ryder muttered and sighed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to raise my voice at you. This is very confusing for me.”

“The problem would solve itself if you stopped seeking me out,” she said, stuttering slightly as she panicked.

He tilted his head, biting his lower lip and playing with his lip ring for a moment as he thought about her words. Ryder crossed his arms and shifted his weight from one leg to the other, his gaze roaming around in her shop before it landed back on her.

“I can’t do that because I value the bond we share. You are my soul’s other half, and I feel drawn to you,” he explained. “Give me a chance, Elena. That’s all I want.”

It was the one thing she could not give him. Only speaking to him was a struggle. Her knees were wobbly and her hands sweaty. Every part of her body screamed at her to run away from him.

“I… I don’t even know you,” she whispered.

“We’ll work on that.”

“Ryder—”

The doorbell chimed as a customer entered her shop, interrupting their conversation. It was a young woman who glanced around undecidedly. Elena shot Ryder a cautious look and put a smile on her lips to greet the customer.