27. I've found you.

**BEA**

"Stop talking in riddles; this whole thing is getting old. I need answers, grandma, and I need them now. Stop hiding everything from me like I'm a child. I'm not. You told me yourself that I'm almost eighteen now. Besides, my age shouldn't matter - I have the right to know what's going on in my life and why I'm still here. I've thought about calling my family, but whenever the thought crosses my mind, you find a way to distract me. What in the world is going on?" Bea remained firm. Lillith's face contorted in fear; the woman wasn't sure what answers she was willing to give. Even if Lillith decided to dodge questions, sooner or later, the Princess would corner her and demand the truth.

"What do you want me to tell you?" Lillith threw up her hands in frustration. She didn't wait for Bea to say anything; she walked down the hall and motioned for the Princess to follow her. "My life here has been relatively simple and quiet. At least until the day I brought you here. Call me selfish, I wouldn't care, but I have to keep the family bloodline alive even if I have to hide you from the entire world. Moonflower, you are my last chance to see more generations; there won't be another chance if I lose you. That would answer the question of why you're here. I've been trying to distract you because as soon as your family or friends find out where you are - they will come here. Occasional guests wouldn't bother me, but what they bring, I would fear. Those who wish you ill, they are there, lurking, waiting for your family to find you. Once they do, so do the creatures." Lillith stopped at the library door, opened it, and waited for Bea to go in. She followed her granddaughter, quickly closing the door and locking it to make sure no one followed them. Since River had found them so fast, she couldn't tell who else knew the location of her hidden coven. Sure, her main concern was Bea's safety, but aside from that, she was thinking about her people - vampires were nearly extinct, the few young ones wouldn't survive without guidance, and the older ones were far too tired to fight back. "I used to think it was a good idea to turn you," Lillith explained, sitting down on the huge sofa. "But it isn't. I couldn't do that to you, to your father, to your family. You belong to me as much as you do to them, and I know that such a thing would be the ultimate form of betrayal. Besides, I'd rather see you live your life to the fullest in the time you're given than watch everything you care about die before your eyes. Immortality is as much a curse as it is a blessing. You have many questions, some I've answered, but I think it's time we bring up one particular person. One who used to mean more to you than others, but you forgot about him. Moonflower, he is a dangerous man. He has killed for you and will do so a million more times if he sees fit. Tell me, do you still have that teddy bear?" Lillith sank into the back of the sofa and slowly closed her eyes. This wasn't something she wanted to discuss, let alone see Bea's pain and suffering when she found out the truth, but someone had to.

Sometimes Bea wondered how others knew so much about her, but Lillith's words no longer surprised her. The Vampiress admitted that she's been looking after them. "The teddy bear? I was going to ask how you knew about it, but you already answered that question the day I got here. I have it. I couldn't bring myself to throw him away; whenever I hug him, I feel safe. Why?" A slight smile spread across Bea's lips as the image of a worn teddy invaded her thoughts. The silly stuffed animal was her most prized possession, but the Princess had no idea why she loved the toy so much.

"Someone special gave you that thing. You called him Uncle Teddy Bear, and in return, he found the stupidest thing he could find and brought it to you. If I remember correctly, you two first met when you were about four years old, and he had to leave a few years later. Don't blame anyone; things happened the way they did, and I know he chose the right path. Honestly, I understand both sides - the violent and the calm, but both acted in your best interest. Either way, the man who gave you that stinking toy is River. The deadly sin who visited me a while ago. I'm sure he'll be back, sooner than you think." Bea raised an eyebrow, her lips slowly parting. But before the Princess could say a word, Lillith quickly jumped in. "Listen, he may have been an important part of your life, but I have to warn you. Be careful; it's your life, after all, your choices, but you have to take care of yourself. I can't stay around you forever; you wouldn't want that either, so think carefully before you do anything." Lillith wanted to see Bea every day, but she couldn't. River was close by; he wouldn't leave empty-handed this time.

"Wait, grandma, are you talking about the Angel of Death? Whenever we talk about literally anything, you manage to pique my interest and confuse me at the same time."

Lillith rose from the sofa and stepped closer to Bea, and looked down at her feet in shame. "Yes, dear, I am. Wherever he goes, he brings chaos, destruction, and death. Unlike his brothers, he doesn't have an explosive nature, but he's still very dangerous. Just promise me one thing - tonight, when you walk with him by your side, be sure to keep your eyes open. Listen, watch, and think. Always, no matter what, do everything you can to keep yourself safe." Perhaps saying goodbye was one of the hardest things to do, but the Vampiress couldn't shake off the disgust she felt for herself. Fear guided her, blinded her judgment, and made her hide her granddaughter from the man who clearly loved Bea. They were mates, so River had to mean well; there could be no other way. Besides, they would find a way out of any problem that came their way as long as they both stood by each other's side. Lillith decided to forget the hate and anger, all for Bea's happiness.

Bea threw back her head as her hysterical laughter echoed off the library walls. "Who said I was going away with a stranger? Grandmother, you're so funny," she feigned wiping tears from her eyes as she stood beside Lillith. Bea's petite stature looked fragile and was barely noticeable next to the noble vampire, but she didn't care what others could see. The Princess had learned that Lillith meant well, that the woman was acting in her best interest, and she would never let anyone forget that. Not even herself.

Lillith shook her head and chuckled. "Moonflower, he's your mate." She had to remind Bea who was on her side and who could become her enemy. Even if she wasn't going to be sitting at the same table as River, Lillith wasn't going to take away her granddaughter's chance at happiness.

Bea's eyes widened as she took a few steps back. "Damn, I thought that was another part of a horrible dream." She cursed under her breath and clutched the sides of her head. Suddenly, a realization hit her like a brick wall. "But wait," Bea whispered, focusing her gaze on Lillith. "What did the dream mean? I couldn't quite explain it to you, but judging by the look on your face, you already knew what it was about." Panic overcame her. The Vampiress stated that someone was coming after her. This time she had no intention of keeping Bea away from the stranger. The Princess wanted to get home and see her family; it had been so long for them while she enjoyed a few weeks of vacation among vampires. Who knew if the man would take her home or hide her away like her grandmother had done.

A warm smile spread across Lillith's eyes as she reached for Bea's hand. "It means that he is close; you're literally minutes away from your eighteenth birthday here, while it's days away outside. You're maturing; your body and soul demand the other half." She explains, her voice just a whisper. "Now come, he's almost here. I should be a good hostess and stand at the door while our guest arrives. You, on the other hand, are preparing to meet River. Don't worry, if he so much as touches a hair on your head, I will go full-on Dracula on his ass," she giggles and unlocks the library door.

Both women walk down the stairs in silence. One is thinking about whether she made the right decision, while the other is doing her best to look normal. Bea feels as if her heart might leave her body, or worse, she might faint in front of the stranger. No matter what happened next, she was going to meet her mate. Maybe even the strangest stories have happy endings.

As their feet touched the last step, the front door of Lillith's house flew open, revealing a furious-looking River.

"Calm down, asshole, you're going to scare your mate. Damn it, these boys have no fucking manners." Lillith snarls at the deadly sin. She quickly collects herself and turns to Bea. "Pardon my language, moonflower; your mate has a talent for bringing the worst out of me." The Princess smiled and nodded her head, dismissing everything the Vampiress said.

The familiar voice broke through the befuddled state Bea was in, but she still didn't understand what she had to do next. That is, until a strong pair of arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her against a rock-hard chest. "Darling, it's you. I've found you."