Chapter 18

Cadella's POV

I blinked heavily. Glancing at my clock I was confused to see it was only five in the morning. Why was I awake? Rolling over with a groan, I pulled the blankets higher around my face. My eyes drifted shut, ready to welcome the sleep that was already curling around the edges of my mind.

Knock Knock Knock

That’s what woke me.

Who was here this early?

I looked through the peep hole to see Vasile. I wasn’t ready to see him yet. My mind was still spinning, trying to figure out what I saw and what was imagination.

Surely, I didn’t see him with glowing red eyes. There had to be some explanation. Maybe it had been a trick of light reflecting. Did light reflect off human eyes?

But what about how fast he got there? One moment it was just the man and the beast, then Vasile was standing there. Orders fell from his lips, and the fighter just accepted them. Like he was used to taking orders from Vasile.

“I can hear your heart beating like you’ve run a race, soricel. I’m not a danger to you. You hold that power over me. Please, I need to speak with you.” He pleaded.

His words felt like a fist clenched around my heart.

You hold that power over me.

What power did I have? If I hadn’t been seeing things, then he wasn’t human. No, I’d say he held the power.

“Whatever you’re imagining is far scarier than reality. I promise you.” His words were softer this time.

I just wanted to go back to sleep and forget this ever happened.

“Let me come in and speak my piece. Then I’ll let you go back to sleeping. You can process everything, but you need to hear the truth. You need to hear it from me.” His voice was steady but filled with an emotion I couldn’t place.

The truth. He thought what I was imagining was scarier than whatever he needed to say was. But that wasn’t possible. Something in my gut turned. He was going to confirm what I was thinking. That wasn’t less scary. No. No that was scarier.

Monsters were real?

“Cadella, please.” He begged.

Without thinking, I pulled the door open quickly. Vasile almost fell on top of me. He had been leaning on the door, not expecting me to open it. His fast reflexes-inhumanely fast reflexes-allowed him to catch himself. But I was caged in by his arms.

Fear pulsed through me, but it was quickly followed by arousal.

A grin moved over his lips.

“Does my begging turn you on, soricel?” His breath tickled my neck as he pressed his lips just below my jaw.

I wanted more. I never got enough of Vasile, but right now I needed answers more.

“What did you want to tell me?” I pushed him away.

He stood and shut the door, ushering me back towards the bed. I sat on the edge while he spun my desk chair around and sat facing me.

“I have a confession.” He blurted without breaking eye contact.

“A confession?” I felt like I’d swallowed a rock. My stomach turning.

“I’m not what you think I am.” He started. “I’m not human.”

I felt myself pale.

“Then what are you?” I asked, needing him to spell it out for me.

“We call ourselves members of the Blood Clan. But I suppose we’d most closely related to what you humans call vampires. A more tamed, peaceful version of a vampire.”

He’s a monster.

“I take it that our lore is wrong for your kind then.” I stated but wanted more explanation.

“Yes. We can walk in the sun. Garlic is just as delicious for us as it is for you. We have reflections, we can reproduce-under the right circumstances. We use blood to keep our strength up, but still need food for energy. We are very similar to you, to humans. But we live longer and are harder to kill.” He shrugged like he was giving me a weather update.

He wasn’t kidding. This was real.

“If you’re so peaceful then why lie? Why hide yourselves from us?”

“People tend to get caught up in their beliefs and superstitions. Once, long ago we lived together, in harmony. But then there was a war that separated us. All the supernatural races decided it was best if we went into hiding. If we became lore instead of reality. We’ve lived this way for many centuries now.” He explained.

“All of the supernatural races? There are other kinds?” I asked.

“Yes. Exorcists, you’d call them demons. Than shifter wolves, or werewolves.” He nodded slowly.

What I had seen last night had been real. A werewolf, vampire and Vasile had been in the alley. The pieces started to connect with each other.

Vasile moved so fast because he wasn’t human. Mix the speed with enhanced healing and strength and that explains how the werewolf and vampire left so quickly. The vampire had listened to Vasile, follow his orders without question.

“You’re not just a vampire though, are you?” I asked.

“No. I’m in fact an earl, the leader of our clan.” He explained.

“Earl Vasile Ardelean. You said the castle meant a lot to your family. Of course, it did. You’re the owner. It’s your damn castle.” I said, standing up and starting to pace.

This was a lot to process. Between the events of last night and now this truth bomb, my mind was reeling. But one question kept circling.

“Why tell me now? Why tell me at all?” I asked, stopping in front of Vasile, and meeting his gaze.

His eyes softened, almost looking pleading. Pleading me to believe his words.

“It felt wrong to keep it from you any longer.” He sighed.

I studied him for a moment. His gaze was steady on mine, but he shifted uncomfortably. He was hiding something. Keeping the secret may have been a part of the reason he was spilling his guts now, but it wasn’t all of it.

Anger rose through me. My blood almost simmering as he shifted again. I wonder if he could sense my blood starting boil in rage. Rage that he caused.

Part of me wished it made him uncomfortable.

“And I witnessed you tonight. Don’t tell me that you’re just doing this from the good of your heart, Vasile. You got caught red eyed and now you’re covering your ass.” I snarled.

“Yes. Part of my confession is because I’m tired of hiding it. Tired of lying, but the other part is that you witnessed our capture of the feral wolf.” He nodded.

“You’re twisting it to look in your favor. You’re a politician. At the end of the day, you want to protect your people. Do you even care that I saw something that scared me out of my mind? That I was so shaken I couldn’t even string sentences together. I couldn’t even defend myself against you-someone I had just seen as a monster.” I shouted.

“You know I’m not a monster, and that’s why you left with me. I didn’t play any tricks to get you to come with me. You came willingly. Do I want to protect my people? Of course. What kind of leader would I be if didn’t?” He asked, standing, and coming toe to toe with me. “But I also saw you Cadella. I saw your fear and confusion. Why do you think I stayed with you instead of helping my clan mate with that werewolf. I know you’re new to the world so let me explain something.” He paused, letting me object.

I had no objections.

“A feral wolf is stronger and faster than a normal wolf. It would normally take multiple blood clan members to handle one. The member of my clan that you saw tonight was strong. One of the strongest warriors I have, but even he shouldn’t have been left alone with one. I chose you, Cadella. You.” He thrust his hands into his hair as he turned on his heal and paced in front of my desk.

I watched silently as he paced back and forth. I hadn’t thought of it like that. He could have easily escorted the wolf and other vampire back to their lair, or whatever they lived in. Instead, he risked his warrior’s life so he could comfort me.

He’d chosen me. And now I had the same choice before me.

Do I keep pursuing him? Ignore the fact that he’s not human? Or do I walk away and forget that supernaturals even exist?

I didn’t have to really ask that question. I couldn’t just leave Vasile. Even if I tried, it would never be the same. I was pulled to this man like no one else.

“I’m not asking you to choose tonight, soricel. I’m going to leave and let you think. I hope you’ll think about it. Really think about it. But no matter what you choose, Cadella, I’ll support you. I’ll always love you and support you-even if you walk away.” His tone was sad as he turned and left me standing alone in my room.