Longing for You, стр. 38
Alexis sat down and said simply, “You are my duty.”
Katie was taken aback and didn’t know what to say next. SurelyAlexis couldn’t feel that guilty. What was going on in this mixed-up vampirebrain of hers?
The silence between them hung so heavily that it felt it was goingto be ended with either a passionate kiss or a passionate argument. But Alexisstepped up before any of that happened.
“It’s your turn,” Alexis said.
Katie, who was enjoying the warmth of her tea mug, snapped herhead around to Alexis.
“My turn? What do you mean?”
“You wanted a story from my life, and now it’s your turn to tellme one from yours.”
“A story?” Katie said with surprise. “I haven’t got anyinteresting stories. I’ve just lived my life with the Debreks.”
“You do. For instance, what was it like to grow up in a householdfull of vampires? I imagine it didn’t feel normal.”
“Normal? What is normal? Anyway it was normal to me. When I lookback, the most overwhelming feeling I remember was of safety. I had a wholeclan full of immortal vampires to make sure I was safe. They played with me,were very indulgent with their time, and entertained me as I ran around theestate. It’s strange when I think about it. The vampires that played with meback then haven’t changed, but now I’m grown up and basically the same age, andwhen I’m old and grey they’ll still be the same age.”
“I don’t remember that—I mean, I remember some of the children ofthe human staff running around, but I don’t remember my vampires playing withyou,” Alexis said.
“You were too busy with your mind on clan business.” Of course,when she had the biggest crush on Alexis as a teenager, Katie often wishedAlexis would notice.
“What was it like at school?” Alexis asked.
Katie chuckled softly. “That was a little strange, I suppose. Asyou know, the human staff get the best of everything, even more my family,because of our history with Byron. I was sent to the finest private school byByron. The other children were sons and daughters of aristocracy, richbusinesspeople, and celebrities, and there I was, my mum head housekeeper forthe Debreks and my dad butler. There was gossip and lots of rumours about why Iwas really there.”
“What kind of rumours?” Alexis asked.
“That I was Byron’s father’s love child, that Byron wasreally a man, and I was her illegitimate daughter, but nothing was as wild asthe truth.”
“I suppose not.” Alexis laughed.
Alexis was enjoying listening to Katie talk so much. She couldn’tbelieve she had kept herself distanced from Katie for so long. Katie was such awonderful young woman, but that was why she kept herself away, because Katieterrified her.
“I wish we had talked like this sooner,” Alexis said.
“So do I. My teenage self wished that too,” Katie said softly.
“Why?” Alexis noticed a change in Katie physically. Her breathingbecame shallower, but her heart was increasing in speed. “What is it?”
Katie cleared her throat and looked away. “It’s a bitembarrassing.”
Alexis sat closer. “You don’t need to be embarrassed with me.”
Katie searched her eyes, then took a breath. “I had the biggestcrush on you since I was about twelve. I spent all my time trying to get yourattention, but to no avail.”
Alexis felt like she was punched in the chest. All these yearsthey had been arguing and sniping at each other, and all that time there hadbeen something between them.
“Then I left home and went to university.”
Did that mean she grew out of her crush, she had no feelings anymore? But that night in Katie’s room. Alexis was sure Katie reciprocated herpassion. Alexis knew what she should say—I feel the same way, I hope youstill feel that for me, kiss me, let me make love to you, the first time Itasted you, I knew I wanted you—but instead, like an idiot, she went on totell her why she couldn’t handle feelings of love and passion.
“I’ve been in love before.”
Katie’s eyes widened at that. “You have?”
“Yes, back in 1850. I fell in love with a witch from a Londoncoven,” Alexis said.
Katie gulped. “What was her name?”
“Anna. Byron warned me against falling for or having arelationship with a mortal, but it was first love, I was too wrapped up in it,and too young a vampire to understand the consequences.”
“What happened?”
It was so hard to tell this story, even though the pain in herheart was being eased by her love for Katie.
“Byron and I had been called away on some business that evening.We were supposed to be having a dinner party with friends, and I was going topropose to Anna.”
“You?” Katie said with shock. “Get married?”
“Yes, well, I was still passing as a man in those days, and Byronwas going to slip the vicar a few quid in case he was suspicious. But it nevergot that far. We returned back to the London house and found it had beenattacked. Byron lost her lover, and I found Anna with her throat ripped out.”
Katie gasped and put her hand to her mouth. “Oh God. Like thatnight when the London house was attacked and my friends killed when we were atThe Sanctuary?”
Alexis nodded. “I didn’t want to take the chance that would happenagain.”
Katie took Alexis’s hand. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have argued andbehaved like a brat.”
“You didn’t. I should have explained myself, instead of orderingyou like one of my vampires,” Alexis said.
Alexis loved the feel of Katie’s fingers caressing the back of herhand. She realized being truthful was their only way forward.
“That night when I held Anna’s dead body in my arms, I promisedmyself I’d never let myself fall in love or have a relationship with a mortalagain.”
Katie stopped caressing her hand and went stiff. She’d clearlysaid the wrong thing.
Katie let go of Alexis’s hand and stood slowly. “I’m really tired.I think I’ll go to