Chapter 174

I hated vampires. And I didn’t even try to hide it—everyone at school already knew. Most assumed my disdain was because of Evan’s betrayal.

Evan had been my boyfriend since we were fifteen. I’d fantasized that one day our love would lead to marriage. Looking back now, those daydreams explain why I missed so many red flags.

Whenever we hung out, Daisy was always there. Sweet, bubbly Daisy—my childhood bestie, practically a sister. We’d grown up together as neighbors, inseparable since we were kids. And now? Daisy was with Evan.

I kept my gaze fixed on my plate. I sat alone in the cafeteria. Normally, I’d be with Daisy or Evan, but that changed last week—when I walked in on them getting freaky in my room, my bed. So much for the three of us hanging out. Now the whole school knew, and I was the main topic of gossip.

Daisy and Evan walked into the cafeteria hand in hand. I could feel Evan’s heated gaze on me. Now that supernaturals were free to roam the city—and most of the world—he no longer hid the fact that he was a vampire. Sometimes, his eyes turned this intense shade of red that always gave me goosebumps.

I heard their footsteps approach my table, and they slid into the seats across from me. Daisy clung to Evan like she expected someone to snatch him away at any moment.

“Hey, Liz.”

“What do you want, Evan?” I didn’t bother hiding the venom in my voice. I hated him. Hated Daisy even more for betraying me.

Evan wanted us to stay friends. The audacity—like I’d ever accept them back into my life.

“Come on, don’t be like that.” He ran a hand through his messy brunette locks. His eyes—stunning green—were probably a courtesy for my sake. He used to flaunt what he was without shame. “It’s been a week, Liz. Let’s at least try to talk this out.”

Daisy stayed quiet, watching with what I assumed was fake guilt.

Any trace of hunger I’d felt earlier vanished. I grabbed my bag. “Fuck you both.” I stormed out of the cafeteria, not caring about the dozens of eyes tracking my every move.

I headed to the bathroom to tidy up—or more like lock myself in a stall and cry my eyes out. It hurt. The lies, the betrayal… and the connection I was starting to make to the one thing that had haunted me for years: my father’s death.

He was murdered—by a vampire, if my suspicions were right.

⸻

The house felt cold. It always had since my father died.

“Mom?” I called out. Usually, she’d be in the kitchen, burning dinner with another failed recipe, or out working. But she had told me she had the day off. I needed to talk to her—desperately.

“I’m in here!” she called.

I found her in her bedroom, applying the final touches to her makeup. She turned to me with an excited smile and gave a little twirl.

“Well? How do I look?”

Happy. I couldn’t relate.

Mom rarely dressed like this. The tight dress hugged her curves, showing off just the right amount of skin. Her hair was down in soft waves. She looked breathtaking.

“Why are you all dressed up? Is there an event at work?”

“No, silly. It’s something else.”

She was hiding something.

“Mom, I have to tell you something. About Dad’s death. I found some photos… there was a bite mark on his neck. And no blood. It all makes sense now—”

“Elizabeth.” Her entire demeanor shifted. The joy drained from her face in an instant. “Don’t. Please.”

“Can’t you see? Dad wasn’t attacked by wild animals. He was killed—fed on—by a vampire! And whoever did it is probably out there living their best life while we sit here pretending everything’s normal. If we don’t push this further, we’ll never get justice for him.”

“Justice? Liz, your father has been gone for six years. Just because vampires exist doesn’t mean his death is connected to one. You need to let this go.”

“How can you say that?!”

“Baby, I know it’s been hard for you… with your breakup, and Daisy’s—”

“Forget it.”

I turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind me. Of course she thought this was about Evan. I’d been looking into Dad’s case for months, long before the breakup or Daisy’s betrayal. This had nothing to do with them.

Too bad no one believed me.

⸻

I didn’t see Mom for the rest of the night. At exactly 11 p.m., I heard noises downstairs and decided to check it out.

The kitchen was dark, but the sounds were definitely coming from there.

“Mom?” I flipped on the lights, and the room was suddenly flooded with brightness.

A man stood by the fridge.

He was tall and handsome, dressed in a crisp white shirt and neatly pressed slacks. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his bright blue eyes practically glowed as they locked onto mine. I froze.

A complete stranger. In my kitchen. At night.

Then I saw what was in his hand—a glass, filled halfway with a thick red liquid.

Mom didn’t drink wine.

“Hello there. You must be—”

“MOM!!” I screamed and ran upstairs.

Mom stepped out of her room wearing a thin nightdress that barely reached her knees. It left almost nothing to the imagination. She never dressed like that.

And that man…

“Liz?”

“Mom, there’s a man in the kitchen! He… he’s a—”

“A vampire?” I screamed again, this time because of the voice right behind me. The stranger stood there, silent as a ghost. I hadn’t even heard him approach.

He raised a brow at my horror. “Apologies. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it, Dame. It’s my fault—I forgot to tell Liz I was bringing someone home.” Mom brushed past me and wrapped her arm around his. He smiled at her, and just for a second, I saw the flash of sharp fangs. He leaned down and kissed her gently.

I stood frozen, caught between shock and horror.

“Liz,” Mom said softly, eyes sparkling. “Meet Damien West. My fiancé.”

“No…” I took a step back.

I wanted to scream, to tell her she’d never mentioned Damien before. That he was a vampire—just like Evan. Just like the monster that had killed my father—her husband.

But all I could manage was, “No…”

This couldn’t be happening.