Page 56 of Guardians for the Vamp
Layla’s arm wraps around my waist, and she leans her head on my chest. Thorne is on my other side and since he’s slightly taller than me, I’m able to lean into him.
Their nearness, their touch, soothes me until I’m no longer shaking.
“I tried to move on. I had to. But I was broken. I had nothing. All my belongings were stolen by the hunters. I was forced to pluck my own golden feathers to melt down and sell for money. Do you know how painful that is for a sphinx? It took years to amass a small fortune. I surrounded myself with luxury and supernatural beings, but I never let any of them get close. I knew that one day, hunters would find me again. I was careful to mask myself when around humans, but it only took one time showing my true form to a human I thought I could trust. They betrayed me. They told others about my golden feathers and once again I was hunted. I fled to America. I heard about a fast-growing metropolis led by a vampire queen named Mildred. How easy it was to hide amid tall buildings and within crowded sidewalks. I arrived in New York City and pleaded with her to give me sanctuary.
“It was actually her idea that I should open nightclubs for supernatural beings. Places we could go with no judgment, where we could be safe. I found witches to set upwards and laid out some ground rules, and nearly a dozen clubs later, here I am.”
Layla frowns. “And your sleep?”
“Centuries of loss, you’re bound to be haunted by those you once loved. They live in my dreams but most of the time, I relive seeing them slaughtered. I was there when it happened. I was crouched in a tree as knives were plunged into my parents’ chests. As my sisters’ heads were both chopped off. Sometimes their deaths play on repeat, in both my waking and sleeping hours.”
A bell rings, notifying us that the sun will soon be rising. Layla’s UV protection shades begin lowering.
“Right, well, I didn’t mean for a wonderful night together to end so... morbidly.”
“We all have similar horrors that we lived through, but at least we have each other now,” Layla says, smiling and squeezing my hand. “We will never have to go through life alone again. You do realize that, Vara, don’t you?”
I nod. “It’s still strange, and it might take me a while to get used to it, but waking up after a few hours of peaceful sleep with you by my side, both of us in Thorne’s arms, was more than I could have ever asked for.”
My phone rings, and I scowl.
“I know you two are about to retire for the day. I wish I could stay. I have a few daytime human networking eventsto attend. I know you have some meetings tonight and a week full of events.”
Layla pouts, and I clutch her chin, running my clawed thumb over her bottom lip.
“Don’t worry, Bug, I’ll see you Friday at the unity event.”
It’ll be the first big event with high-profile humans who we’ve formed relationships with. Friday will be the test. We’ll reveal ourselves to them, introduce them to other supernatural beings and gauge their reaction. We’re not worried about them exposing us to the world. These humans have reputations to uphold. They’re not going to risk sounding insane by telling people of our existence, no matter how true it is.
I just want to get this over with so I can live the rest of my life with my mates. The question, though, will that be in a peaceful world, or one ravaged with war?
Chapter 16 – Layla
The week went by quickly thanks to a busy schedule of meetings and events.
Thorne is still keeping his distance, sending his best guard in place to protect me when I’m out in public. He claims it’s necessary since he can barely control himself when around me.
The longer we go without completing the bond, the harder it will get to stay away from each other.
We desperately want to find someone who knows about a three-way bond, just so we can be as informed as possible. But if Vara is over 2,000 years old and has never heard of one herself, then it’s merely hopeless.
We’ll have to experiment, and we can’t do that for another week or so when meetings and eventsfor the Supernatural Unveiling Plan are more spread out. Especially since we don’t know how long we’ll be out of commission while giving ourselves to each other to satisfy and intensify the bond.
I walk out of my bedroom after changing into my gown for tonight’s event. It’s dark green with a tulle skirt and beaded embroidery along the long-sleeved top. My hair is styled to the side, my reddish-brown curls falling over my shoulder.
In the living room, I find Thorne with his arms crossed while staring out of one of my floor-to-ceiling windows.
“You’re being extra broody, Thorne,” I say and giggle.
When he turns, I fluff out my skirt and do a little spin.
“How do I look?”
His eyes widen, his breathing becoming heavy as he scans me head to toe.
“I’m guessing by your growl that you like.”
“I very much like.”
