Page 44 of The Coven’s Sacrifice

“Who’s Remington?” I asked, trying not to choke on their full attention. Nicco had delivered my breakfast like normal, so even though we were changed, the mansion seemed the same.

Jacob swiped some of the syrup away from my bottom lip, smiling. “Remington was our youngest soldier. He loved bread with honey.”

“Did he live here, too?”

Sadness came from all three men, and then Alexander replied. “Remington died during our last battle.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said, swallowing the last piece of breakfast. They’d known loss in a way I hoped I never would. They still just smiled softly at me, now intent on us having a calm and cozy morning.

“My chickens!” I exclaimed, startling them. I hurried from Alexander’s room, down the stairs and outside.

To my surprise, all three of them followed me outside, stepping into the morning sun carefully. I had to stop and take this moment in. This would be the first time they felt the sun on their skin, something they hoped they would be able to do now without getting burned. They’d told me about it over breakfast, and I’d felt how eager and nervous they all were.

They held hands as the sun caressed their skin, then smiles formed on their faces. I felt their joy, their indescribable happiness.

Harland had missed the sun. It was the thing he’d missed the most. And here he stood, beaming as he was warmed by the rays. They all looked so handsome as they stood there, beaming with happiness.

“What’s goin’ on?” Jetty asked, startling the shit out of me. The brownie had sneaked up on me as he frowned at my men. “Why they standin’ there?”

“They’re enjoying the sun,” I explained, not quite happy to be interrupted doing this beautiful moment.

“Hm... Tell them to leave my roses be.”

I forced a smile. “I will.”

Seeing as my men were happily sunning, I left them be and went to my chickens. They should be fine, but they were still only ten weeks old and I needed to be certain.

Small chips and chirps told me they were doing good. I smiled as I let them out, petting each as they left the closed room, happily hopping around in the bigger enclosure.

It was such a nice morning, the sun warm and welcoming. I took a second to just breathe in the air, filling my lungs and allowing myself this moment of peace as the chicks scurried around their coop, all happy and content.

Many things had changed now that I had claimed all three vampires, but the biggest change for me was, well, me. I felt different. Before, I’d been quick to tear up, my heart aching and longing for something. Maybe this mansion truly was magical and I’d been hit by a spell. Now that I finally had them as mine, it felt as though my soul was at rest. It seemed so ridiculous, but why else had I felt so unsettled? Why had I longed to be near them? And why had I felt my heart breaking over men I barely knew? It had to be some meddling magic. But I honestly didn’t care. I was happy right now. My men were happy. I could feel as much.

“They are not afraid of me anymore,” Alexander said, coming up behind my left side. “Look, they even seem interested in me!” His joy was so cute.

I smiled at the first vampire I’d claimed. “I think they feel the change in you.”

His eyes shot to mine. “Really?”

I nodded. “There’s this… calm about you now. I believe animals are sensitive to our feelings, whether we show them or not. They feel your calm.”

“I like being calm,” he whispered. “I have not felt this free since we won the war.”

“And you barely even celebrated that before your entire world changed.”

His eyes glittered as sadness poured from him. “We were only free for a couple of hours.”

I grabbed his hand. “Are you free now?”

He gave me a soft smile. “I think so, yes.”

“Should we test if we can leave?” Harland asked, standing outside the coop. He was eyeing my chicks with a note of confusion, as if he hadn’t realized we’d gotten chickens until this very moment.

“You want to leave?” I asked, trepidation filling my veins. “What if people see you and know?”

“That we are monsters?” Jacob smirked, standing next to Harland. It was so weird seeing them outside in the daylight, but also amazingly healing as well.

“Well, yeah,” I shrugged. “I’m confused as to why you three don’t seem worried about it.”