Page 103 of A Vampire's Pain
I nodded but stared at my glass instead of Dominic.
“You don’t think I know something more has been going on between you?” he asked.
I looked at him, now shocked, and he smiled, taking another sip.
“I’m not stupid.”
“Well …”
“Don’t finish that sentence if you want legs to walk on,” he warned me and smiled.
I smiled back, not able to help myself.
“I lost a friend and a mate.”
Dominic shook his head.
“No, you lost yourself, and when you are finally ready to find yourself, you will get it all back,” he said.
“When did you become so philosophic?” I teased.
Dominic smiled and drank a little more, as he looked at me.
“Lara has changed me,” he said.
I nodded, feeling happy for my friend, but also quite jealous. His mate had been willing to give up everything for him, but my own wouldn’t. She would always choose her brother, and I wasn’t even mad about it. I just felt hurt. So damn hurt.
“I see it,” I said.
“Valeri will come back.”
I shook my head.
“No, not if she has to choose between me and her brother … she will never choose me,” I said.
Dominic placed a heavy hand on my shoulder.
“You’re wrong.”
“How so?” I asked.
“Just like Valeri was changing you, you changed her too,” he said.
“How? She is perfect.”
He smiled.
“She lacks confidence,” he said. “But it seemed like you were giving it to her. Let’s hope it is enough for her to be strong enough to stand up against her brother.”
“I don’t want her to lose her brother. You were right. I do understand,” I said. “I even understand Damon’s side.”
Dominic smiled at me and shook me a little.
“Good.”
“Good?” I asked.
“It means you’re learning and getting a little smarter. Maybe I won’t have to worry about you so much in the future.”
