Page 122 of A Vampire's Pain
Damon quickly realized why I was freaking out and seemed to relax a little before he slowly let go of me. He took a deep breath, and I waited anxiously for his answer.
“Damon …”
“He is alive,” he said.
I breathed out relieved, feeling like I could finally relax a little, but I knew just because he was alive, didn’t mean he would be for long or that Damon wouldn’t find a way to hurt him. I grabbed onto my brother’s hand and squeezed it hard.
“I love him, Damon,” I said as I looked into my brother’s eyes.
He looked at me shocked.
“I do. I can’t help it, but I love him,” I said.
“Val …”
“I know this is not what you wanted, and I am sorry. I am sorry for any pain I have caused you and for the lies I told you, but I love him and I want to be with him. I was so scared of telling you the truth because I knew I would have to choose, and I simply couldn’t. I might have gone home with you, but my heart is with Gabriel. I can’t stop it, and I don’t want you to feel alone either,” I said.
“Valeri …”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, I am,” he said.
“What?”
“I’m sorry for not realizing sooner that you’re not the same broken person I brought home that night,” he said. “I am sorry I didn’t see how much you have healed and how much you crave to get out there. I was the scared one.”
I smiled a little at him and he squeezed my hand back.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t just let you be happy. I guess I was afraid to let you go, and … and I always wanted to be the one you depended on.”
“I will always need you!” I said.
He smiled too now.
“But you won’t need me in the same way. I guess I wasn’t quite ready to let go of you.”
“You don’t have to!” I said. “You just need to let me live a little.”
He nodded.
“And I am going to do that.”
I released his hand and hugged him tightly. He hugged me back and we stood there for a little while, just holding each other close.
“You’re going to be a great uncle,” I whispered.
He pulled back a little, now smiling a big smile.
“I can’t wait,” he said.
We smiled at each other, and I chuckled a little, feeling so happy.
“So, you love him?”
I nodded, feeling a little embarrassed.
“Don’t tell me you have completely ruined his good looks,” I said.
