Page 9 of A Vampire's Pain
“After the incident,” he said, probably not sure how to speak of it.
I nodded slowly.
“I usually don’t like leaving the house that much either, but … but that has changed,” I said.
“Why?”
I smiled.
“You like that word,” I said.
That made him chuckle.
“Answer me,” he said.
“And you like being bossy too.”
He moved a little closer.
“Just answer,” he said.
I shrugged.
“I have just changed, and I want to go out more, and if a half-blood dares to challenge the whole council and everyone who is unsatisfied with her and the position she has gotten, then why can’t I be out there too? Why can’t I get a small taste of what life can really be like? I don’t want to hide away anymore. The world has changed, and … and I don’t want to be ashamed anymore,” I said and lifted my chin in the air.
Gabriel smiled, yet the smile was not condescending or amusing … no, he almost looked … proud.
“You’re right,” he said.
“I am?” I asked, not expecting him to agree with me.
I knew my brother wouldn’t. He would be too worried to let me out of the house; afraid I would be taken away again.
“Of course,” he said. “Time has changed. We don’t live by the same traditions anymore … or most don’t. You aristocrats still love them.”
“And that should come from an aristocrat!” I gave back, making him laugh.
While the hybrids had never been part of the parties that were thrown and the gatherings among the aristocrats, they were all pretty much royal, even though only one of them carried the title king, and therefore, they were all a part of the upper class.
“Fair point,” he just said. “But you are still correct. You shouldn’t be ashamed or hide away anymore. It was not your fault.”
I stared at him even more shocked.How easily he said thatI thought, feeling my heart beating even faster.
“Now, I don’t know the details,” he said. “But I do know a little.”
That made me look away because despite saying I didn’t want to feel ashamed, I couldn’t stop myself from letting the old feeling take over.
“You’re not at fault though, and I think it is brave of you to come here,” he said, making me look at him again, and seeing him smile so softly. “You still want to meet the queen?”
I nodded.
“But my brother—”
Gabriel took a few steps back, so he could look around the bush.
“Is gone,” he said before looking at me. “I can introduce you to her.”
“You would do that?”
