Page 193 of Eternal Craving

“From her letter, she appears to believe she’s a vampire,” Jacob said calmly.

The room felt horribly stuffy, the air thick and heavy. I loosened my shirt collar.

Jacob’s gaze met mine and he nodded, revealing more than just his suspicion. “She told me everything.”

I tried to speak but couldn’t.

“You don’t go out during the day,” he said. “I’ve never seen you eat anything.”

As he continued speaking, I felt myself unraveling as my worst nightmare unfolded. I placed my pale hands behind my back.

“So I can see where she gets her wild ideas from.” He moved closer.

“Quite an imagination, that girl,” I managed to say.

“Living with an eccentric can rub off.” Jacob nodded my way.

I forced a smile, hoping that the stress I felt wouldn’t cause an elongation of my fangs.

“Or perhaps she isn’t delusional,” he said.

“How do you mean?”

Jacob rifled through his jacket pocket and withdrew a small bottle filled with a clear liquid. He quickly opened it and flicked the contents onto the back of my hand.

I wiped off the moisture, unsure whether to be shocked or annoyed. “And I thought you were a man of science.”

“I am.”

“You just threw holy water on me. I assume that’s what it is?”

You’ve lost him, again.

“You look so incredibly young. I mean, we could pass for brothers.”

“I’m flattered.”

“You’ve never eaten in front of me. I’ve never spent a day with you. And the way you move…” Jacob reached into his coat pocket.

“Please don’t tell me that’s a cross.”

Jacob spun around and held up a mirror in front of me, gasping at what he didn’t see. “I didn’t believe her.” He held up the mirror again.

I let out a sigh. “I could never muster the courage to tell you.”

“I deserve the truth.”

“I reasoned that if you got to know me first…”

He took a step back. “Why did you come back into my life?”

“Because I love you.”

“Are you even capable of such an emotion? I wished you’d stayed away.”

My heart felt like something had punctured it. I pressed my hand against my chest, trying to ease the pain.

“How long have you been…a vampire?”