Page 146 of Eternal Obsession

“Get out.”

“I’m offended. I thought there was an understanding between us. After all, we have shared such intimacy and⁠—”

“I saw the photos of you,” she said.

“Ah. Sometimes it’s difficult to keep track and destroy that.”

“I know that you are connected with these murdered girls.”

“Damn, you’re good.” I laughed.

“You’re a monster.”

“They were going to kill themselves at some point.” I shook my head. “They did terrible things to access drugs. No coming back from that. I merely made the world a safer place. You’re welcome.”

“Get out.”

“What have I done to deserve such hostility?”

“You’re not human⁠—”

“I’m a new and improved version. That’s how I see it.”

“Tell me what it is you want, just so that we are clear.”

“I don’t plan to kill you. In fact, on the contrary, I have a rather special gift for you. It’s the ultimate bestowal, Ingrid—the gift of immortality. We are connected, you and I. It was my lover Sunaria that bound us together. She had returned to Cornwall to find her relatives and observe how they were progressing in the world⁠—”

“Wait.”

“Ingrid, I’m talking. As I was saying, I found Sunaria’s obsession with her lineage strangely amusing. She could not resist seeing them, and the more I told her not to go, the more she wanted to. Her stubbornness was to be her downfall.” I nodded, remembering the way Sunaria used to frown when she was determined to do something.

“Sunaria’s bloodline ends with you. You even look like her. After she was taken, I observed her descendants closely over the years, just as she had done.

“I chose you, my love. I lost her, but found you. My plan to make Jadeon fall in love with you has worked remarkably well. All this time, he thought I kept Catherine away, but it was she who kept me from him until now. Can you fathom it? In the meantime, I watched him suffer through his affection for you, which can never be realized.” I leaned in close to Ingrid.

“Orpheus, you have to calm down.”

“Don’t I seem calm to you?” I said.

“I need you to step back and⁠—”

“I’ve watched and waited, biding my time until a female was born from Sunaria’s lineage who resembled her in every way. I waited for you to become a woman. I came into your bedroom every night and joined you in your dreams.”

“No!”

“Yes, and I led you out of them again. You were born to be one of us.”

“What are you talking about?” she asked, but from her fear, she knew.

She was enchanting in every way, Sunaria’s heritage shining through her—and I longed to kiss her.

“I can give you all that you have ever desired. I am one of the oldest vampires, and the most powerful.” I reached out and offered my hand. “Drink.”

“There’s no such thing.”

“You said so yourself. The science is undeniable,” I said.

Ingrid watched me bite into my forefinger. Blood trickled down my hand.