“But you didn’t join a cult of vampires who wanted to harm others.”
“No, but no cult of vampires ever approached me while I was young and alone. No cult of vampires ever took me in and offered me a home. No cult of vampires brainwashed me for over a decade.” Everleigh snapped the stick in half. “In most ways, you were a victim.”
“They set me up,” Kyra said.
Everleigh nodded.
“I didn’t realize that until now.” She looked down at her hands. “I must sound like an idiot. A girl whose family was plagued by a vampire, threatening us. Then her parents are killed, and suddenly there’s a kind and benevolent vampire, just waiting to rescue her.” She sniffed but bit down on her lip to stop the tears. She’d cried enough, and it wasn’t right to sit around and sob in front of this mother whose own child had been in danger.
“You sound normal. You sound like you did what you could to survive. No one would have done anything differently.”
Kyra looked Everleigh in the eyes finally. “Is that why all of you are being so understanding?”
“Yes. Your story rings true. And we had a few people look into it.” Everleigh put her hand on Kyra’s. “We believe you. And to an extent, we sympathize. We just can’t welcome you onto our land again, I’m sure you understand that.”
“Of course.” She was still shocked that she was allowed to even sit there outside the gates. “You’ve been more than gracious, and I’ll never forget it.” She wiped her damp eyes. “I just want to stay here until Derek wakes up. Once I see him, I’ll go. But there is one thing I would like to do before I leave.”
“Okay,” Everleigh said. “What is it?”
“I’d like to talk to the vampires. And I don’t know where they are.” She looked at Everleigh, who had extended her so much empathy already. “Could you help me get to them?”
Everleigh stood up and brushed her designer pants off. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Kyra could hardly believe how fortunate she was. She was able to soothe the worst of her agony during the day by walking back and forth along the gates, admiring the wildlife and the new flowers that were springing up.
But nighttime was a different story.
Not because of what she was going through, but because of what Derek was going through.
At night, she slept on the ground next to the gate that led to the pack land. She never tried to sneak inside.
Around midnight each night, when the pack was quiet, Derek would become agitated. At first, she thought he was in pain.
She longed to go to him, to hold his hand, or help him drink a potion, but it wasn’t possible.
Then she realized that he wasn’t in pain but was caught in a hellish dreamscape. She couldn't see into his dreams, not exactly, but through the bond she was able to pick up bits and pieces of what he was seeing.
Oh hell. He was seeing the same scene over and over. Each time it happened the exact same way, and he was pinned inside the dream, unable to escape.
Then she saw more – he was dreaming about her.
He was seeing her in trouble, he was watching her die.
In his nightmares, he was seeing things that had never happened, but he didn't know that.
She sat up all night, trying to help him, to send him calming messages. She wasn’t sure if they were getting through. But on the third night, finally her messages seemed to ease his pain.
She’d tried telling his packmates, and they’d listened to her, reassuring her that someone was always with him, and that they were making sure he was comfortable.
But none of them could feel what she felt. So she didn’t give up, but kept trying to slip into his dreams and reassure him that he had saved her, and that he had saved his entire pack.
* * *
Everleigh wastrue to her word. The very next morning, she arrived, wearing a tailored maroon pantsuit with her hair perfectly styled. She noticed Kyra looking at her clothes and grinned. “I’m going into the office soon,” she said. “Most of the shifters are horrified, but I’m taking the baby with me, so they can’t get too bent out of shape.”
Kyra smiled, unsure what to say. She’d never pictured herself with a pup. “They want you to stay here, with them.”
“Exactly,” Everleigh said. “But I have them well trained. They know not to say a word. I’m glad my kids have such a devoted family, but I’m the one who decides how they’re raised.”