I let out a deep laugh, more amused by her reaction than I should be.It’s a bitter, dark sound that cuts through the air.“Yeah,” I reply, keeping my voice steady, though the words come with a sharp edge.“And I don’t glitter in the sunlight.”
Her eyes snap to mine, disbelief still flashing across her face.“You...you don’t...”She shakes her head, clearly trying to process what she’s seeing.
She’s about to say something more, probably about how I should be hunting in the dark or whatever nonsense people think they know about vampires.
But I don’t give her the chance.Instead, I take a step closer, watching her freeze in place, her chest rising and falling too fast.“Don’t worry, Tessa,” I say, my voice low and calm now, but the weight of the words is still heavy.“I’m not the monster you think I am.”Moving closer, I place a hand on either side of her head.My fingers brush against the sides of her neck, and I can feel the pulse beneath her skin, fast and erratic.I don’t let go, though, and I keep my gaze locked on hers.“I’m the same man who visits you just about every day for coffee and to read the newspaper.”My voice is quieter.I’m trying to ground her in something familiar.
Her eyes meet mine, a storm of emotions battling behind them.Then she whispers, almost to herself, “But you’renota man.”
“No,” I agree softly, but there’s a firmness to the word.“I’m faster, stronger, and if I make a promise, I keep it until my last breath.”
I watch her carefully, searching for any hint of understanding, but her face is still frozen in shock, her lips parted as though the words won’t quite make sense no matter how many times I say them.
But I won’t back away, not now when I’ve already shown her this much.
“I will not...wewill not hurt you,” I say, my voice steady but soft, a promise wrapped in certainty.“You are free to leave.But...”I add, stepping back just a fraction, giving her some space, “...one of us will need to take you back into town.You’re a long way out, and I’m not about to leave you wandering by yourself.”
I can see the hesitation in her eyes, the wariness still there, and I know she’s struggling to figure out what to make of me and everything I’ve shown her.But the offer is genuine.No tricks.No games.
“What if I tell?”she asks, her voice shaking, a mix of fear and defiance, her gaze steady and unflinching.
“Blade is right.People will think you’re mad.”Moving in closer, I watch her every movement, gauging the space between us.“And, Tessa, we are no threat to you.The reason we’re all here in Alaska is because we have nowhere else to go.Alaska’s population density is extremely low, at one point three persons per square mile.Most of the population lives in Anchorage.We chose this place so that we’re not a threat to anyone or anything.”
Stepping back, I give her the space she needs to breathe and think.“Shall I take you home?”I offer, my tone gentler now, trying to show I’m not some looming monster ready to pounce.
Her head snaps from side to side.“No!”She practically spits the word out, her voice trembling.
I nod, understanding.“Have you met Prophet?”I ask, watching for her reaction.
Her eyes flicker with recognition, a flash of something in them.“Y-yes,” she stammers, almost as if she’s trying to place him in a different context.
“Do you feel safe around him?”I press, taking another step back, giving her the room she needs to answer honestly.
She pauses, uncertainty clouding her face, then her voice cracks, “W-what is he?”
Sighing, my tone grows a little firmer.“Doesn’t matter, and it’s kind of rude to ask.If Prophet wants to tell you, he will.Until then, you’ll have to trust that he’s no danger to you.”
“You’ll let me go home?”
Meeting her gaze, my expression is steady, and I let the truth hang between us.“Yes,” I answer, my voice is calm but firm.She needs to hear it, to believe it.“You’ll go home.”
For a moment, I watch her, hoping she sees I mean it and understands I’m not trying to trap her in a world she’s not ready for.Tessa needs to feel as if she has a choice, because she does.
“Okay,” Tessa says, her voice still unsure but quieter now.
My hope is she’s starting to trust me, even a little.
I nod, my movements slow and deliberate as I step backward and open the door, gesturing for her to go through it.
“You first,” Tessa says, her eyes flickering toward me but not meeting my gaze directly.
Smiling, I step outside, my boots crunching on the gravel as I make my way over to Rooster, standing off to the side.Tessa sticks her head out, scanning the yard, checking for danger, but when she doesn’t find any, she steps out, keeping a healthy distance between us.Smart girl.She’s still got her guard up.
“Prophet!”I call across the yard, my voice carrying easily.It’s a command, not a request.
The door to the clubhouse swings open, and Prophet emerges, his usual laid-back smile spread across his face as if he doesn’t have a care in the world.He moves with ease, his steps purposeful yet casual.
He stops about three feet from Tessa, sizing her up with a single glance, then asks, “Ready to go home?”
