Chapter 61

DEMETRIUS

Rose and I didn’t sleep all day.

By the time the night rolled in, we were exhausted. She spent all day in our room pacing, on the phone with Aric, then dashing into Selene and Orion’s room to let them know.

Venus and Henry received separate calls, and James and Grace were trying to find out all they could.

It was obvious that Eleanor being alive and in Toulouse was the biggest news in the pureblood community since she was first adopted. Eloise had lost no time calling her parents.

Aleesha let her family know, Angus called Mother in New York. She had not stopped calling me all day. The king had just found out. He was sending Alexander and Phoenix to us.

The castle was abuzz with exhausted purebloods.

When the sun set, I stepped out of the castle into the cooling air. Rose stood by my side, hissing, her whole frame shaking, her eyes bright red. I placed my hand on her head, trying to calm her.

Aric had sent Eleanor to catch a plane. She would be on the other side of the world now. He would be right behind her.

“Demetrius, I should go. I should find her.” Rose was pacing furiously.

“That would be too obvious, Rose, you know that. We have to trust them. Aric told us he’d call as soon as he headed out after her.”

“I can’t lose her again, Demetrius,” she breathed, her eyes wide. She had been crying all day, and her face was stained with streaks of blood tears.

“You should feed,” I breathed, cupping her face in my palm and lifting it to mine. She shuddered.

“I cannot think of hunting now.” She shook her head. I leaned down, pressing my forehead against hers.

“Stay here. I’ll be back soon.” I pressed my lips against hers lightly. She nodded, her eyes still brimming with tears.

I left her there, trembling outside the castle. Memories of her depression, of her rage and numbness, came flooding back to me. I could not put her through that again.

I pushed forward into the forest, moving fast, seeking the closest prey. I could just make out the sounds of a wild boar scavenging a few miles away.

I ran toward it, keeping my steps silent. It didn’t see me coming as I descended upon it, wrapping my arms around its neck sinking my fangs into its thick hide. The warm blood gushed into my mouth.

It let out a startled cry and tried bucking up, kicking with its legs to get rid of me. I snapped its thick neck, and it collapsed on the ground with a heavy thud.

I slung it over my shoulder and made my way back to the castle, its blood seeping into my shirt.

Rose was still pacing outside the castle. As I got closer, her crimson gaze met mine, and she rushed to my side.

“Demetrius! She’s coming here!” she cried.

“Who? Eleanor?” I dropped the boar, grasping her shoulders. Rose nodded. Her lips were pressed in a firm line.

“She didn’t get on the plane. Aric is driving her here. They’ll be here in a couple of hours. Demetrius, I’m not sure we can protect her.” She was shaking her head.

“It seems we don’t have a choice, my dear,” I breathed, pressing my lips to her forehead, wrapping her arm around her shoulder, and guiding her back into the castle, hauling the boar behind me.

***

The little Peugeot rumbled up the dirt road to the castle slowly. It was almost four in the morning, and the sky was heavy with rainclouds.

Rose was the first to hear them. She flew from the sofa and was out the door in seconds. I followed in her wake in time to see the car pull into the long driveway.

I could hear her, her soft breathing, the slight snoring, the pounding of her heart. I could smell the same sweet scent she had as a child.

Aric slipped out of the driver’s seat, casting us a heavy scowl.

By the time he opened the passenger door, Selene, Orion, Venus, and Henry had also appeared, their eyes bright red, anticipating the human.

Aric shook her awake, murmuring soft words, and I heard her yawn as she woke. He grasped her hand and pulled her gently out of the car.

Suddenly, she was standing there. My daughter, my Eleanor. My thirst for her blood was numbed by my raging love for her. She was tall, lean, and strong for a human.

Her dark ringlets were cut short around her chin, and her skin was light brown. Her face had matured yet still held the same full pink lips, the same arched brows, the same straight nose.

Her eyes, blue-green, were piercing as she scanned the crowd of purebloods in front of her.

Rose had her arms around her in seconds, scolding her for not running but hugging her tightly all the same. When she pulled back, Eleanor had tears brimming in her eyes.

Selene was hovering behind Rose, her bright crimson eyes overflowing with bloody tears. She reached out and grasped Eleanor’s hands.

“Dear child,” she gasped.

Eleanor nodded slowly, then wrapped her arms around Selene’s neck and hugged her tightly.

When she drew back, her eyes darted up at me. At that second, her tears sprung forward and trickled down her cheeks.

“Father,” she breathed. She ran toward me, my body moved automatically, catching her in the air, she launched herself at me, wrapping her legs around my body, her arms around my neck.

She bawled heavily as I stroked her back, unable to believe I had my daughter back in my arms again.

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” I breathed. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” I repeated until she drew back from me, her body trembling. Her legs slid down, and she wiped at the tears on her cheeks.

“Thank you, Father, for saving my life.” Her eyes were wide.

“I thought I was making the right decision. I’m so sorry,” I repeated, hugging her close to my chest. I felt her shaking her head.

“No, thank you! I owe you everything, Father. You made the right decision. I had a wonderful life, Father!

“I’m also so happy to be able to come back to my family now,” she gushed, a wide smile splitting her lovely face. I stared down at her in bewilderment.

“You don’t resent me for abandoning you?” I whispered.

“I did,” she grinned. “But not anymore. I understand. You did it out of love. And I’m grateful.”

She was sincere, looking me in the eye. She’d grown so much I almost couldn’t believe she was the same little girl that I had left behind. I couldn’t have been more proud.

She stepped away from me, her eyes darting to Venus.

“Venus.” Eleanor stepped up to her. “My sister, I missed you. I owe you my thanks as well. I remember you carrying me out of that room.”

Venus’s red eyes were wide. She nodded slowly. Eleanor wrapped her arms around her, pulling her close. Venus hugged her back.

“I’m glad you’re alive, little sister,” she whispered, her gaze lifting to mine, brimming with bloody tears. “I missed you too.”

Eleanor wiped at her tears again, pulling back and looking at Henry. His brow furrowed as he regarded the little human. But she smiled, and he drew close.

“Henry Chen? We’ve met,” she grinned at him. “You freaked the shit out of me.”

He barked out a laugh. “That was the idea, little human,” he said.

She nodded in agreement. “Thank you for not killing me. For not selling me out. For keeping my secret. I owe you,” she said, reaching out and grasping his hand.

He gave her a small smile and shook her hand.

“I’m glad you survived,” he told her with a slight smirk.

To my surprise, she grinned up at him.

I heard James and Grace in the tower above, but they caught Eleanor off guard when they leapt down and landed in front of her. She jumped back and let out a little cry.

Aric, who had been shadowing her, caught her quickly and held her tight.

James and Grace loomed over her. “James!” She jumped forward, throwing her arms around his neck. He picked her up and spun her around with a loud laugh.

“Dear cousin,” he set her down. Pushing her hair out of her eyes, he grinned down at her. “My, how you’ve grown!”

“A healthy dose of sunshine and water will do that,” she joked.

James barked out a laugh and pulled her into a second hug, wrapping his arms around her shoulders.

“This is Grace. She’s my fiancé,” he beamed down at Eleanor. She reached out her hand toward the tall, dark-haired pureblood.

“Grace. I’ve heard about you. I’m delighted to finally meet you. I believe I also owe my life to you for keeping my secret. I thank you.”

Grace gave her a kind smile and shook her hand softly. “James and Aric always knew you were worth fighting for,” she answered.

Eleanor glanced back at Aric, who hovered behind her, his lips pursed.

“Let’s get you inside, sweetheart,” Rose murmured, picking up Eleanor’s suitcase from the boot of the car and leading the way into the castle.

I followed behind, closing the doors behind me. I couldn’t help but notice Aric’s hand placed on the small of Eleanor’s back. She often glanced up at him, smiling, though he only scowled back.

Rose fussed over Eleanor as the other purebloods dispersed, looking for food, but the girl insisted she was full and unfortunately exhausted.

“You can have your old room back if you like,” Rose murmured, holding her human daughter close. I moved close to them, wanting to be near my her as much as possible.

She truly took my breath away.

“No.” Aric picked up Eleanor’s suitcases. “She’s not leaving my side. She’ll stay in my room,” he said pointedly.

“Nonsense,” Rose brushed off. “She’ll be safer in the tower.”

“Mother, she’ll stay with me,” Aric countered.

“I would prefer,” Eleanor added. “To stay with Aric.”

Rose glanced between her children, her brows drawing together. I watched Aric moving toward us, his gaze on Eleanor.

I recognized that look. A look of complete devotion, awe, lust, certainty, the same look I had for Rose. When his gaze flicked to mine, he recognized my expression, his lips pursed.

“Father—”

“It’s okay,” I cut him off. “Eleanor, get settled wherever you feel more comfortable. Get some sleep, sweetheart. You are safe here.”

I stroked her hair and gave her a light kiss on the top of her head. She gave Rose and me a quick hug then followed Aric downstairs into the basement and to his room.

Rose shifted beside me. “He told me he had found someone—a human, who was resisting him. I never imagined,” she said, shaking her head.

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her against me. She gazed up at me.

“Demetrius, this is not the life I wanted for her. I didn’t want her to fall for a vampire, to live with us. I wanted her to have a family, live a human life, grow old enjoying sunny beaches…”

“My dear.” I placed my chin on the top of her head. “I’m just as torn as you are. No pureblood has ever seemed good enough for Aric, and no man could be good enough for Eleanor.

“We have to trust them.” I pursed my lips. “I believe she made her decision, Rose. She knew when she came here that her human life was going to end soon.”