The Pull

chapter 12 (Rowena)

Rowena

The bright sun woke me as it streamed through the windows. Looking around confused, it took me a minute to remember where I was. Groaning, I pulled the blankets up over my head. Another day with Henry. Another day spent wrestling with my feelings for him. Another day without Charlie and Alice. Another day as a human.

On the plus side, I didn't dream about Henry. Last night wasn't all terrible either. Henry was sweet when he wanted to be, romantic even. I assumed he had carried me to bed last night because I don't remember going myself. I was wearing the yoga pants and sweater from the previous night, so I guessed he was a gentleman. I'm surprised I had lasted so late into the night in first place. So much had happened over the past few days it felt like a month had passed.

I stretched out in bed, feeling unusually relaxed. Checking the time, I saw that it was mid-morning, I hadn't slept that late in years. I almost always got woken up by Charlie with the rising sun. Maybe I should look at this as a holiday and give myself time to refresh without parenthood's responsibilities. Although, with the tension between me and Henry, I don't think I would have a lot of time to relax. I thought about having a shower, but after yesterday's debacle, I wasn't sure if I should.

I got up and went to the bathroom, washed my face and brushed my teeth. I looked at myself in the mirror, fingering the silver necklace. An increasing loud part of my mind told me I should take the silver off and let fate take over. After all, this mate thing doesn't seem to be all bad. Lawrence and David were very happy. Alex and Delphine seemed very much in love. Alex had urged me to give it a chance. Alice, too, had never said a bad word about her mate and seemed to still be in love with Alex's father since she had never even dated again after losing Conell. Alice was human too, so surely that meant I could be happy in this mythical world. I thought about all of the women I had seen at Lawrence's party. All of them had been human once, and they all seemed happy.

There was a soft knock on the door, and Henry's voice called, "May I come in?"

I hurried back to bed and got under the covers. "Yes," I said when I was settled.

Henry walked in with a broad smile, a coffee and a croissant. My breath caught in my throat as I took in his smile, he was so stupidly handsome. I absentmindedly touched the silver at my neck. "Thank you. Did you go out this morning?" I asked, forcing my hands away from my neck.

Nodding, Henry said, "Yes, I had to pick up a few things. I got some supplies and," he looked away, almost guiltily he added, "I also fed. I uh, need to control myself with you and keeping well-fed helps."

Curious, I asked, "How do you feed?"

"I usually bite," he said, smirking in jest.

"No, I mean," I felt silly asking, unsure if even talking about it was crossing some boundary I didn't understand, but I needed to know, "Do you kill them?"

"Oh," he said, blinking, "I could, but I try not to. I haven't killed anyone in 100 years."

"And after you turn me, you'll only feed on me?"

"Yes," Henry flashed his teeth at me, not making any attempt to hide his excitement at the prospect. 

I looked down at my blanket, suddenly very interested in its eucalyptus green leafy pattern. "But I'm a vampire then."

"We can feed on vampires too. I have fed from vampires before, but it's taboo to do so if it isn't with your mate. Kind of like having sex for humans. You can sleep with anyone, but once you're married, you only sleep with your spouse."

My stomach dropped. "Should I be jealous?" I asked.

He laughed at me, and I pouted, feeling childish and embarrassed at my question. "Sorry, Little Fawn. No, you shouldn't be. No one compares to you. It's laughable to me because I desire you so much."