𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 | 𝐉𝐀𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐄

𝟗 | 𝐕𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐄...

THE FOREST IS QUIET. Too quiet. Even the wind has stopped. I know he's here before I see him.

"You're impossibly fast," I say without turning. "And strong. Your skin is pale-white... ice-cold. Your eyes change color. And sometimes you speak like you're from another time."

Behind me, I hear the faintest shift the soft scrape of a boot against leaves.

"You never eat food. Or drink. You don't go in the sunlight. You said no to the beach trip after you heard where it was... because of the treaty."

That makes him pause. I turn to face him. His expression doesn't change, but there's something flickering in his eyes something careful.

"How old are you?"

He hesitates, then, barely above a whisper, "Twenty."

"How long have you been twenty?"

He meets my gaze, his jaw tightening. Then he exhales slowly.
"A while."

I wait.

He looks down, like he's trying to decide if he can trust me. "A hundred and sixty-one years," he finally says, voice low, almost apologetic.

I breathe in. I already knew but hearing him say it still takes my breath away.

"I know what you are," I tell him. "What your family is."

He tilts his head slightly, eyes softening. "You can say it," he murmurs.

"Vampire," I whisper.

We stand there both perfectly still. The word hangs between us, but there's no fear. Just silence.

"Is it scary?" I ask.

His eyes search mine, something tender beneath them. "Not for me," he says quietly.

"Are you afraid?" he asks.

"No."

He exhales through his nose, almost a laugh almost relief. "Then ask me what we eat."

I shake my head. "You won't hurt me."

His gaze drops. "You don't know that," he says softly, like it pains him.

I take a step closer. "I do."

He looks away then, gently, takes my hand. His touch is cool, deliberate, like he's testing his own control.

"Come with me," he says.

"Where?"

"Up the mountain. There's somethin' I want you to see."

"The sunlight? Jasper, won't it—"

He shakes his head. "It won't hurt me."

Before I can say another word, he lifts me effortlessly into his arms.

The forest blurs wind rushes past. When we stop, we're above the clouds.

He sets me down, keeps a little distance. His shirt is open at the throat. He looks at me once before stepping into the light.

The sun touches him and suddenly his skin shimmers, glitters like diamonds under glass.

"This is why we don't show ourselves," he says softly, almost embarrassed.

He stands perfectly still, his eyes darting to me, bracing for disgust.

But I take a step forward. "You're beautiful," I breathe.

He freezes. For a moment, something breaks through a flicker of emotion he can't hide.

I reach out, and he lets me. My fingers press against the cold, luminous skin of his chest. He closes his eyes, leaning into my touch just a little.

"I trust you," I whisper.

He opens his eyes. "Don't," he says quietly but his voice cracks halfway through.

I pull back, but only for a moment. "I do," I say again.

He looks at me like he wants to believe it like he almost does.

"I'm not used to this," he admits. "Wantin' to be close. Wantin' to feel..." He trails off, shakes his head. "It's harder when you're near."

I smile faintly. "And here I thought you hated me."

His eyes lift to mine. "I did. For makin' me feel human again."

The silence stretches, soft and heavy.

"I wish I could read you," he murmurs. "I can feel everyone else's emotions but not yours. You're quiet. Peaceful. It's... strange."

"Peaceful?" I tease gently.

He nods once. "It's nice."

I smile. "I'm scared, Jasper. Scared of losing this."

He looks down, then back at me, eyes softer than I've ever seen. "You don't know how long I've been waiting for you."

It's so quiet, I can hear the leaves brushing in the breeze.

Then he steps back, his control returning. "You should go. I'll see you tomorrow."

I nod, heart aching as I turn to leave.

He leans down and presses a soft kiss to my forehead. "Goodnight, darlin'," he whispers.

When I look back from my window later that night, he's there leaning against his car, smiling up at me, eyes full of quiet warmth.