Riley Hayes | A Vampire Novel | Book 2

Riley Hayes ||| - Chapter 1

This will actually be the third and final book of Riley's story. I'm continuing the narrative here, like I did with Heart of a Rogue. It feels easier to keep going rather than starting a whole new book. I'm too lazy to fill everything out again lol. So that's why it's continuing at chapter 1 in this book.  Shit will go south after a few chapters. 

"Leia, don't throw your food on the floor!" Riley scolded her daughter, who always seemed to make a mess of everything. Even though Leia was the weaker of the twins, she was definitely the more spirited one.

"Let my girl be..." Leuca chimed in, much to Riley's frustration.

"Oh, sure, you're the neat freak, but your little girl can toss food everywhere and even smear it in her hair—and mine!" Riley shot back.

Damian, Zera, and Rayna were laughing, amused by the chaos. Damian and Rayna had been taking on the roles of older siblings ever since the twins were born almost a year ago, and life had been busy ever since.

At six years old, Damian looked like he was eighteen. Leuca had explained that this rapid growth was normal for him, but around age six or seven, it would slow down dramatically. Riley often felt amazed at how grown-up her little boy already seemed, especially since Rayna, at fourteen, now appeared much smaller in comparison.

Both of them had been training hard—Damian with his combat skills and Rayna with her magic. They wouldn't admit it, but they were practically inseparable.

Leia and Zera were nearly a year old, but they too looked older than their age. Leia, despite being an hour older, lagged a bit behind her sister in terms of physical growth. Riley was still getting used to the quirks of vampire biology. But where Leia fell short physically, she made up for it mentally; her speech was just as advanced as Zera's.

And then there was Leuca. The man who had never wanted more children after Damian, who had once been angry about having more "liabilities" to protect, now had a clear favorite in their weaker twin. Leia could do no wrong in his eyes; she got whatever she wanted from him. She even slept on his chest every night. Aria called it his "maternal instinct."

Meanwhile, Zera, who was more reserved, spent more time with Riley. She slept in her own room—the one she was supposed to share with her sister, though Leia never left her father's side.

"Last warning, Leia," Riley said firmly as Leia prepared to fling her food again. Leia met her mother's gaze, then stopped when she realized Riley meant business.

At least the girls showed no signs of the bloodlust Damian had once experienced. He had mostly learned to control it, but it had caused many problems in the past. He still avoided drinking directly from the source, though—that was still off the table.

Tonight, Riley and Leuca had a date planned. They did this every other week on Saturdays, taking an evening just for themselves. Damian and Rayna would watch the twins, and if needed, Riley's mother and Willow were always ready to help out.

Speaking of Willow, she had recently given birth to a healthy boy named Wesley. He was much less developed than the twins, more like a typical human baby, even though he was born a few months after them.

"Can we go to that Italian restaurant?" Riley pleaded with Leuca. "I really want pizza..."

He chuckled and kissed her lips. "Anything for you, Ms. Devonshire," he whispered.

Just his look and the raspy tone of his voice sent a shiver down her spine. Of course, with Leia always glued to Leuca's side, their sex life had taken a hit, much to Riley's disappointment.

Leuca had tried to initiate things anyway, but Riley couldn't bring herself to do anything in front of her kids. It went against her principles. He told her it was normal for vampires, but he respected her wishes. Tonight, she dressed in a tight black dress with sparkly heels, ready for their night out.