Riley Hayes | A Vampire Novel | Book 2

Chapter 3 -

Willow handed me another piece of her warm, homemade bread. It was delicious as always, with a perfect mix of crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I glanced around at my family enjoying the picnic. Theo was running around with Ruth, kicking a soccer ball back and forth, their laughter filling the air. My mom was sitting nearby, sipping on a glass of wine and soaking up the sun.

Damian had come along for our family picnic, but he was off in the distance with Rayna, helping her practice some offensive magic techniques. Leia hadn't been feeling well, so Leuca stayed home to watch her, and Zera decided to stay back too. The twins seemed to have a special connection, and whenever Leia felt sick, Zera was always right there to comfort her.

Leia had always been a bit more fragile, like Amalia, but while Amalia rarely got sick, Leia often did. Luckily, Leuca was always by her side, making her feel safe.

"Riley?" I heard my mom call out.

"Yeah?" I replied, turning to face her.

"How's the academy going?" she asked with a smile.

"It's going really well," I said, feeling proud. "We've had a lot of new applications since we opened, and we're almost at full capacity. I'm trying to decide if I should hire more staff or just focus on managing what we have. And Rayna's been having a great time there too. She's so advanced that they moved her to a higher class last week."

"That's wonderful," Mom said warmly. "I'm proud of you."

She told me about some new laws being made to protect humans. They were finally gaining more rights, and soon it would be illegal to harm a human without serious consequences. It felt like progress, a small step toward a better world.

Meanwhile, Willow's little boy, Wesley, was sleeping soundly in her lap. He looked so peaceful, and I could see that Willow was becoming a great mom. She was still working through her own traumas, but she was doing so well, and we were closer than ever.

We all sat together on the blanket, enjoying the fresh berries—strawberries, blueberries, raspberries—each one sweeter than the last. Willow shared another piece of her bread, this time with honey. We laughed and chatted, enjoying tiny sandwiches with meats and veggies and slices of rich, creamy cheese. Everything tasted so good; every bite made us smile and say, "Yummy!"

As the sun started to set, the light grew warm and soft, making everything feel cozy. It was such a simple meal, but it turned into a special moment filled with good food, laughter, and the love of family in the middle of a colorful field.

After we finished eating, we decided to clean up, but we made it fun. Theo, with a napkin tied around his neck like a superhero cape, ran around making us laugh. Willow started juggling some leftover fruits, and Damian tried to do a cartwheel, adding more laughter to our day.

We packed up our things, baskets, and leftovers, turning the clean-up into a kind of game. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we were all still smiling, carrying the joy of the day with us.

When we got back home, we said our goodbyes at the front door. Everyone was staying in one of the guest houses for now, but Willow had claimed one to share with Wesley.

Mom was doing really well working for Leuca. She was so good at managing things that she became the head of housekeeping. She made sure everything got done on time and kept track of what needed to be done. Beth, one of the other staff members, said everything was more organized now. Even the humans working there had a much better schedule. Mom used to run a household with rebellious kids, so managing a mansion was a breeze for her!

Damian and Rayna went back to their rooms, and I headed to ours. When I got there, I saw Leuca holding Leia in his arms. She was asleep, her cheeks red and face puffy from crying. "She was crying so much just ten minutes ago," he whispered softly.