Riley Hayes | A Vampire Novel | Book 2

Chapter 20

Leuca's pov

I see her running. My heart clenches as Riley moves like a shadow through the dawn, a blur of speed and panic. She's faster than she knows, faster than even she might have thought possible. But she's not faster than me.

I follow at a distance, watching as Christina closes in on her. Riley hasn't noticed me yet—her focus is too scattered, her mind too overwhelmed by the flood of new sensations and emotions she's dealing with.

Christina tries to talk to her, calling her name, trying to get her to stop. I can hear Christina's voice, calm yet insistent, trying to reach Riley through the chaos. "Riley, stop running! You're not thinking clearly. Please!"

Riley's response is a growl of frustration, her instincts taking over as she pushes harder, faster, trying to outpace the reality she's trapped in. But Christina is relentless, keeping close, still talking, still trying to get through to her.

I wait for the right moment. Timing is everything.

Suddenly, Riley's focus slips as Christina's voice finally gets through to her, if only for a second. That's my chance.

I leap forward, closing the distance in an instant, and tackle her to the ground. She lets out a startled cry as we hit the pavement, my body pinning hers down. She struggles, trying to shove me off, her new strength impressive but not enough. I'm a lord; my power has always surpassed hers, and it's no different now.

"Easy, love," I say softly, though my grip on her remains firm. "You couldn't take me down as a human, and you sure as hell still can't take me now."

She glares up at me, her eyes wild, tears streaming down her face. Her rage is palpable, mixed with a sadness so deep it's like a wound that won't stop bleeding. The sight of her like this, so broken and raw, tears at my heart. But I hold her down, knowing she needs to hear me.

"Riley, listen to me," I say, my voice gentle but firm. "Everything you're feeling right now—it's so much more intense because you're a vampire now. All your emotions... they're heightened. The anger, the fear, the sadness... it's like a flood you can't control."

She sobs beneath me, her struggles weakening as the weight of her emotions overtakes her. I can see the confusion in her eyes, the hurt, the betrayal.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper, my own voice cracking. "I forced this on you. I took away your choice, and I'll never be able to make that right.''

"I hate you," Riley spits out between sobs, her voice hoarse and full of venom. Her eyes lock onto mine, blazing with a rage so fierce it feels like a physical blow. "I hate you for this."

The words stab at me, but I don't let go. I just hold her tighter, knowing how deeply she's hurting. Christina comes up beside us, her eyes narrowing slightly as she assesses the situation.

"I had it under control, you know," Christina says, her tone cool but laced with a touch of frustration.

I glance at her, offering a brief nod. "I didn't doubt it for a second, Christina. But this... this is my fault. I'll handle it from here."

Christina watches me for a moment, her face softening. She knows. She understands the weight of what I've done. She gives me a small nod before backing away, leaving us alone in this mess I created. I can hear her footsteps fade as she walks off, but Riley is still thrashing beneath me, trying to break free, her emotions spiraling wildly.

"I hate you!" she screams again, her voice cracking, as if saying it louder will make the hurt go away. "I hate you, Leuca!"

I close my eyes, pressing my forehead against hers as she continues to struggle in my hold. I can feel every beat of her heart, every tremor of her body. The agony in her voice shreds me from the inside out, but I don't move. I don't let her go.