Riley Hayes | A Vampire Novel | Book 2

Chapter 26

The soft giggles of my twin girls filled the air, a rare melody that made the world feel almost normal, even if I knew better. Zera's little brows furrowed in concentration as she twisted a colorful block into place on the puzzle board. Her sister Leia sat beside her, hugging a doll tightly, her big, curious eyes watching Zera's every move like she was studying an ancient, secret ritual.

I sat cross-legged on the floor beside them, my fingers absentmindedly running through Leia's dark curls. My body might have been here, but my mind... my mind was elsewhere.

"Mommy, look! I did it!" Zera's triumphant cry snapped me back. She clapped her hands, her grin wide and toothy as the last piece clicked into place.

"Good job, sweetheart!" I said, smiling as I leaned in to kiss her on the forehead. The warmth of their little bodies, their joy, was a fragile bubble around us. I was terrified it would pop.

The soft rustle of footsteps reached me before the voice did. "Riley," my mother, Anne, said gently from the doorway. She carried a tray with tea and biscuits, her presence both soothing and somber. She set the tray on the coffee table and knelt next to me, her hand brushing over Leia's cheek before resting on my shoulder.

I didn't look up. My fingers traced lazy patterns on Leia's back as I asked, "What is it?"

"You're really going through with this, aren't you?" Her voice was quiet, laced with concern and disbelief.

I didn't answer right away. Instead, I watched Zera slide the puzzle board toward Leia, encouraging her to try. The doll in Leia's arms toppled onto the pieces, and she giggled as Zera made a mock scolding face.

Finally, I spoke, my voice low but firm. "Yes. I am."

Anne's breath hitched, and I felt her hesitation. "Riley, I've seen what he can do. The night he came here, the chaos he left behind..." Her voice broke, and she stopped, taking a steadying breath. "I don't know if you understand the depths of his cruelty. Even with what you've been through, I don't know if anyone can."

"I do," I said, my tone sharper than I intended. Leia flinched, and I softened my voice, pressing a kiss to her head. "I understand exactly what Archie is. More than you think."

Anne folded her hands in her lap, the fine lines on her face deepening. "Then you know what I'm afraid of. Revenge doesn't always give you what you're looking for. And it might take more than you're willing to lose."

"It's not about revenge," I said, though I wasn't sure if that was entirely true. "It's about protecting them. Archie won't stop, Mom. He'll never stop. Not until he's taken everything I care about, or until someone stops him first."

Her gaze dropped to the twins, playing blissfully unaware of the storm that surrounded them. "You think killing him will make it stop?"

"I know it will." I took a deep breath, forcing the rage to stay below the surface. "Rayna is already tracking him. Christina and Lazarus are in the field, listening for rumors, any sign of him. We'll find him. And when we do, we'll end this."

Anne's expression didn't chang. "Rayna's up in the attic, isn't she?" she asked after a moment. "Looking through Leuca's father's old things. Hoping for some kind of connection to use in a spell."

"Yes." I nodded. "If there's anything there that can help her find him faster, we'll use it. I won't give him time to hurt anyone else."

''Poor girl is working too hard...'' Anne closed her eyes for a moment, her hand falling away from my shoulder. "I still don't think you're ready for what this will cost you. Killing someone, even someone like him... it doesn't leave you untouched."