Burned (Book1) The White Rose Vampire Series

Chapter Fifteen

Exhaustion snuck up on me as I laid down on Bastian's bed. My eyes were too heavy to keep open as I fell asleep. Again, when I opened my eyes I found myself by the stream but no stakes were in the ground nor were there men calling for death. Only Clementine and a dark-haired woman with a little girl stood by the bank.

"Rebecca, we must allow her to go," Clementine said, softly to the woman with dark hair. "We can't allow her to stay."

A tear fell down her cheek as she pulled the little girl into her embrace. "Her grandparents are just around the bend," Rebecca said, softly. "Just allow me one more goodbye for our little Lilly."

"We must leave now," A portly man with blonde hair said walking toward them, "Before the church finds us."

The little girl glanced from Rebecca to the man, her expression filled with sympathy, "Grandfather, Rebecca is crying."

The man glanced at the woman pained. "We will take care of Lilly, Rebecca," he said, frowning but his voice was gentle and reassuring. "You'll join us soon."

Rebecca nodded as she glanced down at the girl before raising her eyes to the man. "John, as promised I will," she said, straightening her spine. "I told you I would marry your son in exchange for Lilly's safety. I will bind myself to him."

"Levi will be happy to hear that," he said, but his face still held that pained expression. "You know I only do this for your safety. You'll learn to love him."

She gave a tense smile. "There's no choice for me now," she said as a tear fell down her cheek.

John nodded and gripped the little girl's hand in his before raising his head to peer at Clementine. "Finish what Elenore pleaded with you to do," he said, glancing at Rebecca. "Then, bring Rebecca safely to my son."

Clementine nodded before he turned tugging Lilly gently along beside him. Clementine hugged Rebecca. "He means well," she whispered gently, and Rebecca nodded. "He hopes you'll move on. You know the curse will keep Dimitri from returning your love for him."

"I do," she said and then, took a deep breath. "But maybe he'll love my granddaughter. Then, perhaps he will be comforted by me that way."

Clementine's eyes filled with tears. "If that's what you wish and it will give you comfort, then I will bind your blood to Dimitri's."

"So he will love a piece of me, that is what I wish," she said, taking a breath. "But I ask one more favor...Bind me to Levi. He deserves a wife who will return his love."

Clementine raised a brow. "Are you sure this is the path you wish to choose?"

Rebecca closed her eyes releasing tears to fall down her cheeks and took a deep breath before gazing at her friend. "It is."