Reminiscence {Book Two of the Vengeance Trilogy}

Chapter Thirty: The Bell Family Heiress

My lungs expanded with air as I jolted upright, knocking the blanket off the top half of my body. My tongue felt like sandpaper and my muscles were stiff. I gasped for air as if someone had been holding my head underwater and I was only now allowed to come to the surface. I quickly wiped away the sweat that drenched my face and whipped around towards Elliot, who was staring at me as if he had just seen a ghost.

Caroline, I'm so glad you're—" he began to say, but before he could finish, I threw my legs off the couch and tackled myself into his arms. His cold skin sent surges of shivers through my entire body, but I didn't care. I held onto him as tightly as I could. To my surprise, I now had tears spilling out and streaming down my cheeks. I wasn't making sound, but I could feel myself trembling as he held onto me. My arms were wrapped around him so tightly as if he were a balloon that would float away at any second. I never wanted to lose this again. I never wanted to lose him again.

"Don't leave again. Promise me you'll never leave again," I whispered, my voice shaking. He pulled away slightly and wiped my tears away with his thumbs. I could feel my breathing hitch as he stared into my eyes.

"I promise, Caroline," he said. My heart fluttered when he said my name. I let out a few sniffles, suddenly remembering what I had learned from my father. I took a few deep breaths before speaking again, trying to prepare myself for the conversation I was about to start.

"Elliot, what do you know about the Romanian Royal Family?" I asked, my teeth tugging at my lower lip a bit. He stared at me for a moment, arching a single eyebrow in confusion.

"The vampire royal family?" he responded. I gave him a nod and there was a pause before he continued. "I can't say I know too much. How do you even—"

"There is something in my memory that you have to see," I said bluntly, cutting him off once again. There was a long stretch of silence that stood between the two of us as I held my hand out for him. Once he took it, I felt the same chilling sensation as I had before I woke up, but this time, I didn't flinch. I embraced the sensation, finding it calming to me.

For a moment, Elliot sat there with his eyes closed as he held my hand. I took deep breaths, trying to focus on the things my father had told me even though I knew Elliot would be able to see it without my help. In one quick movement, his eyes popped open and his hand ripped away from mine. We locked eyes with one another, basking in the silence that seemed to swirl around the room, the only sound erupting from the crackling fire. I took another deep breath before saying anything.

"My real name is Caroline Viviana Rose Bell-Auburn, and my father was the crown prince of the vampire capitol in Romania. Before I passed out, I was reading notes that your father had written to mine and I saw some of his past," I explained, running my hand over the circular scabs that had been left behind from the venom band. Elliot stared at me in awe, his mouth hanging agape.

"I...I can't believe it. You're actually..." he started to say, but his words trailed off, getting lost before he could finish. I gave him a weak smile, trying to lighten the mood as best I could.

"A princess?" I asked, causing him to break out into light, airy laughter. He wrapped his arms around me again and I relished in the loving energy of his embrace.

"I told you, it fits like the invisible tiara on your little head," he chuckled as he pulled me in for a kiss. As his chilling lips ran over mine, I felt a surge of passion rush through me. I knew that there was more that needed to be discussed and that there was still danger around every corner, but for now, the two of us enjoyed this one moment where the world didn't exist outside of where we were. When we finally pulled away from one another, he ran his fingers through my champagne hair.