Chapter 12

"This is none of your business," Eduardo snarled, his anger flaring.

"You heard her clearly. She wants nothing to do with you. Go ahead and break the clan laws right here if you dare." Nicholas folded his arms, a mocking smile playing on his lips as his long, deadly fangs glinted.

"This isn't over yet!" Eduardo roughly released Christine’s arm. He swept away with an arrogant stride, calling over his shoulder, "Mark my words — this will happen eventually."

"Are you all right?" Beatriz hurried over to me. "I had a bad feeling, so I sent for Nicholas."

"I’m fine. I just want to go home." I avoided Nicholas’s eyes and pulled Beatriz into a hug. "Don’t let me spoil your night. You two stay and enjoy yourselves."

"I’ll take her back," Nicholas stated firmly.

"No way, I’m coming too," Beatriz insisted.

"Beatriz. She is coming with me."

Nicholas’s tone brooked no argument. He took hold of my hand and led me out of the bar without another word.

Sitting in the car, I stared silently out the window, overwhelmed by frustration and the urge to cry. For a brief moment, I’d foolishly hoped Eduardo had changed, that he would finally respect my choice and let me go. That fleeting hope had crumbled away completely, leaving me bitterly disappointed. Before I knew it, tears streamed down my cheeks. I hastily wiped them away and drew a shaky breath.

"It helps to let your feelings out sometimes," Nicholas said gently.

"I don’t think anything can help this time," I mumbled, still refusing to look at him.

He pulled the car over to the roadside and turned to face me.

"You don’t have to fear him. You’re far safer under our roof than you realize."

"How could one single night with a man turn my whole life into a nightmare?" I was utterly broken. The endless stress had finally worn me down, and I struggled to hold back my tears.

"Just one night?" Nicholas raised an eyebrow in question.

"Well… yes. I’d never been with anyone before, and no one since. It doesn’t matter anyway," I stammered awkwardly.

"I suppose if that night hadn’t happened, he would never have noticed me at all."

His hands slowly traveled upward from my thighs to my back, his fingers brushing lightly along my sides. Every soft touch drew a quiet moan from me, which only spurred him on. His hand slid lower, gripping my hip, and I could feel how strongly I affected him.

He leaned in to kiss me deeply, one hand tangling in my hair at the nape of my neck to pull me closer. I moaned against his lips and pressed my body against his. A low growl rumbled in his chest.

Suddenly, he pulled back sharply, breaking the kiss before things went too far between us.

"Christine… this isn’t a good idea." His voice remained steady, yet his breathing was ragged and unsteady. He knew he could not let this go further, not right now.

I saw the hurt and confusion flash across my face reflected in his eyes, and he silently berated himself.

I gasped for air, my body still burning with longing after the sudden stop. He wanted me too — I was sure of it. I’d felt his desire plainly. So why had he pulled away?

The thought struck me cold: maybe he only craved pure vampires, not a dhampir like me.

"You’re right. I’m sorry. I had more to drink than I should tonight." I sank back into my seat, burning with embarrassment. "Just take me home."

"Christine, don’t get the wrong idea…"

"Please, say no more." I kept my gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window, my cheeks hot with shame. "Just drive home."

Nicholas longed to tell me he felt the same pull, but he resolved to hold back. I needed time to figure out my true feelings on my own, and he would not sway my decision. He could sense the heartache clouding my thoughts, the belief that I had been rejected. Perhaps it was better this way — for me to remain unaware of his feelings and his plans for the time being.

When we finally reached the house, he watched me rush straight to my room as if fleeing from something dreadful, and guilt weighed heavily on his heart. There was nothing he could do… not yet.