“She’s not going anywhere.” Valen takes a step towards Bishop in challenge. Don’t get me wrong, Valen is a big man, but no way can he take on three vampires unless he wants to kill them.
“They’re my family, Valen,” I tell him as I put my hand on his arm. I can feel all the emotions pouring off of him and I want to calm him.
“Turn around. All of you. She’s not even fucking dressed. Have some respect,” he barks at them.
I’m surprised they actually do what he says, and I take the time to slide Valen’s shirt on over my head. I glance over and see him pulling on some pants.
“Tick tock, the sun is coming up,” I hear Erik say.
“I have to go,” I tell Valen.
Moments ago I was trying to get the hell out of here and now that it’s really happening I don’t want to leave.
“You know how hard this is for me? I can’t let you walk out the door with them.”
“They’re my family,” I say again, and Valen glances over his shoulder for a moment then back to me.
“Yeah, well, one isn’t looking at you like he’s your family. He sounds jealous.” Valen growls the last part.
He turns back around to face Bishop and the twins. “She stays with me.” Valen’s stance widens like he’s ready for a fight.
“I guess we could come in and have a nice little chat. Then maybe you can tell Ravana who you really are, Valen Sterling. Or have you mentioned the truth already?” Bishop says lazily, like he’s already won this fight.
“It’s not like that.” Valen turns to look down at me. “I promise I was never going to hurt you.” He reaches out to touch my face. “It wasn’t even you I was looking for, but there you were, making me forget why I was even here to begin with. I saw you sitting on that bench watching those children go door to door. I didn’t know something could look so beautiful and sad at the same time.”
“Then you couldn’t stop following her, could you?” Bishop takes another step into the room, breaking into our moment. “Were you debating on if you wanted to fuck her or kill her? Or maybe you thought you could have both.”
Valen launches himself at Bishop, taking him down to the ground and landing a punch to his face. They roll, and Bishop comes up on top of Valen.
“Do something!” I yell at the twins, but they keep on watching as if this is a front row seat to a UFC fight. When Bishop leans up to throw another punch at Valen, I move as fast as I can and throw myself on top of Valen. l know Bishop won’t hit me.
Valen rolls, taking me with him, and stands up. I swear I would think he was a vampire if I didn’t know any better. Valen pushes me behind him once again, ready to fight even though he’s facing off with three vampires.
“He wants you and I won’t let him have you,” Valen says.
The twins look around the room, trying not to look at any of us because they have been making the same remarks the past few weeks about Bishop.
“I’m protective over her because she’s my niece. She’s the only family I have left,” Bishop throws out.
My eyes lock with Bishop and I see the look of anguish on his face. He was created long before me and this is the first I’m hearing about it. Why would he hide this?
“It’s why you saved me that day,” I say, more to myself, realizing that he must have been watching me.
“That never should have happened. I should have been keeping a better eye on you.” Regret rings in his words.
“It’s why I feel a deeper connection with you than the others. It isn’t just because you’re my maker?” I ask.
“I believe so. I feel it, too, and I don’t have it with the others. You’re like a daughter to me. I watched you for so long and kept an eye on you the best I could. I still failed you.” He looks over at Valen. “I won’t make the same mistake again.” Bishop’s eyes flash back to mine. “He’s the slayer.”
I gasp as I take a step away from Valen as if I was actually hit.
“I’d never hurt you.” Valen clears the space I put between us as he holds his hands out.
“But you already have,” Bishop says for me. “The man who took her life filled her head with lies, too. He pretended to be something he wasn’t and you’re no different.”
I stare at Valen, willing him to say something, but his eyes are cast down on the floor. I can feel the anger rolling off him, but oddly I’m still not afraid of him. Somehow deep down I know he’d never hurt me.