My Midnight Moonlight Valentine (My Midnight Moonlight Valentine 1)

“Your father sure knows how to pick you all,” Theseus replied as if he could read my mind.

“Some would argue so does your father,” Taelon said, offering his hand to Theseus to shake. “My father will not say it, but I shall. Thank you for insisting with Jason. Once we investigate how much he has told the witches and how strong they are, he will be put to death. I will make sure of it. Though I wish you would have explained how you came to have knowledge of his betrayal.”

“You are free to keep wishing,” Theseus stated, his face void of any emotion. He was trying hard to contain his thoughts it seemed.

Taelon, understanding his mood, looked at me as he spoke. “I would have liked us to leave on calmer terms, but it seems there shall be no rest with you two here. I hope you do not forget us once you arrive in Ankeiros. No matter what, you are a vampire of these lands.”

“I doubt I could ever forget everything that has happened here.” I stretched out my hand to Taelon when he offered his.

He lifted it and kissed the back, and Theseus let out a small grumble, which only amused him.

“Good luck taming this one, Druella. Remember, should you ever need anything, I gave you my oath eternally. Lucy will call if only to demand where to mail your clothes,” he said, letting me go and moving to the side.

Charline stood back to normal with no red powder on her to be seen though I could still smell traces of the powder on her hands. After I had broken the spell, she’d broken Jason’s arms, tackling him on the rocks.

“Lord Thorbørn, Ms. Monroe.” She bowed her head to us, and I grinned.

“You don’t have to do that for me, you know?” I told her, and she just turned, leading us to the car.

The walk back, Theseus and I were silent. I noticed no one said goodbye, and it made me realize goodbyes for vampires would be akin to see you later. Chances were, vampires would meet again; forever was on their side. As we reached the doors, I did also notice what Daiyu had said. However, it was different from when I had first entered. It had only been hours, not even been a full day, although I wasn’t sure since time was slipping away—no not time exactly, but my care for time. When I hid among the mortals, I had to set alarms, be out when others were about, be in when others were in, clock in to work, clock out of work. But now, after meeting Theseus, keeping track of time seemed meaningless.

Times flies when you’re having fun. That was the saying, but were we having fun?

“Druella?”

I met his gaze, and I realized he was waiting for me to get into

the back of the Range Rover first. His grey eyes were curious, too, questioning even, though he didn’t say a word. Giving him a small smile, I got inside, and he entered behind me.

“Are you alright?” he questioned when I was seated. “Are you hungry?”

“Did you know that I had only had human blood a handful of times before I ran into you? I mostly drank from wild animals…deer.”

He grimaced, frowning slightly. “You wish to drink those again? The blood of animals cannot possibly be satisfying.”

I shook my head; he didn’t get it. “But I was satisfied, Theseus. A week ago, I was satisfied with my life as a vampire. I barely noticed the difference between my mortal self and my vampire self.”

“And now I have ruined—”

“No.” I took his hand and squeezed. It wasn’t that, either. “Now, I’m living. It’s it funny? Technically we’re dead, but I’ve lived more in the last few days, knowing you than I have in all of my life. I’m having an adventure, meeting people I would never have dreamed of meeting. I’m experiencing and learning so much with each passing moment. It’s all crazy, chaotic, and nerve-wracking, but…I think I’m having fun. Is that weird?”

He chuckled, and his body relaxed as he lifted my hand and kissed the back. “I can see why your magic did not leave you in rebirth as it did the rest of us.”

That piqued my curiosity. “Why?”

“You are a Philomath.” When he saw my expression, he went on. “It’s from the Greek word philos meaning beloved, loving, as in philosophy or philanthropy, and manthanein, math- to learn, as in polymath. A philomath is a lover of learning. You, Druella, are not just in love with art, history, and romance novels. You are in love with everything. The moment you see something, you either wish to know what brought it about or how you can do it yourself. Just like you were determined to learn to waltz just by watching.”

He seemed amused by the memory, and I tried to yank my hand away, but he held on tighter, snickering at me.

“I do like learning, but what does that have to do with magic?”

“It’s not the learning itself, but the love of it. When you love something or someone, you are not fearful of it. You are bold for it. You question and fight for it. Magic is…”

“Are you going to say magic is love?” I teased a bit, leaning in. “Because I might laugh at that.” It was so Hallmark channel, not that he knew what that was.

“No, though I wish to hear you laugh none the less,” he said as he reached up and pinched my cheek.

“Hey!”