The Vampires' Last Lover (Dying of the Dark Vampires Book 1) by Aiden James, Patrick Burdine Page B

It is getting harder to protect you here. We ask tonight that you return immediately with us to Europe.”
    Wow. Part of me was flattered by all of this attention. But, I couldn’t even consider leaving my country… my homeland. I loved Virginia, and my second home of Knoxville had already found a place in my heart. Aside from not wanting to leave my friends and be any farther away from my family, I had a slew of homework and several tests to study for before Thanksgiving break began in a couple of weeks.
    I took several deep breaths before answering.
    “I can’t,” I said, lowering my gaze. I worried that this might piss her off enough to rip my head from my shoulders, and then the five of them would share my precious blood amongst themselves. “I need to stay here.”
    She nodded in response. The look on Chanson’s face was one of intense concentration. Perhaps, she searched my thoughts for a truthful confirmation of my words to her, or more likely some weakness she could use to twist my arm into going.
    “It’s far too dangerous for you to stay, Txema—I
won’t
allow it!”
    Everyone turned toward Garvan. Distressed, his green eyes flashed even brighter than Chanson’s. As he regarded me, I sensed intense longing emanating toward me like a powerful magnet. My pulse began to rise, and I could feel my face flush.
    It drew an amused laugh from Armando, who clapped his hands approvingly.
    “While I certainly share Garvan’s opinion for urgency, I can only admire his infatuation with our cherished guest,” he said, moving up to Garvan and grasping his shoulder in a show of brotherly affection. Garvan scowled. His face flushed as it had the other night, only this time from obvious embarrassment. “Perhaps you fancy this young girl—this young
human
—as your vampire bride, no?”
    “She needs to be safe and none of
us
can afford for anything tragic to happen to her!” he seethed in response.
    Apparently, there were limits to his subservience to Armando. A glance at Chanson confirmed that he needed her approval instead to go on. I gained another insight into the hierarchy of the vampires – I filed this away in case I needed it later. She nodded slightly, and Garvan continued.
    “Armando, you should be just as passionate as me in getting her to agree to leave with us—
tonight!
You should
all
be helping me convince her!”
    He looked at each of his companions individually, his eyes and quivering mouth imploring them to aid him. Everyone nodded quietly while a slight snicker escaped Armando’s mouth.
    He ignored Armando.
    “Come, Txema.
Please
, come with us back to France!” Garvan practically begged me. “It’s the surest way to save your life, and I guarantee
every
comfort imaginable will be provided to you!”
    The way he looked at me pulled on my heart and almost made me say ‘yes!,’ but I caught the word before it slipped past my lips. I felt like I was sixteen all over again, experiencing my first taste of love. I also knew the treachery of infatuation. Such infantile attachments often lead to empty promises and assuredly a broken heart. Not to mention the blatant betrayal of Peter’s devotion.
    “I’m not ready for this… I’m sorry,” I said, with finality. I knew I couldn’t leave, but I was struggling to control my heart’s sudden desire to do just that. My growing attraction to this gorgeous vampire stirred my heart and alarmed my conscience.
    “Then we must wait!” Chanson announced. She raised her open hand to quiet one last protest from Garvan. “We will continue to watch over and protect you, Txema. Contrary to what you might presume, you have no say in regard to our surveillance of you. Know that we
will
interfere if necessary to save your life.”
    She nodded her head and then motioned for Garvan and Armando to lead me from her presence. Right before we stepped out of the cave, I heard her call to me one last time.
    “Make sure you avoid the shadows, Txema! The
monstres