“But what if something happens to her before the time she’s meant to die? What if that messes up the cycle?”
“You have to protect her with your life, then.” Liam’s words were matter-of-fact. Amaia glimpsed the depth of his feeling for Meg that caused him to stay steadfastly by her side, even when she led him to places—and friends—he’d just as soon do without.
“I thought you didn’t approve.”
“I don’t, but you don’t need my approval.”
Amaia didn’t know what to say because she didn’t know what she should do. There were too many thoughts in her head and too many emotions coursing through her body.
Meg patted her hand. “There’s no use worrying about it. What’s done is done. It was inevitable. Let’s go eat. You’ll think more clearly when you’re sated.”
Amaia didn’t have an interest in food, but the pangs in her stomach begged to differ. At least feeding would occupy her. Meg was right. There was no use worrying over what was done. Amaia was powerless.
Chapter 36
Palermo, May 1795, 5 months later
This was no way to live: snatched days every few weeks, hours cut short whenever Lawrence called. It wasn’t right to have Michelle in her life but not be able to give her all to her. Amaia spent as much time as she could with Michelle. Days were spent talking or making love. Amaia even convinced Michelle to teach her how to sew so that she could finish her work for her. Every minute together was sacred. They always parted too soon and met again after too long. The pain in Michelle’s eyes each time they parted stabbed Amaia. She should be with her, not sitting in the rafters of a church with her two vampire friends watching a wedding. It wasn’t a sentimental visit. Liam planned on making a meal out of the bride.
The only real solution she could think of was to turn Michelle. It was so easy, so simple. Deceptively so. Amaia knew the traps lurking down that path. There were too many problems. First of all, the victim must be willing to turn, otherwise it wouldn’t work. She would have to actively drink Amaia’s blood. Michelle didn’t want to be a vampire. She wouldn’t consent to becoming something she viewed as evil. Yet another disadvantage of human belief. Good and evil didn’t exist as humans saw them. No God meant no Satan as an antithesis. There were only actions and motivations.
Even if she could convince Michelle to see sense, Zenas wouldn’t let them live. If he ever found out that she had transformed a human and then mated—and to her reincarnated transformation kill, no less—he would kill them both. They could run, try to live in hiding, but Zenas would have every vampire in his clan, and some who weren’t, searching for them. It would only be a matter of time.
Michelle made Amaia too reckless. The lack of control she exhibited around Michelle was disconcerting. Lawrence had to be suspicious. Amaia held enough respect and love for him to not insult his intelligence. The day would come when he would discover her secret—or reveal it if he already knew. When that day came, it would be a death sentence for Michelle.
Dead if they did, dead if they didn’t. No happy ending waited for Amaia. But perhaps one waited for Michelle.
Everything about Michelle’s situation seemed tied to Amaia’s relationship with her. Her mind travelled back to the fact that she died each time at the exact moment Amaia had killed her in what Amaia had assumed was her first life. She had never believed it was coincidence, but she had also never delved too deeply. Perhaps that was where she should search for solutions. Cho had told her that the way a man dies reveals much. Each time she had seen Michael die, he had clutched his chest. It was always sudden. His heart simply gave out.
Life’s lessons are rarely taught in the literal, Cho had said. She had worked out long ago that she had been the cause of his death each time. But there was significance in the fact that he died of a heart attack each time. He was dying of a broken heart. If she wanted him to stop, then the solution had to be to mend his heart.
Perhaps if Michelle fell in love with someone else, she might forget her. A sinking feeling shook her chest. She didn’t like the thought of Michelle ever forgetting her. She knew she could never forget Michelle. She would remember her for eternity. Remember her love, the sex, their time together. These thoughts would all torment her for the rest of time. But humans were different. Humans were frail and weak. Michelle would forget.