The sun would finally rise soon. Declan felt like it had been a year since the last sun rose in the sky. He despised the thought of a new day and of the pinks and purples lighting the sky, announcing the sun’s approach.
The day could not begin this way, Declan thought. All that had happened would become real in the harsh light of day.
Declan was in the middle of the lawn where the little oasis was. Green plants and running water smelled of rain and earth. Everything seemed brighter for some reason. Colors were more vibrant, smells were stronger.
Howls and wails came from the mansion. He was far enough away to be able to block out Lena’s presence as long as his concentration stayed focused. Declan did not want to know where she was. If she were on the move, it was done. She already sired that human. And those howls and wails were the sounds of rejoicing at the newest members of the family.
Declan did not want to know. As long as he focused, he could avoid knowing for a little while longer.
It took Lena nearly twelve hours to go through the transformation. That was not normal. Her body seemed determined even from the beginning to reject the vampire way of life. But Declan’s blood was stronger than hers. It was inevitable it would win. But she did put up quite a fight.
It was a violent transformation as well. He had to restrain her and leave the room more than a few times, it was so excruciating. As she grew stronger, Declan could not even continue holding onto her. Eventually, nothing was sufficient to contain her. He had to watch helplessly as his wonderful little Lena ground her bones into the floor and smashed her head into the stone walls.
Although it pained him to admit, Declan hoped the change would not be as awful for that human. He did not want his Lena to have to endure what he had to endure. As it was, she may never be able to forgive herself.
His love for Lena, his determination to win over her affection was set. But it could not begin today. Not with the new vampire to train and the new family to integrate into.
No, this was not the day.
Declan felt certain he could convince Charles to allow him to move back in with his family. He had lived there for many hundreds of years before Colin. Charles liked Declan, respected him even. Despite Charles’s interest in Lena, Declan was confident the Vampire King would not leave him to fend for himself.
Though that was now Declan’s complete intention. Someday, Lena would come around. He was still her sire, her partner. They were bound for eternity. As long as they continued to live under the same roof, Declan could gain her affections.
He would have to try harder. He would have to work at it. But it would be done.
There was no longer an option.
The confidence Declan felt was familiar, like some memory from long ago he had forgotten until now. He had not felt this self-assured since—since—
The howls and wails grew louder, and the sounds reverberated through the air and encircled Declan. It did not sound jubilant.
Perhaps Charles changed his mind about something and the news did not set well with one of the others. But he was still in the Main Hall, exactly where he was when Declan last saw him. If something was happening of interest to him, he would not have remained there.
Perhaps Colin’s respect snapped and he was staging a rebellion. But he was in his room with Viola, no doubt barricaded in by his own choice. Colin would not want to witness the rest, like Declan, only for far different reasons. He would wait for the excitement to end, and only then would he emerge to figure out what to do next, now his power had been stripped.
Perhaps Lena…
No, Declan could not focus on her. Letting the idea in gave him a minuscule glimpse of where she was. She was on the move and something was not right. But he did not want to know any more.
Shaking his head, he turned his attention to the sky.
“Rise already,” Declan growled to the horizon, to the pinks and purples of the sunrise. He could no longer stand the wait.