Destiny has left its mark (Vampire Romance) +

11 ~ Dynasty

Daniella, he killed Charlotte. I know it's hard to process, but you really need to pull yourself together. He must have a good reason for cancelling his wedding to Beverly, and honestly, it sure isn't you. Forget about the kiss; he kissed Charlotte too, and look where that got her—she's gone, and he still killed her. You really need to move on from him. Since I left the royal castle, my dreams have been haunted by Elijah, and it's not something I can shake off easily.

Ellie and I just exited the elevator with a few books in our hands, trying to keep our minds occupied. "So why do you think the wedding was cancelled?" she asks, genuinely curious.

I glance at her, feeling a bit annoyed. "Who cares?" I reply. Alrich is standing with another bodyguard at the entrance, looking serious. "Why are they here?" I wonder aloud, feeling uneasy about their presence.

"I guess King Elijah is here. But seriously, why did you kick Abe out last night? We're supposed to protect you, after all," Ellie says, her tone a mix of concern and frustration.

"I don't want to talk about it," I respond, feeling defensive. Just then, Neo came through my bedroom window as I was about to get into bed, and he looked badly hurt.

"Did he try something? I told him to take it easy on you," Ellie asks, her eyes wide with worry.

I look at her, confused by her question. "No, he didn't try anything," I assure her, wanting to calm her fears.

She keeps walking, seemingly lost in thought. "Then I'll stand in for him if that's what it takes," she declares, sounding determined.

"No," I say firmly, not wanting her to get involved.

She stops and turns to me with a concerned expression. "What is wrong with you? You seem off today."

"What do you mean?" I ask, genuinely puzzled by her concern.

"You've always been easily scared. Someone wants you dead, but you refuse our help. First, only Abe could help, and now he's out of the picture," she points out, her voice rising slightly.

"Neo is back," I finally say it out loud, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety. He wants me to keep it quiet, but my friends deserve to know the truth. "He doesn't want anyone to know yet, so please keep it to yourself for now," I plead with her.

"Is he living with you?" she asks, surprised by the revelation.

"He's sleeping on the couch," I explain, trying to keep my voice steady. I tell her how he came through my bedroom window that I forgot to close after it was repaired. "He was badly hurt and needs time to heal before he can tell Elijah what he found out about the vampire hunters," I add, feeling the weight of the situation.

"You know what he found out, don't you?" she presses, her eyes narrowing as she tries to read my expression.

"No," I reply, shaking my head, hoping to deflect her curiosity.

"Abe won't like it because he likes you," she states matter-of-factly, crossing her arms.

"That's exactly why I told him not to come anymore," I say, feeling a bit frustrated. After a brief silence, I add, "I should be safe now that the landlord and her husband used their magic for protection. I mean, they're powerful, and I trust their spells."

"How could Neo break through it, then?" she asks, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"I don't know," I admit, feeling helpless.

"Okay, I'll keep quiet for now, but you need to tell Abe when the time comes. It's important that he knows," she insists, her tone serious.

I nod, understanding the importance of her words, and follow her to the library, where we can talk more privately.