A Fall of Secrets (A Shade of Vampire #15)(13)

“The single ladies,” my mother said, reading my mind.

“Yeah,” I said, my mouth drying out.

My mother gulped. “Well, it’s getting late now. I suggest we make a trip to the Vale early tomorrow and break the news to them then.”

It would have to be real early if the ball was at noon. Many would want at least a few hours to get ready.

My stomach churned at the thought of none of them being interested. I had just assumed that dragon shifters would be appealing to them.

Now I just had to pray that this assumption was correct.

Chapter 10: Derek

Caleb approached me across the clearing. Our eyes met, then we looked away and walked through the forest in silence. Even now, I still didn’t find myself fully at ease in the young man’s presence. I wasn’t sure that I ever would. A small part of me resented my daughter staying with him in the mountain cabin. I wanted her at home. After all she’d been through, it had been heart-wrenching not having her sleep at home.

“Rose thanked you earlier for saving my life,” Caleb said quietly. “But I haven’t yet.”

I shook my head. “Don’t mention it.”

Caleb had saved both my and Sofia’s lives from Annora’s curse, going against his own people and risking his own life in the process. Saving him from Rhys was the least I could do.

We didn’t talk again until we arrived back at my penthouse. I led him straight to my study. I had a hundred and one tasks going through my head that needed to be done, but now that Caleb was here with me, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to do any of them. It dawned on me that, apart from Rose’s recounting of everything that had happened to them since she’d been away from the island, I still knew very little about this young man. And that was something that I wanted to change.

“Take a seat,” I said, gesturing to the chair opposite mine across the desk. “Do you drink?” I asked the question more out of interest than out of desire to give him alcohol.

Caleb shook his head. “Not anymore.”

I raised a brow, pleased by his answer. “All right. Would you like some other refreshment?”

“Thanks, but I’m fine.”

I sat down in my chair, folding my fingers together and resting them on the table, continuing to look steadily at him. “Since we have this time together, why don’t you tell me your story, Caleb?”

Surprise played across the vampire’s expression. “My story?”

“Yes. I still know very little about you, other than that we owe you our lives. I would like to know more… For example, how did you first become a vampire? What were you before you became one?”

Caleb’s eyes darkened. “That’s a long story,” he said. “But if you have time, I’ll tell it to you.”

I glanced at the stack of papers on my desk, filled with notes and to-do items. I didn’t really have time. But I would make time for Caleb.

As he began to recount his story, starting with his life as the son of a ship merchant, I found myself listening with rapt attention. His gaze was distant, and he seemed to drift off in some parts of the story, reliving his memories afresh. By the time he’d finished, hours had passed. I hadn’t spoken once throughout, not even to ask a question. I was both deeply moved and also surprised by how much this vampire reminded me of myself during my darker times, before I met Sofia.

He paused after he finished, looking down at the table.

“You’re a brave man.”

Caleb scowled. “Not so brave. I allowed myself to live a life of hell for decades. If it hadn’t been for Rose, I might even still be in that castle. In fact, I’m certain that I would be.”

I understood what he meant. I remembered all too well what it felt like to be lost in the darkness. Darkness that was so easy to sink into as a vampire, yet so difficult to climb out of. If it hadn’t been for Sofia, I was certain that I would also still be wallowing in it.

Perhaps Rose is to Caleb what Sofia is to me.

Caleb raised his gaze to my face, and whereas before his eyes had looked distant, now they looked focused. Almost fiery.

“Derek,” he said. “I’m in love with your daughter.”

I believed him when he said it. The sincerity and feeling in his voice was unmistakable.

I nodded slowly.

He wet his lower lip. “And when I feel the time is right,” he continued, “I want to ask your permission to marry her.”

My voice caught in my throat.

My girl, married.

The thought made me shudder.

It wouldn’t be long now until she was eighteen, but she still felt like my little girl, despite how much she’d grown up.

I stood up and walked over to the window, steadying my breathing as I looked out at the swaying trees. I could sense Caleb’s tension as he waited for my answer. He got up from his chair and walked over to my side.

“I promise to protect her with my life. I pro—”

I held up a hand. Caleb had misunderstood the reason for my silence. It wasn’t that I doubted him anymore. I just wasn’t sure that I was ready to let my daughter go… to anyone.

I swallowed hard. Finally, I turned to face him, my mouth parched.

The earnestness in Caleb’s eyes became my undoing.

Even though it killed me, I nodded.