A Fall of Secrets (A Shade of Vampire #15)(14)

I gripped his shoulders hard. A smile formed on my lips. “I don’t think Rose would ever forgive me if I refused.”

He breathed out sharply. I drew him in for a hug.

I remembered how hard it had been for me to win Aiden’s trust and approval. As difficult as this was, I really didn’t want to be as tough on Caleb. He’d been through enough hardship in his life for me to give him more when all he wanted to do was love and care for my daughter, just as I had for Sofia.

I took a step back, looking him over. “Achilles, eh? Rose Achilles.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Hm. Doesn’t quite have the ring of Rose Novak… But it’ll do.”

Chapter 11: Rose

I didn’t sleep much that night. My mother invited me to stay the night in the apartment, but I preferred to go back to the cabin and wait for Caleb. I was already asleep by the time he climbed into bed. I woke up again at about two in the morning, feeling his arms around me. I was happy that he’d gone to see my father. I would have given anything to listen in on their conversation.

“How did it go?” I asked, snuggling closer to him on the mattress.

He brushed his palm over my forehead. “Well,” he said.

“What did you do?” I asked.

“I helped your father out in his study. He briefed me on a few of the many responsibilities he has on his shoulders.”

“Did you find it interesting?” I asked.

“Very. A lot more thought goes into running this island than the one I used to live on… How did it go with you?”

I heaved a sigh. “Well, we figured out the venue, entertainment, and food. We just don’t know if anyone will actually show up. My mother and I need to go to the Vale”—I looked up at the clock—“in a few hours, actually… in hopes of enticing some ladies to come and meet the dragons.” I grimaced at the thought. I couldn’t have made up a more bizarre situation if I’d tried.

“Then you should go back to sleep,” Caleb said softly, still stroking my forehead.

Caleb was right. I needed more sleep. But as much as I tried, I couldn’t. Caleb even managed to fall asleep before me. I lay awake well into the early morning hours. When I looked over at the clock again and it was four-thirty in the morning, I decided to get up. There was no point in wasting time lying down when so many things needed to be done before noon. I walked into the bathroom and brushed my teeth, then took a shower and got dressed. I checked in the bedroom to see that Caleb was still sleeping before scribbling a note and placing it at the foot of the bed.

Caleb, depending on when you see this, I’m either at my parents’ house or in the Vale. I love you, Rose.

Then I left through the front door and began racing down the mountain. The crisp morning air was rejuvenating, the chirping of the birds filling my ears. I raced through the forest and didn’t slow down until I arrived at the foot of my parents’ tree. I ascended in the elevator and, to my surprise, saw that the kitchen and living room lights were on. Realizing that I’d forgotten my key, I looked through the kitchen window. My parents were both sitting at the dining table, deep in conversation. I rapped against the window. Their eyes shot toward the window and their expressions warmed on seeing me. My mother leapt up and rushed to the door to let me in.

“You couldn’t sleep, Rose? Neither could I.” She beckoned me inside and led me into the kitchen.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” my father said, his voice sounding hoarser than usual. He took my hand and placed a kiss over the back of it.

“I’ve just been thinking about this stupid ball all morning.” I looked at my mother. “Did you manage to speak to Corrine already?”

“Yes, I caught her before she left the beach last night. She’s been working most of the night with Ibrahim and Shayla on the hall in the Black Heights. She said she wasn’t tired anyway and was up for the challenge. Oh, and the witches will take care of the food, too. That’s not a problem.”

“Good.” I breathed out. “I don’t think we should arrive at the Vale any later than eight this morning.”

“I agree. We could probably make that seven forty-five.”

“In the meantime, I’m going to start gathering up my music and deciding what the agenda should be.”

I got up from the table and walked through the penthouse toward the music room. I opened the cabinet in the corner of the room and began paging through my music sheets. Once I was happy with the assortment I’d pulled out, I placed all the sheets into a binder and tucked it under my arm. Then I headed back out of the room. As I neared the kitchen, I could make out my parents in conversation, but as I approached within earshot, they stopped talking. I couldn’t help but wonder what they were talking about that they didn’t want me to hear.

I walked back to the table and placed my music down in front of my father. “Well, that’s what I’ve chosen.”

He opened up the binder and began paging through the sheets, nodding every so often in approval. “Good choice,” he said.

My mother looked at me with concern. “We still have a few hours before we can leave for the Vale, honey,” she said, “why don’t you try to sleep?”

I shook my head. “I just can’t. I already tried. I won’t be able to sleep until this ball is over.”