Page 33 of The Donor’s Dilemma

“You’ve heard of the witch who cursed a whole town?”

Verity nodded, everyone knew about that. About the woman who inspired such fear of witchcraft that Havenshire had laws named after her. The Monroe Accords deemed witchcraft as big a sin as drinking vampire blood.

“Well, that town is called Salvation and the people she cursed are the Blessed,” Theo explained.

“That was almost four hundred years ago,” Verity said. They learnt about the event in school, but only as the official start of the Unveiling: the day humans learned the truth about the other beings who walked the earth.

“And almost all of them still live. The curse backfired, what the witch turned them into was something similar to a vampire. Only faster, stronger, and near impossible to kill.”

“So, he’s even more dangerous than a vampire,” Verity said.

“The Blessed are extremely dangerous, they are wild and self-righteous. They haven’t been allowed inside Havenshire for decades, they cause too much trouble. I need to find out why they’re here now but if it’s for trade…”

His words trailed off, but Verity saw the truth written on his face. She looked down at his hand, still holding hers. “If he’s here to trade, Vivienne might have to give him me as part of the deal.”

He squeezed her hand again. “I won’t let her,” he swore.

Verity wasn’t sure if she believed him, wasn’t sure if he truly had the power to stop it. Vivienne was nice, but if one little human could help her secure a much needed trade deal…

“So, what do we do now?” she asked, needing to focus on a way forward. A plan.

“We make everyone believe that you’re mine. Wholly and completely.”

“How?” she asked.

“We make sure we spend plenty of time alone when you come to donate, longer than necessary, and visit between donations too. People need to think we can’t stay away from each other. We’ll go back to the club, once a week should be fine, but,” his fingers skimmed over her hand, “it would help if we… if I feed at the club.”

“From me?” Verity asked.

“From you,” he confirmed and relief washed over her. Of course, from her, though she didn’t dare admit the way her stomach twisted for the brief moment she thought he might mean someone else. “And…” he started.

“There’s more?” she asked. Was this not enough for them to prove themselves?

“And it would help if you came to my apartment now and then.”

Verity blinked, staring out at the darkness. It all made sense, would all be normal if they were… an item, but that was an awful lot of time alone with him. She enjoyed being with him, liked talking about their different lives, learning about each other. It had come naturally, the ease of each other’s company.

“Okay,” she said. “You’re the one being put out to keep me safe. I really am sorry about this, Theo.”

He nodded. “What’s done is done. Just... just come to me next time, before you do something crazy.”

Verity rolled her eyes but nodded.

The drive home was quiet, but not as tense as the drive there. They had a plan now, a plan that, should Verity play her cards right, might actually be enjoyable.

She liked Theo, everyone knew it, but now she was starting to wonder if he liked her too. It never ends well he’d said, but Verity didn’t like the idea of someone else living her life. If it was going to end badly, then she should at least get to enjoy the ride.

He gave her his personal number before she got out of the car and made her promise to call him if she heard anything. She called him a drama queen and hopped out, feeling lighter than she had in days.

The second she walked through the door her mum called from the kitchen. “Whose is the nice car? That’s fancy.”

Verity floundered. Having to convince strangers one thing; but what about her family?

“A friend,” she answered, giving her mum a peck on the cheek.

“Oh, really,” she said, brows high and a smirk on her lips.

“What?” Verity asked, trying not to sound too defensive. She opened the fridge, searching for leftovers. Nerves had stolen her hunger before the meeting and now she was starving.