Indulge by Megan Duncan Read Free Book Online

yards, yet crossing it seemed to take an eternity. Sure, I could have just used my vampire speed to run to them in mere seconds but my legs wouldn’t let me and nor would my nerves.
    My mother and I locked eyes, and time seemed to freeze. She inhaled quickly, causing my father to raise his head from his hands and look at me. Years of sadness hung heavy on their faces, mixed with uncontained joy. The years apart from me hadn’t been as easy on them as I had feared.
    My mother, Ione, was more beautiful than any human or vampire I had ever seen. Her skin was porcelain, much like an exquisite china doll, and her hair was the same chocolaty auburn as mine. She wore it in a long braid on her shoulder, woven with golden threading that glinted in the chandelier’s light. Her hand rose to her mouth. Hot tears built in my eyes. Seeing our resemblance made my heart ache like it had never before. I knew she was my mother. There wasn’t a doubt in my entire being.
    Arrick took my arm and guided me closer to them, the momentous shock of the moment not allowing my feet to carry me further. Ione rose from her seat, closing the gap between us hesitantly. I could clearly see the wet tracks of tears falling steadily down her face, which only made me lose my restraint on my own. I yanked my arm from Arrick’s loose grip and ran to my mother as fast as my vampire speed could take me. I leapt into her arms, squeezing as hard as I could, weeping like a baby. She returned my embrace with the same ferocity and tearfully, we sunk to the floor together.
    I could feel the love radiating from her and it warmed me through and through. The lifetime apart from her seemed to fade away. The missing hole in my heart was filling as she rocked me back and forth.
    “My daughter,” she cooed softly. My head pressed firmly against her breast. This place I had never known felt more like home in that moment then anywhere I had ever been.
    Ione lifted my head gently. I sniffled as we looked deep into each other’s faces. She smiled broadly, her beautiful sharp fangs sparkling at me. I wanted to smile back, but I was afraid that showing my full grown fangs might ruin the moment, so I kept my lips together and returned the smile as best I could.
    Movement caught my attention. Standing behind my mother was my father. A mountainous man, though he was a vampire his perfectly sun-bathed had carried from his human life. That might have been hundreds of years ago - or maybe even more for all I knew.
    His piercing black eyes were buried under a stern brow. Centuries of wisdom, pain and joy slightly wrinkled his forehead. A dark beard flecked with gray defined his features, making him look both handsome and powerful. He looked more amazing than anything I could have ever envisioned. He was the one thing I had dreamed of all my life, and there he was standing before me, a tear dripping down his cheek and disappearing into his beard.
    I rose from the tangled heap with my mother to look at him. We had the same cheek bones and I had his long eyelashes, making a tiny giggle bubble inside me. The moment I saw him smile I fell into his large arms and buried my face in his broad chest. I breathed deeply, taking in his strong scent. Sweat mixed with a woodsy smell and lavender. My dad smelled like lavender and I loved it. I wondered if it was his favorite scent, just like it was mine.
    “Our daughter is finally home,” I heard my mother say as she rose to her feet. Emotion still dripping from her voice, the waves of joy nearly too much for her to contain.
    My father’s massive hands cupped my head completely, making me feel like a little girl. I felt an anger tickle the back of my mind at the thought of all I had missed. Nicolae had taken this away from me. I could have had my father and my mother my entire life. I could have felt this undying love all my life. No longer did I want revenge on only Ana and Luka. Now I wanted revenge on Nicolae too.
    Having felt the heat from my