BOOK 2-AN UNEXPECTED DUO-CHAPTER 17-MYRA

“Myra, honey, it’s time to wake up.” Vladimir calls to me, waking me just as the plane starts to descend.

I wipe the drool off of my face, and see Riss and Vladimir both smiling at me. Riss is trying to hold in an laugh. I smile back at them, not caring that Riss’s laughter is at my expense. I’m just glad she’s finally smiling. I know it’s only been a day since Esmerelda died, but seeing that broken hearted look on Riss’s face just about killed me. My heart shattered into a million pieces when I realized that there was nothing I could do to fix it either.

“Where are we going again?” Riss asks for about the umpteenth time as we make our way to the terminal where Vladimir’s second in command, Nikolai is waiting for us.

“We’re going to visit some old friends.” Vladimir replies with a smile on his face, “You’ll be staying with them for awhile while Mya and I do some…err business.”

“But why can’t I go with?” Riss asks.

“Because its adult business love. You’ll have fun with our friends. There are so many kids that live in the pa…ummm neighborhood.” I reply, looking at Vladimir with my eyes open wide.

Shit, I completely forgot that Riss didn’t know about our kind. She thought Esmerelda’s magic was fake. She wanted to be a magician just like Essie when she grew up.

Vladimir could see the panic in my eyes, as he took my hand and ran his thumb across the inside of my palm in slow circular movements. His facial expressions telling me not to worry and that all would be well.

“Vladimir,” Nikolai smiled greeting him with a hug, “It’s been to long brother.”

“How are things?” Vladimir asked returning the smile and hug with great enthusiasm.

“Everything has been going smoothly. Damien and Guinevere have been fantastic with helping continue to keep the pack peaceful.” Nikolai replied.

“I never expected any less from Guinevere.” Vladimir replied with a fond smile on his face, “Damien on the other hand, well that’s another story.”

Nikolai and Vladimir both chuckled at this, but I could feel the ugliness of jealously rearing it’s head. I know Vladimir said Guinevere was more like a sister to him, than anything else, but she was his soul mate.. She carried the other half of his soul with her. She made him whole, before he ever met me.

Vladimir seemed to notice my blank expression as I tried to push down my jealousy because he grabbed my hand and pulled mine forward, this is my mate Myra, and this sweet little girl, is our daughter Riss.” Vladimir smiled with a proud look on his face.

Riss looked up at Vladimir with a look of utter devotion on her face. Vladimir had never outright called her his daughter, but I could tell the moment he adopted her, he knew that she was always suppose to be his. Even I felt butterflies in my stomach when he called her “our daughter”. Vladimir viewed us as a family, as his family. Could it truly be possible, could we have a family together, would the universe allow that. Or would it take them away from me too? I could feel my heart racing at the thought of Riss or Vladimir being taken from me. It felt like someone was crushing my heart and squeezing my lungs tightly. I started to hyperventilate at the thought of losing them, everything, everyone that I have ever loved has been taken from me. I couldn’t lose them too.

Vladimir having sensed my distress, pulled me tightly against his chest. I inhaled deeply, his scent, and the slow soft beat of his heart calming me. I glanced up at him and noticed that his entire body was rigid, his veins showing clearly through his pale skin, and a red ring appearing around his irises. I took a few steps away from him, mumbling a thank you as I did. Usually my scent didn’t effect him this quickly, could it be that the longer we were around each other, the urge to drink from me had become stronger?

“Alright.” Nikolai stated clapping his hands together, “How about we get going. I know so many people are excited to see you.”

“Ugh yeah lets get going.” Vladimir replied as he darted out the sliding doors, speed walking towards Nikolai’s car.

I know he’s trying to calm his vampire side, but it still hurt watching him rush away from me.

As we headed towards pack territory I started to feel Elizabeth stirring. The closer we came to the territory, the stronger the urge to shift became. She still wasn’t talking to me, but I could feel that she was present.

***Elizabeth*** I mentally called to her.

My call was met by silence.

Vladimir turned in his seat and glanced over at Riss asleep in her seat, before turning his head to look at me. “I’m sorry for earlier. It’s been awhile since I last fed. I will need to make sure I am feeding more frequently.”

I smile at him, hoping to ease the concern in his eyes, “It’s okay. I know you won’t hurt me.” I reply.

“You shouldn’t be so confident.” Vladimir replies, “There may come a day, that I can’t control the beast within. If that day ever comes, fight like hell and take my life if it comes down to that.”

***Idiot*** Elizabeth whined, my entire body feeling the effects of her grief at the thought of losing her mate.

***He’s just concerned.*** I replied back to my wolf.

“That day will never come.” I reply to Vladimir confidently.

“How can you be so confident?” He asks as Nikolai drives further into the woods.

“Because, you are going to start drinking my blood daily.” I reply watching his face morph from anger, to shock, to bewilderment before I start up again, “It doesn’t have to be straight from the source, but i think if you get a daily allotment of my blood, it’ll help to counteract some of the urges you have to drain me. It will hopefully keep your vampire side at bay until we can find a way to break the curse placed upon vampire kind.”

“Myra…” Vladimir started.

“This is going to happen Vladimir. I am determined to help you control your urges. We are fated to be together. I know I’m not the person to complete your soul, but at least let me help you with this.”

“Myra, you mean…” Vladimir began again.

My skin started to crawl and I knew Elizabeth was going to force me to shift, the urge had continue to grow stronger the further we drove into the forest and now that urge was uncontrollable.

“Vladimir.” I growled out. “I’ll meet you at the pack house.” I growled, as I throw the door of the Jeep open, jumping out of the car, just before Elizabeth forces the shift.

“Elizabeth.” I hear Vladimir call as my wolf takes off running into the forest.