The Vampire's Second Chance novel Chapter 20

An exotic parrot in a decorative cage watches as I am about to pour a story into detail that no one has ever heard.

"Sebastian—" Christine began.

"You can't deny it," I set down my glass, her blue eyes twinkling with the fairy lights. "There is a chemistry between us," I muttered. "I know you feel it, and I feel it too." My eyes went dark. She parted her lips with her tongue and looked away.

"I-I really don't know what you are talking about," she muttered, pushing a stray curl behind her ear. "I'm just looking for friendship, that's all."

Grinding my teeth, I set my napkin on my lap. "Alright," I said lightheartedly. "I can understand that." Christine, who had been shamelessly looking into her lap to avoid the conversation, threw her head up.

"You do?" She leaned forward.

"Of course, you just moved here. You've dated in the past, and after your recent revelation about how men don't open doors for you, I'm sure you would have reservations about dating any man. Let alone a vampire." I winked before looking at the menu.

I knew exactly what I wanted, so my eyes remained on her. She would purse her lips, and roll her tongue over them. Her body was shifting in her seat, crossing and uncrossing her legs. Her whole body was against her. It was the heart I needed to win.

After sending in our order, Christine leaned on the table. "This might sound awful, but I do want to hear your story. It sounds so sad not to have your mate." Her eyes pained, again looking away. My finger went forward, pulling her chin up to look at me.

"It was a long time ago we had not bonded our souls together. I hadn't even touched her," I began. Christine relaxed in her seat. "Her coven was small, lived in the Kingdom of Vamparia. The king was cruel. He destroyed for no reason and took what he wanted. Some days he would go on a rampage, just for the hell of it, and light homes on fire," I ground my teeth in the memory.

"I stayed out of the way. I was a merchant for trade. I traveled so much, but one day, something pulled me to visit a coven on the outskirts of Vamparia, and that was when I saw her." I smiled for a brief moment. As much as I remember the act of her death, her face was fading away from me. Christine filled the void that I once had.

"She was gathering water by the well. She smelled me while I approached. Many mates pounce on each other as soon as they know." Christine smiled, leaning her cheek on the hand she had propped up on the table.

"Not this woman, though. She wanted to follow the traditions of her coven. They believed the longer you held out sealing the bond, the stronger the bond would become once you mate." Christine giggled, her face turning red.

We were to wait at least twenty-four hours, but we barely made it hour eighteen when Drago rode up on his horse with his men. He had planned to take all the unmated women back to the palace and use them as concubines." I gripped my hands into fists.

"One vampire, Roman, who was much older than I, had found his mate too just a few hours before I did. He was livid, trying to break free from the soldiers that blindly followed him." Christine reached out a hand, the heat causing my fists to slack, and her fingers intertwined with hers.