THIRST (The Elite Book 3) by Hanleigh Bradley (read the beginning after the end novel .txt) 📕

“I’m coming with you.”

“I’m not sure that’s such a good idea, Everette,” the Mother cuts in.

“I’m not letting him go back in there alone.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to go.”

Shaking my head, I don’t even consider asking anyone else. The number of people I trust has grown significantly shorter as the day has gone on. I’m not about to risk Hestin’s life by trusting the wrong person.

“I’m going,” I say with as much severity as I can muster.

“What about Farah?” The Mother plays the only trump card she has. “Are you going to leave her here alone? Undefended?”

“You’re here,” I grit out. She knows full well I don’t trust her with Farah. I wouldn’t trust anyone with Farah. But I don’t think I have much choice.

“Farah?” Hestin asks, his interest piqued.

“Everette’s mate.”

“She’s not my…” I don’t know why I’m arguing with the Mother about this. It doesn’t matter what Farah is to me. All that matters is that she’s kept safe.

“Your mate, Everette?” Hestin gives me a knowing smirk. He’s going to spend a good chunk of this evening teasing me about her now. Damn it.

“She’s still human,” the Mother says, “and it is essential we keep her safe, until Everette realises his idiocy and changes her.”

“You haven’t changed her?” Hestin looks at me like I’ve gone mad. “You’ve found your mate and you haven’t even changed her?”

“It’s not as simple as that.”

“Sure it is. You either love her or you don’t.”

I can’t believe I’m sitting here discussing how I feel about Farah while Hestin is dripping blood onto my sofa.

“I really don’t think this is the time for this conversation,” I say, but neither Hestin or the Mother are listening to me. The Mother is now telling Hestin all about Farah. I’m surprised how much she knows about her, seeing as how she only met her this morning. Since neither of them are interested in what I have to say on the subject, I decide to go find Farah.

Leaving the living room, I follow her scent to the kitchen. She’s sitting there with an empty plate in front of her at the breakfast bar. Sybil is busying herself at the sink, talking away happily as she works.

“Oh Everette!” Farah says, her excitement at seeing me evident in her voice. It’s impossible not to be happy when she’s looking at me like that. “Are you okay? You look a little unwell.”

I laugh at that. Whoever has heard of an unwell vampire?

“I’m perfectly fine, thank you,” I tell her, leaning down to drop a kiss on her cheek. “Just frustrated.”

“Frustrated? About what?”

“I have to go somewhere tonight. I’m frustrated because I had been looking forward to taking you back to bed.”

Farah glances nervously towards Sybil. “Will you be gone long?”

“God, I hope not. My plan is to do what I need to do, rush back here, wake you up and fuck you until dawn.”

Licking her lips, she offers me a small smile. “Is that a promise?”

I grin wickedly at her. “Of course.”

“Have you told her?” The Mother asks from the doorway.

“Told her what?”

“That she’ll be spending her evening with me,” the Mother says and I get the distinct impression she’s looking forward to it. “I’m going to tell you all sorts of stories about Everette. We’re going to have so much fun.”

“Mother. I don’t think that’s such a…”

“Really?” Farah grins, cutting me off mid-sentence. “You don’t have to hurry back, Everette.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Everette

My mood is especially foul when Hestin and I finally leave several hours later. I can’t believe Farah. She practically flung me out of the house so she can spend time with the Mother. The Mother of all people.

“What are you pouting about?” Hestin asks as he pulls out of the drive.

I’m staring at the house behind us through the side mirror, not quite believing what just happened. I thought Farah feared other vampires. But apparently not enough. “I’m not pouting.”

“If you say so.” Hestin is enjoying this. “Farah is pretty.”

I growl at that. I wasn’t happy when he met Farah. I’d much rather keep her hidden away from everyone, but Farah had handled the whole thing perfectly. If I hadn’t spent so much time watching her, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have even noticed the little hints that she was scared.

“I never thought I’d see the day when you’d settle down.” Hestin is still speaking. He knows full well that he’s treading a fine line. I’ve never been especially patient. “I knew you were up to something. You’ve been behaving strangely for weeks.”

“Enough Hestin,” I growl.

“You don’t want to talk about Farah?” He glances my way, his eyes full of humour. “I thought people in love were supposed to want to talk about it.”

I ignore him. It wouldn’t do to kill him before we reach the red Lion.

Farah

This had seemed like a brilliant idea when Everette was still here. Now that I’m alone with Jessamine, I’m less sure of myself. She’s spent the last few hours doing everything she can to make me feel at ease, and yet I can’t quite forget that at least according to Everette she’s the most powerful vampire in Europe.

It gives a whole new meaning to meeting your boyfriend’s mother.

Although, the word boyfriend really couldn’t apply to Everette. I’m not exactly sure what he is to me, but he’s not my boyfriend. I might be his favourite meal and I might be the human that warms his bed, but I’m not his girlfriend.

I don’t think Everette has girlfriends. He has women he fucks. What had Hestin called me? His mate? I’m not sure what to make of that either. It has a strange permanence to it that both Everette and I have