CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

O liver slid down the headboard and rearranged the sleeping body in his arms. Piper had quickly fallen asleep mumbling about loving him and dying after he’d pulled her into his arms and taken them back to bed.

He’d sat frowning for ages, worrying about what she was dreaming about. She had a big decision to make, and he wasn’t taking it lightly. For him, being a vampire was a gift. Being human, a weaker species, held no appeal whatsoever. Yet, he tried to imagine the tables turned.

For some reason, humans valued their short mortal lives. What was it about being human, vulnerable, and living a short life that made it so desirable?

Piper had gotten very close to a truth he didn’t want her knowing—his future should she not choose him. He wanted to be honest with her, but she needed to decide what she wanted, not be pressured by the dire consequences on his life of her decision.

Oliver needed her to choose him because it was what her heart desired.

The shutters began to whizz open.

Damn.

Usually he looked forward to seeing the night sky, but tonight all it represented was the ticking clock.

He had about ten hours left.

Sage would like to see Piper. Ari telepathed, interrupting his thoughts.

She’s asleep, but I know she wants to see her sister. Give us thirty minutes.

Thank you.

Oliver smiled. It wasn’t often the Ari used those two words. It was likely Sage was pressuring him.

He ran a hand over Piper’s hair and got a sexy little noise in return for his efforts. Shuffling down, his hand roamed along her back and over her soft, curvaceous bottom.

“Piper.” Another little moan escaped her lips, and he had to stop from telling Ari they needed an hour. “Hey, darlin’,” he drawled.

“Oli?”

“Sage wants to see you. Do you want to wake up?”

Her eyes blinked open.

Please don’t panic. Please don’t regret what we did.

That would break his damn heart.

He lowered his lips gently to hers, keeping his eyes open, and she pressed into him. He relaxed. Thank God.

“Sage? When is she coming?” Piper asked, sleepily.

“In half an hour,” he replied, reluctantly pulling his body from hers and getting out of bed. He collected her clothing from the floor and placed it on the end of the bed. “I’ll let you shower and meet you out in the living room.”

PIPER WAS PACING THE floor when the short knock sounded. She gave him a look and when he nodded, she flew to the door as it opened.

Ari gave him a nod over the heads of the two women while they embraced, then nudged them inside and closed the door.

“Let’s all sit down,” Ari said firmly.

“I want to speak with Sage alone,” Piper replied, and Oliver shook his head when she glanced at him.

“We have a lot to discuss,” Sage said, squeezing Piper’s arm and giving her a pitying smile.

He knew she’d hate that.

And panic.

“You can have time with her afterwards. There are things you need to know right now,” Oliver said, standing and guiding Piper down on the sofa next to him.

“Jesus, what now?”

Sage and Ari sat down in the opposite sofa and the big vampire draped an arm around his mate. They were so comfortable with each other, as if they were one unit.

Oliver wanted that.

With Piper.

Sage glanced at him, and he nodded. “Go ahead.”

Piper’s eyes darted between them.

“Sage? What the hell is going on?” Sage reached blindly for Ari’s hand, and he was instantly there, his arm enveloping her with his support. Oliver realized this was a big deal for Sage. She didn’t want to feel rejected by her sister when she told her the news.

He wasn’t surprised when Piper worked it out before words were even spoken.

“No,” Piper said, shaking her head repeatedly. “No fucking way.”

Sage nodded.

“I’m sorry for lying to you. Ari changed me, but I don’t regret it, Piper. I love him.” Sage’s eyes filled.

Piper stared, her mouth gaping. “You’re a vampire.”

Sage nodded. “Yes. But I’m still me. You’re still my sister.”

“Fuck,” Piper finally said quietly, her hand flying to her forehead and rubbing it. “Fuck. Fuck!”

She stood and then sat. Oliver placed a hand on her back, and she melted into him.

Ari gave him a look, a warning that he was about to take the floor. Oliver nodded and drew in a deep breath.

It was truth time.

Well, mostly.

“Sage is my mate. We love and honor our females. Whatever you think about our race, whatever you decide today, I want you to know that I love your sister with all that I am,” Ari said, his voice strong, calm, and sure. “She will always be my priority. Above all else.”

Hearing the director say that was a bit of a shock. Ari had created The Institute and recruited every single vampire that resided within the walls. Oliver didn’t doubt he would give it all up for Sage if it ever came to it.

The power of the mating bond was sinking in, and it was a reminder of just how important this moment was in his life. He had to win Piper’s heart.

The funny thing was, he had her heart; it was her mind he had to win over. And therein lay the challenge. She was a very strong-minded woman, and he was asking her to push past fears that were natural.

It was why most vampires changed their mates and then dealt with the repercussions afterwards. Some, like him, felt that was unwise. Or that their mate would never forgive them.

He’d be lying if he said the thought wasn’t lingering in the back of his mind.

“This was your decision?” Piper asked, and Sage nodded.

Technically, that was a lie. Ari had changed Sage and then begged forgiveness. It had taken weeks for her to speak to anyone. He’d been lucky. Some females, or males, took far longer.

Piper chewed her lip and glanced at him.

“We will let you two chat afterwards, but right now we need to talk about where we go from here,” Oliver said.

“This is about me becoming a vampire, then?”

Ari shook his head.

“No. That is for you to discuss with your mate. With Oliver,” he said. “I want to talk to you about your media story. Piper, you need to understand we can’t let you announce the existence of our race to the world. It would have devastating repercussions for millions of vampires. Not to mention a substantial and irreversible impact on the human race.”

Piper’s jaw tensed but her eyes darted around the room as she processed this perspective.

He hoped she was coming to realize this wasn’t just about her breaking a huge story and proving to her father she wasn’t useless. The impacts were far greater than her own personal gain.

It also impacted her family now that her sister was a vampire. He was a vampire. Oliver hoped that meant something.

“BioZen have been experimenting on vampires. Torturous experiments, Pipe. It would only get worse if knowledge of the race was made public,” Sage said.

Piper glanced away and his body tensed. Their bond wasn’t complete, but he felt something through the link, and he didn’t like it.

“You knew?” he asked, his voice rising.

She whipped her head around. “Yes, but...”

“What?” Sage asked in surprise.

“You knew about the experiments?” Ari asked, his own brows tight. “How?”

That was a good fucking question.

How the hell did she know? His mind raced back through their timeline in Los Angeles and the information in Sage’s diary. Something had changed the day she’d been kidnapped. It had triggered a lot of things, and none of them had been good so far.

“Who did you meet with that day in LA?” Oliver demanded. “What triggered BioZen?”

He could hear Piper’s heart pounding and the scent of fear rushed from her.

“Oli, you’re scaring her.” Sage frowned.

Piper pulled away from him. “I... it’s not like I could tell you. I didn’t know you were a damn vampire.”

“Tell me what?” he pressed.

Piper shook her head. “I can’t tell you. People have trusted me with their information. How do I know you won’t hurt them?”

Ari growled, and he felt Piper tremble.

Jesus, they were going backwards, but if she knew some information, she had to start talking.

“We’re not going to fucking hurt anyone,” Oliver said, running his knuckles over his forehead. “You just need to tell us who they are.”

Fuck me.

“These people could destroy the peace on this planet and millions of lives. We may be vampires, but we’re also mothers, fathers, brothers, husbands—or mates, as we call them.” Ari leaned forward. “I can pull your memories from you, or you can tell us.”

Piper’s fists clenched the edge of the sofa tightly. “Don’t you think we have a right to know? It’s our planet too.”

All three of them let out a resounding no .

Oliver loved her sharp and intelligent mind, and it was the reason she pushed boundaries and asked questions. There was nothing wrong with that unless it was going to unleash a series of events that even the warriors in the vampire race couldn’t control or undo with their memory wipe abilities.

It would be far too big to contain.

Even the human leaders on the planet who were in the know realized how dangerous this information could be if it was unleashed.

“This is a dangerous time. The information is already in the wrong hands and they’re doing exactly what our race has feared they would do,” Oliver said, placing his hand on her thigh. “Which is why you need to drop the story.”

“Am I going to have a choice?”

“No,” Ari said firmly.

“Your sister was harmed by these people. You were nearly killed. Twice,” Oliver reminded her.

“I get it. I get it. Okay,” Piper said, sitting back on the sofa. Then she glanced at Ari. “What did you mean by whatever I decide today? ”

Ari glanced over at him.

“You know what it means. It’s time to decide if you are staying with me or returning to your life with your memory wiped,” Oliver said, turning to face her. “If you want some time with Sage, we’ll give you some space.”

Oliver had done as much as he could in the short amount of time available. He’d told her he loved her. While it was clear she didn’t understand the deadly consequences at his end, Piper had a decision to make.