CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

P iper felt so many emotions right now she didn’t know where to start.

Her sister was a damn vampire. That was pretty enormous. She had stared at Sage’s body and hair and eyes looking for a change and didn’t see anything visible. Piper guessed there were fangs behind her lips, but she wasn’t going to ask to see them.

Fuck that.

Her brain could only handle so much in one go.

Also, her story was dead. And while she was less upset about that than expected, because their reasoning was pretty sound and there was a lot she didn’t know, it was still disappointing.

Sure, she wouldn’t get her Pulitzer, but part of her was beginning to not care what her father thought of her anymore. Oliver’s love was changing her. She felt protected and deeply cared for. Just one glance into those big blue eyes and she felt like his love surrounded her in an embrace.

Never once had she seen emotion from her father, except perhaps judgment and disappointment.

But it was all too soon.

They wanted her to decide on whether to turn vampire today .

Were they nuts?

Piper wanted to speak to Sage on her own, but now it was clear where her priorities were. With Ari. They were clearly in love but a little clingy for her liking. Still, she liked the way Ari had assertively expressed his loyalty and protection of Sage.

Their father would approve, she thought cynically.

He’d make some snide comment about Piper never being able to find a man as good as Ari.

Hadn’t she, though?

She shot Oliver a glance. He was watching every single move she made.

God, he was sexy. He looked so confident with the way his arm lay along the sofa behind her, the other leaning on the cushions. His thick denim clad thighs were spread wide.

Her eyes traveled over his navy t-shirt, which did nothing to hide the layers of taut muscles underneath. He rubbed a hand over his square jaw, now covered in scruff due to the long few days they’d had.

When their eyes met, he tilted his head a little in question and a small smile hit his lips. Despite his natural confidence he still seemed vulnerable and full of doubt. A look she imagined very few people, if any, had ever seen on this power man—vampire’s—face.

He trusted Ari and Sage.

“Tomorrow, before sunup, you need to decide if you will mate with Oliver. If not, I will erase your memories and you will return to your human life,” Ari said. “You won’t remember him, but you will retain a memory of sorts in your heart. There will be no other love for you in this life.”

She turned to Oliver.

“It’s true,” he said. “Humans never choose another partner after they have rejected a vampire mate.”

Ever?

“That seems unfair.” She frowned.

“I don’t make the rules.” He shrugged.

“Why do I have to decide so quickly?” she asked, turning to Ari.

“Things are too dangerous right now. This is for your safety as well as ours,” Ari said. “Plus, Sage has chosen to remain in her family’s life for the next decade or so. This means we need to integrate into the family now. The longer we leave it, the more potential damage to your memory and mind.”

“Remember your headaches?” Oliver asked.

She nodded and groaned. Pain aside, she’d be living a great big fucking lie. That didn’t sit well with her. But it was that or give up her human life.

“So, I’d think you were my sister, but you’d be a vampire. Awesome.”

“I am your sister!” Sage snapped.

Oliver groaned beside her.

“I told you she’d be like this!” Sage cried, tears filling her eyes. “She’s so selfish. Just wipe her memory and take her home.”

Shit, she hadn’t meant to upset her. “Sage, I’m sorry.”

Sage stood, and Ari joined her, pulling her into his arms. “That’s not our decision and not one I would make for Oliver or Piper, sweetheart. Not with the consequence for my head assassin.”

Piper whipped her head up and glanced between Ari and Oliver. “What consequence.”

Oliver groaned.

“What?” Sage asked, obviously not in the know either.

Ari’s eyes flew to Oliver and darkened.

“That is not up for discussion,” Oliver said. “I think you two girls should chat. I’m going down to the training center and will be back in an hour.”

Oliver stood and Piper suddenly felt panic race through her.

“No—” she said, standing and gripping his arm.

“Talk to Sage. She’s your sister.” He dropped a kiss to her lips. “We will talk when I return.”

Sage nodded at Ari when he looked at her in question and the two large vampires left the room.

Piper stared at the door when it closed, and she felt as if someone had sucked the soul out of her. Her chest tightened slightly, and she found her hand going to her breast.

Sage flopped back on the sofa, snapping her out of her funk.

“Sorry,” she said again. “I didn’t mean you aren’t my sister. Of course, you are.”

“Thanks. This has been hard and lonely. I love Ari but not having anyone to speak to has been difficult. Then... the look of fear and disgust on your face, just...” Tears filled her eyes and Piper raced across the space and pulled her sister into her arms.

“God. This is so flipping weird.”

Sage sniffed against her shoulder and let out a little laugh. “Yup.”

They held each other for a long moment then Sage pulled back and smiled at her. “I truly forgive you now, Piper. I need you to know that, no matter what you decide today. I love you.”

Then stupid tears were falling down her face and they hugged some more.

After a time they both stretched out their feet on the coffee table and just sat in silence, kind of snuggled up, leaning on each other, like they had when they were younger.

“So what’s it like?”

“Being a vamp?” Sage asked and she nodded. “Honestly, it’s weird and great, but none of it matters. Only Ari matters.”

Piper nodded slowly.

She could see that in the way they were with each other.

Is that what she was feeling about Oliver right now? The hole in her chest that ached so much she kept wanting to rub it.

“Ari changed me without permission,” Sage admitted, “so I was saved the process of deciding. I was furious, of course, but when I realized I couldn’t live without him, I forgave him.”

“I’d be furious.”

“Oliver won’t do that to you. For Ari, it was different. If you become a vampire, I’ll tell you more.”

Could she do it? Let Oliver change her?

“I don’t know if I like the idea of being so dependent on a man. What if I fall out of love with him? Is there a vampire divorce?”

Sage let out a laugh.

Okay, clearly not.

“No.” Sage smirked at her.

“What?”

“Are you wearing his shirt?”

Piper waved off her sister. “My clothes were dirty.”

More smirking.

Fine, she’d wanted to wear his stupid shirt. He’d helped her tie it in the front, so it fit her, and she was seriously considering keeping it forever.

Speaking of forever, where the hell was he? And why was an hour so friggin’ long, anyway?

But while he was gone, Piper had to ask the question that was on the tip of her tongue. She knew Oliver wouldn’t tell her, so it was her only hope.

“What will happen to Oliver if I leave?”

Sage’s teasing smile disappeared, and she shook her head. “I don’t know, but if Ari hasn’t told me, it can’t be good.”

A chill ran through her body.

That wasn’t good. Why would they hide whatever it was from Sage? Surely these things were common vampire knowledge—not that she was a vampire culture expert all of a sudden.

Was it unique to Oliver?

Ugh, her brain was going a million miles an hour.

Then something hit her.

“You care about him,” she said, but it was more of a question. When she saw the blush on Sage’s cheeks, she narrowed her eyes. “Why?”

Sage lifted her hand. “It’s not what you think? Okay, yes, it is but—”

Piper stood and glared at her sister.

“Jesus. Do vampires go around fucking each other? Is that what you all do for fun around here?”

Sage shook her head. “Let me explain.”

Explain? As in, give her details about how Sage had made love to Oliver.

No, thank you very fucking much .

“Is that where they are right now? Fucking a room full of people. Vampires. Whatever.” She could hear herself spiraling out of control, but was unable to stop.

“Piper.”

“Where the hell is he?” She marched to the door and tried to open it, but it was locked. “Oliver!” she screamed. “Oliver, get your damn ass back here now!”

She turned to see Sage staring blankly, then blink and cross her arms.

A moment later Oliver appeared in the living room wearing a pair of black sweatpants and... nothing else. His chest was heaving and sweat dripped from him.

“What’s going on?” he asked, staring between the two of them.

Piper couldn’t take her eyes off him. Testosterone seeped from every pore of his body. His hands shot to his hips, biceps bulging, his pecs moving as he panted.

Even inch of him was pure raw masculinity and Piper was transfixed.

“I telepathed Ari,” Sage explained as she walked to the door. “You both need to talk.”

Piper continued staring at Oli. Had Sage left? Did she walk out and close the door? No idea. Did she teleport? No friggin’ idea.

Her eyes were locked on Oliver’s heaving, sweaty body.

“Piper?” He strode over and lifted her chin. Her eyes flicked up to his.

“Huh?”

“You’ve seen every inch of me. What—”

She laid her hand on his pecs and he stopped talking. “Is this some kind of vampire magic?”

“My body?”

“No. Yes. Whatever you’re doing to my body?” Her hands ran down his abdomen as her panties moistened.

What had she been thinking before?

She couldn’t remember.

“Oh, that’s my natural charm.” He smirked.

She slapped his chest playfully and he gripped her wrists. “No. These are your true feelings. I can’t manipulate them.”

Piper nodded, pleased she could trust what she was feeling. Oliver lowered his mouth to hers and they stood kissing and tasting one another. Then her mind began to clear.

“You were training,” she said.

“Yes, ma’am.” He nodded, then frowned. “Why? I told you where I was going.”

The mix of emotions she’d felt just moments before came rushing back. “You slept with Sage.”

“She told you?” he asked, surprised.

Piper felt a little chip of her heart break away. Oliver had no intention of ever telling her.

She stepped away. “Yes. She did.”

“It was before I met you, Piper. It was the first night Ari met her.”

Piper recalled the entry in Sage’s diary.

“That was you ? The threesome.” Her brows rose. When he frowned, she explained. “I read her diary.”

“You shouldn’t have done that,” Oliver said. “But yes, that was me. And before you ask, no, I haven’t slept with anyone else since the moment I laid eyes on you.”

Well, that was nice to hear because she hadn’t either. Even though she had barely remembered him. Which was his fault.

But that wasn’t what was bothering her.

“Do you love her?” she asked. “Was she Ari’s and you couldn’t have her?”

Piper didn’t understand how this mating business worked, but she knew her sister, and the way Sage had spoken about Oliver was with affection. And since Piper had met Oli, he’d been protective of Sage as well. She needed to understand their relationship.

Did she like that they’d had sex and shared something so unique? No. But if he loved Sage, that changed everything.

“Not like I love you. I care for her.”

That wasn’t a no.

“Were you going to tell me?” Piper asked, her heart aching from the unspoken truth.

“Eventually. Does it change how you feel about me?”

Did it?

She didn’t like that he was lying. Or omitting the truth. She didn’t like that he was upset with Sage for telling her. Not that she had. Piper had worked it out.

Could she give up her life—her humanity—for a man who would lie to her?

“What else don’t I know?”

Oliver sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he took a few paces away and then turned back to her. “There was a second time. With Sage,” he said. “It’s complicated though, and...”

Her mouth dropped open. Was he kidding right now?

“How? I thought this mating stuff was all rainbows and fucking unicorns. How did Ari let you fuck Sage twice ?”

Oliver shook his head.

“Do you really want details?” he asked, holding his hands out in question.

Did she? No. She let out a groan and turned away.

“You need to understand single, or rather unmated, vampires, Piper. Which I was at the time. We are highly promiscuous. When we met Sage, this was something she desired. Then... Piper, I really don’t want to make this worse by describing what happened.”

God, why did she care so much? He was a vampire. It wasn’t like she was seriously considering giving up his life for him, was she?

“I didn’t finish. The first time,” he added.

Jesus, just the thought of Oliver and Sage together made her ill.

“Then when I—”

Nope. She couldn’t listen for a minute more.

“Stop. Oli, I can’t. Stop.” She turned away but felt him at her back. His hands landed on her hips.

“Piper, trust me when I say it wasn’t... I mean, I cared. But it wasn’t like it is with us. At all.”

A mix of fury, jealousy, confusion, and nausea fled through her. Any moment, she felt like she was going to vomit and burst into tears.

“I need some space.” She turned. “Can you take me back to my room?”

“We don’t have much time left.”

Piper let out a long sigh. “It’s the middle of the damn night and I’m trying to deal with the fact I’m in love with a vampire who’s shagged my sister—twice—and if I don’t let you change me into a vampire too, then I’ll never love again.”

She crossed her arms.

“So forgive me if I want a moment alone to catch my breath.”

Oliver glared down at her.

“What?” she grated.

“I love you. You love me. I can see it in your eyes. I can feel it in our mate bond. Stop resisting it, Piper.”

What the hell? How damn invasive.

Was there no privacy in this world?

“I’m trying to give you space, but if all you’re doing is looking for excuses not to be with me, then fine. Follow me, princess, and I’ll take you to your damn room.” He turned and stormed to the door, ripping it open.

Her heart pounded.

Seeing his anger and the way he was eager to get rid of her, she suddenly didn’t want to leave as much as she had a few moments ago.

Oliver raised a brow.

Stubborn pride sliced through her, and she dropped her arms and stormed past him. The door closed, and he overtook her, then led her along a hallway, down a set of stairs and then another hallway. He stopped at a door, pressed his thumb on a panel and it clicked open.

He waved her in. She turned and watched the door close.

She was alone.

Just as she’d asked.

Tears sprang to her eyes, and she collapsed on the ground, sobbing.