Chapter Four

Drake

"Well, well, well...Bethany Snow, I presume?"

The words rolled off my tongue before I could stop myself. My voice carried a hint of amusement, but the irony wasn't lost on me either. There she was, standing in front of me in the doorway of this dilapidated candy shop that I was supposed to somehow fix, her face a picture of shock, disbelief, and something close to horror. Of all the towns, of all the employees I could have inherited, it had to be her.

Bethany Snow. The same woman I'd spent the night with at that ridiculous Halloween party. And now, she was standing there, my employee, looking flustered, late, and absolutely mortified.

Her lips parted, but no sound came out for a moment. She was clearly at a loss for words, her expression cycling between realization and disbelief. Her cheeks flushed that familiar shade of pink that I remembered all too well from Saturday night, the same pink that had spread across her skin when she was pressed against me, breathless and vulnerable.

"You?" she finally managed to stammer, her voice almost a whisper. "You're...the new boss?"

I couldn't help the smirk that tugged at the corners of my mouth. "Yes, and you're over an hour late." I let the words sink in, watching her eyes widen even more. "You also missed the morning meeting where I introduced myself and explained my vision for this...place."

Bethany blinked rapidly, as if trying to clear her head and make sense of what she was seeing. "This is a joke, right? It has to be."

I shook my head slowly, pinching the bridge of my nose as though that might somehow alleviate the absurdity of this situation. "No joke, Bethany. I'm the new manager. And you're the employee who couldn't bother to show up on time for her new boss."

I kept my voice steady, but there was no denying the tension in the air. The memory of the night of the party flashed in my mind—her body warm against mine, the way her laughter had bubbled out like she didn't have a care in the world. And now, standing here in this disaster of a candy shop, the contrast between then and now couldn't have been starker.

I caught a glimpse of Alice and Noah out of the corner of my eye. They were exchanging looks—Alice holding her breath, while Noah wore a look of pity, the kind of expression people wear when they know someone's about to be ripped to shreds. Neither of them had any clue what had transpired between Bethany and me, but I knew they assumed I was going to tear into her for being late.

Which I was.

Bethany's expression shifted, though. Her initial shock was fading, replaced by something else—defiance. Her shoulders squared, and she met my gaze head-on, as if silently telling me she wasn't going to go down without a fight.

"Let's talk," I said, keeping my tone cool. "Privately."

Without a word, Bethany turned on her heel and marched toward the back office. The makeshift office I'd been assigned was nothing short of an insult, crammed with broken filing cabinets and dusty old ledgers. I hated that space, just like I hated this whole situation. If there was a hell for vampires, it wasn't made of fire and brimstone; it was managing a failing candy shop in the middle of a horribly delightful small town.

I followed her, catching Alice and Noah exchanging another glance—one that clearly said, Poor Bethany. They assumed this was going to be a professional reprimand, nothing more. If only they knew.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind us, Bethany spun around, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Her big blue eyes, now flashing with anger, met mine, and her fury hit me like a gust of wind.

"What the hell did you do to me?" she demanded, her voice shaking but fierce.

I frowned, taken aback by the sheer force of her words. "Excuse me?"

She yanked down the collar of her shirt, exposing the pale skin of her neck. My eyes immediately zeroed in on the two small puncture marks that marred her otherwise perfect skin. My stomach dropped. The bite marks. My bite marks.

Shit.

"I woke up after what felt like the worst hangover of my life," she spat, her voice rising in volume with every word. "I've got these," she pointed at the bite marks, her voice thick with accusation, "and worse—I can't see myself in the mirror anymore. What did you do to me?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came out. Before I could respond, Bethany grabbed the small mirror off the wall—a dusty old relic that had probably been there for years—and angled it toward us. Her movements were frantic, desperate, and when the light hit the mirror, it showed exactly what I had feared.

Nothing. No reflection.

Neither of us appeared in the glass.

Double shit.

Bethany's frantic breathing filled the small office as she stared at the empty reflection, then back at me. Her eyes blazed with fury, and I could practically feel the heat radiating off her. "Well?" she demanded, her voice trembling with rage. "Explain this."

I stared at the mirror for a long moment, the weight of what I'd done settling over me like a lead blanket. I had bitten her. I had turned her. I had made a colossal mistake.

"Bethany," I said, my voice low, almost apologetic. "This is...complicated."

"Complicated?" she shrieked, her fists shaking as she took a step closer. "You've turned me into a...a..."

"Vampire," I finished for her, my voice barely above a whisper.

She recoiled, her eyes wide with disbelief, and her hands dropped to her sides as if the weight of what I'd said had knocked the wind out of her. She stood there, chest heaving, her mind struggling to process the truth.

"No," she said, shaking her head violently. "No way. This isn't happening. You don't get to just do this and then expect me to accept it."

I couldn't blame her for her anger. Hell, I would have been just as furious. But as much as I wanted to downplay it, there was no undoing what had been done. I'd been careful for so long, centuries of control and discipline, never letting a single bite go too far. But with Bethany...something had changed.

"I didn't mean to," I said, the words spilling out before I could stop them. "I've had plenty of women before…more than I can count, but I've never done this. I've never turned anyone."

She froze, her breathing still heavy, but her anger seemed to waver, replaced by something softer, more vulnerable. "Then why me?" she demanded, her voice quieter now, laced with hurt rather than fury. "Why would you bite me if you've never done this before?"

I hesitated, the memory of being in bed together flooding back into my mind. The way she had tasted, the way her skin had felt under my hands, the way I had been drawn to her like a moth to a flame. I had wanted her in a way that was completely foreign to me, something deeper than just hunger. Something primal.

"There's something about you," I admitted, my voice rough. "I don't know what it is, but you're...different. Enticing. Sweet. I couldn't resist."

Bethany stared at me, her eyes narrowing, as if she didn't quite believe me. "So that's it? I was just a snack you couldn't resist, and now I'm stuck being a vampire for eternity because you have no self-control?"

I winced at her words, knowing there was truth in them. "I made a mistake," I said, my voice softening. "I admit that. And I'm sorry."

She stamped her foot, her anger flaring up again like a match struck against stone. "Oh no, you don't get off that easily! I'm not just going to accept this. There has to be a way to fix it."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair, frustration mounting in my chest. "There isn't," I said quietly. "It's too late. You're a vampire now. Like me."

Her eyes darkened, and she crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at me with fire that told me she wasn't backing down. "No," she said, her voice steady. "I refuse to accept that. There has to be a way out of this. And you're going to help me find it."

I shook my head, trying to keep my temper in check. "Bethany, I'm telling you, there's no way to undo it. I've been a vampire for over two hundred years. If there was a way to reverse the curse, I would've found it by now."

Her defiance only seemed to grow, her eyes blazing with determination. "Well, that's not good enough. I've already died once, and I'm not about to let this ruin my second chance."

I blinked, caught off guard. "You...died once?"

She nodded, her arms still crossed protectively over her chest. "Yeah. I had a freak accident which led to a brief stint as an angel, which didn't exactly go as planned. So I was sent back to Earth to give life another shot. And I'm not letting you take that from me."

I couldn't help it. I laughed, the absurdity of the situation hitting me all at once. "Wait a minute—let me get this straight. You were dressed as an angel at the party because you're actually a fallen angel?" I shook my head in disbelief. "That explains a lot."

Bethany shot me a withering glare. "Explains what?"

"Why I was drawn to you," I replied with a shrug, smirking slightly. "I mean, a fallen angel and a vampire? Sounds like the setup for a cosmic joke."

She rolled her eyes, clearly not amused. "This isn't funny, Drake. I'm serious. I was given another chance at life, and I intend to make the most of it. You're not going to screw this up for me."

"Right," I said, still chuckling. "And how exactly do you plan to fix this?"

She paused, her eyes narrowing as she considered her answer. "I don't know yet. But there has to be a way."

For a long moment, we stood there in tense silence, the weight of our situation hanging in the air between us. She was determined, and I had to admit, there was something admirable about that. Most people would have crumbled under the weight of it all, but not Bethany. She was stronger than I had given her credit for.

"Alright," I said finally, relenting. "I'll help you figure out how to break the vampire curse. But in return, you help me get this candy shop in order. Deal?"

Bethany raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by my offer. "You think there's a way to break the curse?"

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Maybe. But it's a long shot. I've been looking for answers for two centuries and found nothing. But if you're willing to try, I'll help."

She studied me for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, she nodded. "Deal. But I'm not giving up. I'm getting my wings back, no matter what it takes."

I chuckled softly. "Fair enough. I'll trust you to pay a visit to the library and see what you can find out. In the meantime, I've got more pressing issues—like getting Sugar Rush out of the red."

Bethany groaned dramatically, rubbing her temples. "Great. Just what I wanted—more research."

I grinned. "Oh, don't worry. My task is equally as fun—figuring out how to make this sad excuse for a candy shop profitable. Halloween's just a few days away, and it's the perfect opportunity to capitalize on all the interest from that party. I just have to figure out the right angle."

Her stomach growled audibly, and she winced. "Speaking of tasks...I'm starving. Do I have to...you know, suck someone's blood or something?"

I smirked, shaking my head. "No. Just stock up on raw meat. That'll hold you over for now."

Her eyes brightened suddenly, and she snapped her fingers. "Wait! What if we sponsor a blood drive for Halloween? Give blood, get free treats, and a tour of the newly refurbished shop. We'd be killing two birds with one stone, as they say. Or maybe three, since if we mooch a little of the good stuff for ourselves, no one will know."

I stared at her, impressed by her quick thinking. "That's...actually a good idea."

Bethany grinned triumphantly. "Thanks. I have my moments."

"We've got a lot of work to do to get this place ready in time, but where there's a will, there's a way." I couldn't help but admire her determination. There was something about her, something different from anyone I'd ever met before. She was tough, resilient, and I was beginning to realize that I admired that about her. When had I admired anyone but myself before? I couldn't remember a time.

As she turned to leave the office, I reached out, catching her wrist gently. She stopped, looking back at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Do you think this deal could involve a little...sexy time, too?" I asked, my voice dropping to a low murmur. "I promise I won't bite next time."

Bethany's lips curled into a slow, teasing smile, and she revealed her new, sharp cuspids. "Well, that's a shame," she said, her voice soft and sultry. "Because I just might."

She winked and sauntered out of the office, leaving me standing there, bemused and more than a little smitten. This beautiful, fiery angel had suddenly fallen into my life, and I had a feeling things were about to get even more interesting.