The Vampire’s Servant novel Chapter 57

[Gray]

I couldn’t believe he just walked out on her like that. Echo looked like her heart was breaking. I could feel it as if it were my own heart breaking. Just like when I thought she was rejecting me at the restaurant.

“He’ll come around.” I told her, pulling her into my arms.

“What if he doesn’t, Gray? I loved him first. I don’t know how to deal with this. Do you think this isn’t really me? Will I change after I’ve been awake longer?” She asked.

“I feel the intentions of your heart, Echo. Your mind may worry about this later. I know you don’t like people to be sad, especially because of you. I won’t mark you until we know the truth of your heart and mind together. I can wait for you. I love you that much. Victor was teaching me how to be better for you.” I said.

It dawned on me that this may have always been his plan. Maybe he was teaching me so I would be a better mate in this life. It was his way of taking care of her.

That was the sort of selflessness I didn’t think I could manage. I couldn’t just walk away. I wanted to be there for Echo always. I wanted her in my arms like this, forever.

She wrapped her arms around my neck. I got up and sat on the bed, holding my mate as she cried softly for her lost love. I’d kick his ass for hurting her like this.

“Let’s get dressed. I’ll introduce you to the wolves who are here to help train you. Maybe Bellamy can make you some blood food to get you used to eating normal foods again. I can imagine you don’t want to feed on me at school.” I chuckled.

“Thank you for staying with me, Gray. Thank you for being patient.” She replied.

“I wasn’t patient, Echo. I was selfish and stubborn. I wanted you to be mine and I didn’t even think about what you might want. I thought you were just confused because of what your parents did to you and because Victor was the one to save you from them. I’m still learning. I love you enough to do whatever you need me to in order to make you happy.” I told her.

She turned her face up to me and kissed me again. I loved the feeling of her lips on mine. Echo opened her mouth a little and I felt her tongue touch my lips. I fell passionately into the kiss, granting her access and tasting her mouth for the first time.

Echo pulled back. “Was that okay? You just made me so happy, I wanted to kiss you.”

“More than okay, sweetheart. I love your kisses. I feel like I’ve waited my whole life for the feeling of your lips on mine. Come on. Do you think you can stand?” I asked.

“I think so.” She replied and turned in my lap.

The feeling of her sitting there was starting to stir up Rex. When her hips ground against me while she turned, I groaned. I couldn’t help it; she was rubbing right on me. The kiss had already started blood rushing down there.

“Are you okay, Gray?” Echo asked.

She had no idea what she did to me. I wasn’t going to kill our progress by telling her. Just kissing was a huge step, sex was far down the line.

“Fine, Echo. Go on. I’m here to catch you if you fall.” I promised.

Carefully, she got up out of my lap. She lost her balance a little, but I was there to help stabilize her until she was feeling more comfortable. I guided her to her closet and told her I was heading to my room for a moment to get my clothes.

Outside of her room, I saw Victor’s door open. He was fully clothed and looking at his phone. I couldn’t help myself. I grabbed him by the shirt and slammed him against the wall.

“How could you do that to her? After what she’s been through? How could you be so fucking heartless? You made her cry.” I snarled.

He maintained a blank, empty look and stared at me silently. I knew he loved her as much as I did. I felt the intensity of his love while we were looking for her. I saw how he cared for her every time she woke up. I heard him telling her that he loved her.

“Are you finished? I have business to attend to.” Victor replied coolly.

“Why don’t you try being a man instead of a vampire sometime? She needs both of us. Do you really hate me so much that you won’t even entertain the idea of sharing her?” I asked.

“Why should I want to share her? Echo is my Solus Amor. My only love. I am not that to her. Until I am her Solus Amor, I should step aside. She will still be registered as my bride and Master Marius is claiming her and her siblings as his children. They’ll all be safe. When you die, I will step up and take my place by her side.” He said in a tone that made me want to smash his head in.

“Will she even want you if you abandon her now?” I pressed.

“Time heals all wounds. One day, Echo will realize I was doing what was best for her. Or, she won’t and the mark will fade, then she can reject me as her Solus Amor. You two can stay until we have her trained and educated in the world of vampires. After that, I’ll talk to Bellamy about having rogues live out in the guesthouse to guard me during the day and I’ll find a human servant to take care of me. You two can go have the life you were meant to, without me.” Victor replied and pushed my hands away as if I were a child.

“You’re making a mistake. This isn’t selfless, Victor. This is just as selfish as the fact that I’m thrilled you’re stepping aside. What makes this different, was that I was willing to give up part of my heart to make her happy, and you’re going to exist as some martyr in your own mind without her.” I told him, turning to my own room.

I couldn’t argue with him anymore. We had until Echo was finished with her vampire education and the training to change his mind. I was willing to give up a lot for Echo’s happiness, but I knew she wouldn’t truly be happy without both of us in her life.

Quickly, I slipped on jeans and a t-shirt, then headed back to Echo’s room. When I arrived, she was dressed and standing by her bed. She had something in her arms. Moving closer, I saw that it was Victor’s pillow.

“Echo.” I murmured.

“I know he loves me. I could feel his heart breaking. Why would he leave me?” She whimpered.

“Be strong, my little sweetheart. He’ll change his mind. He’s just got selflessness mixed up with sacrifice. He just has to see how this would work. I have some ideas. We’ll get him to see that he needs to be with us.” I told her and put my hand on her shoulder.

Echo dropped the pillow on the bed and turned to wrap her arms around my waist. I stroked her hair and back.

“Am I being selfish, though? You don’t really want to share me with him. Why are you accepting this?” Echo asked.

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