The Vampire’s Servant novel Chapter 68

Both men stilled. Gray was barely breathing after the sharp inhale. I started to get worried, neither moved for quite a long time. I looked up to see them mouthing words to each other.

“You don’t want to. Neither of you want to.” I sniffled.

No one wanted to really keep me. If they didn’t mark me, my mark would fade and I’d be all alone again. Victor could leave me. Gray would probably choose to leave me too, after he wasn’t stuck in a marriage with me anymore.

They weren’t going to mark me. They were just planning to keep me until this marriage was over. The thought repeated over and over, mixed with the times vampires had told me they wanted me, times my parents told me I was worthless and bothersome, and times when I questioned why I kept choosing to live if I was such a pitiful, evil creature.

I wouldn’t live like this. I couldn’t just let them pretend to love me. I moved quickly, getting up and jumping off the end of the bed. I went to my closet and grabbed some clothes and my backpack. I slipped some jeans under the nightgown and made sure to grab my bra. I could put it on later.

When I turned back to the room, Victor and Gray were standing in front of the closet door. My tears had turned to anger. I didn’t want to see them. I wanted to leave and never look back.

“Echo, please. Listen to us. We didn’t mean to make you think we didn’t want to mark you.” Gray pled.

“It’s quite the opposite. We’ve wanted to mark you ever since you marked us.” Victor said.

I tried to push past them, but they stopped me. Of course, they would lie. They would say anything. They would use their strength to stop me from escaping the torture they were putting me through.

“If you don’t let me go, I’ll scream for Marius. I know for a fact that he will hear me.” I warned.

They stepped back and I walked between them. I couldn’t listen to their excuses. I wouldn’t let them lie to me more.

“Echo. The reason we’re hesitating is because you have only just come back to us. We love you and want to care for you, but it’s difficult fighting the urges we have.” Victor told me.

“It would be better if we could wait until school’s over. Wolves in our school go unmarked or transfer to the pack school. It makes the humans panic when we show up with marks on us. The mark you gave me is easily hidden, my mark for you would be much harder to hide.” Gray explained.

“You’re just saying this so I won’t get Marius to punish you both.” I replied, unmoved.

“I’m afraid of him, but not nearly as afraid as I am of losing you.” He said softly, taking a step toward me.

“Where are you planning to go, Echo?” Victor asked.

“I’m going to stay with my sister and brother. I know they really love me and they want me to be with them. I won’t stay here if you two don’t want me. Val was talking about taking over our old house. We’ll go there.” I answered.

“Echo, you’re not thinking straight. Please, don’t make a decision like that when you’re upset. We want you. We want to be with you. Victor will show you how to make me your servant. Then I can always be with you.” Gray insisted.

“His wolf will live as long as he does. He’ll live as long as you keep renewing your bond with him. This is something that needs to be planned for and arranged. Not something that can be decided on a whim. Telling us you’ll leave if we don’t do what you want is manipulative. You have to see that. This isn’t something you can control entirely. We’ve told you repeatedly how much we love you.” Victor added.

“No. You told me you wanted Gray to mark me. You already tried to leave me. Now, you suddenly want to wait until after school. Then what? Then wait until I’ve finished college? Wait until after I’ve given you both children? Wait until they’re grown? How long to I have to wait for you two? Because all of this feels like you’re trying to run out the clock until you can leave me!” I shouted.

I glared at them. They both looked stricken. Victor recovered first and I saw that cold look come over his face.

“You’ve decided you’ll leave first then? I made a mistake, trying to think of your health and future, and you decided that meant I already had one foot out the door. What makes you think that I’d give you up forever? I told you I would wait for you.” He hissed.

“I heard you. You were ready to leave me because I loved Gray too. I know you all think I can’t hear you when you’re whispering, or in other rooms, but these walls aren’t exactly soundproofed, Victor! And I heard you tell Rosalynn that you didn’t want to marry me!” I yelled.

“I never tried to give you up, Echo. I fought for you since the moment I met you. Why do you think I would ever give you up? You can ask Cam. Everyone, my brother, my friends, Victor, even my parents were telling me to have you reject me and move on. I wouldn’t give up then, and I won’t give up now.” Gray stated firmly.

This was all too much. There was so much hurt and anger inside of me. I just wanted to run away. I didn’t want to be here anymore.

I turned away from them and headed for the door. It opened before I got there and was faced with Amy and Talia. They crossed their arms and leveled the same disappointed gaze on me.

“You boys get out. We’re going to talk to Echo.” Amy said.

“No. I was leaving.” I told her.

“You are staying. Victor, take Grayson to your office.” Talia ordered.

“Yes, mistress.” He replied quietly and pulled Gray past me.

The door closed behind them and I was left alone with the women. I felt my anger grow. How dare they stop me from leaving! I didn’t want to stay there.

“I’m sorry I didn’t keep a better eye on you, or I would have seen what was going on, Echo.” Talia sighed. “I thought you wouldn’t have this problem.”

“Let me leave.” I demanded.

“You’re no match for us, Echo. Sit your ass down.” Amy growled.

That dangerous feeling I got before came back. She was actually threatening me. I snarled and stepped forward. Talia grabbed my arm and stopped me.

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