David.

Another loose mortal end. Can I continue my business relationship with him? A decision I may not have to make. He may not want me to.

***

David is seated at his side of the desk when I walk in. He looks up and though I expect a frown, he actually smiles.

“Hey, stranger. I read about what happened in the paper. Quite a story. Is Trish all right?”

I’m so grateful for not being greeted with vitriol that I have to restrain myself from throwing my arms around his neck. “She’s with my folks. I just came from the house.”

I toss the envelope from the clinic on the desk and head for the coffeepot.

He glances at the envelope then up at me. “How is that going?”

I bring a cup of coffee back to the desk and sink wearily into my chair. “You should see the three of them. It’s like they’ve known each other for years. Trish is confused, of course. She has a lot of questions. But I’ve never seen my parents happier. You can almost feel…” My voice falters, breaks off.

David frowns. “Then why the long face?”

I pick at the envelope and instantly he understands.

“Those are the DNA results. She isn’t Steve’s.”

I raise my eyes to meet his. “I wanted Trish to be Steve’s more than I’ve wanted anything in my life.”

David leans back, pushing away the papers he had spread before him. “What will happen to her now?”

“I don’t know. I doubt her grandmother wants her. Foster care, I guess. Adoption. Jesus. I don’t know.”

“But your parents want her, right? And they’d be the best family she could ever have. They’ll love her. What’s more important?” David picks up the envelope. “You didn’t tell them?”

I shake my head.

He carries it over to our file cabinet. He pushes folders to the back, shoves the envelope to the bottom of the drawer, and rearranges the files to cover it.

“Your parents are the best thing that could happen to that kid. If there’s any medical reason to make this report known later, it’s right here. Otherwise, just because you know doesn’t mean anyone else has to.”

I remember how Trish looked with my parents. How I felt the energy of hearts mending. It’s why I couldn’t bring myself to share the DNA results. I couldn’t bear to break the bond.

And just like that, Sorrel’s words are in my head.It’sin the blood.

Love.

Nothing matters more. She hadn’t made a mistake.

I had.

I meet David’s eyes. So calm, so sure. He saw it before I did.

Trish and my parents will take care of each other.

I will pursue what I must.

It’s so clear. David doesn’t understand, of course. He sees only the obvious. But I am vampire, after all, and my entire relationship to humans is based on lies.

This will be just one more.