Chapter 39: Rose
“Rose!”
My parents drew me into a tight embrace, kissing every part of my cheeks and forehead they could reach.
“What happened?” my mom asked, pointing to the bandage on my cheek.
“Oh, it’s really nothing. Just a scratch.”
Once we had finished hugging, I took a step back and reached for Caleb’s hand. “This is Caleb,” I said. “I’m here because of him.”
My dad looked Caleb over from head to foot, as though he was sizing him up. I wasn’t sure if he approved of Caleb at first, given the serious expression on his face, but then he smiled, reached out a hand and shook his warmly.
“Caleb,” he said. “Thank you.”
My mom drew him in for a hug. “If there’s ever anything we can do to repay you,” she said, gripping his shoulders and looking him in the eye, “please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Nothing will be required,” Caleb said, taking a step back.
“Rose!”
Vivienne and Xavier came racing into the room, followed by a group of other vampires. My aunt and uncle took it in turns to hug me. Then I faced the others. Everyone in the room—including my parents—looked utterly disheveled, their clothes bloody and torn, scars of recently healed wounds covering their body.
As I looked around the room at them, a crushing sense of guilt welled in the pit of my stomach.
Ben and I caused them all so much trouble.
“You,” Zinnia said, pointing an accusing finger at me, “have caused me more aggro in the last twenty-four hours than Griffin has managed in the past year.” Then she nuzzled me on the head. “I’m glad you’re safe, kid.”
Someone tugged on my hair. I turned around to see Ashley glaring at me.
“So, how was Scotland?”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the sarcastic expression on her grimy face.
“Yeah, princess. How was Scotland?” Claudia had entered the room, her clothes looking particularly battle-worn, her thick blonde hair a matted mess. “Next time the two of you decide to go gallivanting about, a little warning would be appreciated.”
“I’m so sorry, guys,” I muttered.
“I should hope so,” Eli said, crossing his arms over his chest and looking down at me sternly. “You both are exceedingly lucky to be alive. We honestly thought that we’d lost you.”
My parents broke through the crowd and approached me. My father put his hand on my shoulder. His fierce eyes always melted me.
“You’re going to get an earful from us too later, don’t you worry,” he said. “But for now, we’re going to check on your brother.”
He bent down and placed a kiss on my head. Then they left and the others trickled out too after them, leaving Caleb and I standing alone in the music room once again. He had moved over to a corner as soon as the crowd of vampires had entered.
One look at his ashen face, and I knew what he was about to say.