Bitter Truth (Bitterroot Series Book 3) by Heather Hildenbrand

Author:Heather Hildenbrand [Hildenbrand, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: YA PNR
Publisher: Heather Hildenbrand, LLC
Published: 2018-01-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Charlie

As soon as the door closed behind Regan, all my courage drained away, leaving me a shaking mess. My legs wouldn’t support my weight anymore. I sank to the edge of the bed, covering my face with my hands.

“Nicely done,” Owen said.

My eyes burned. “Shut up.”

“I mean it.” His voice softened and I realized he was trying to compliment me. “Your sister can be intimidating. You didn’t back down.”

I dropped my hands from my face and Owen came forward, slowing as he noticed my tears. He reached out and wiped them away with his thumbs. I leaned into the circle of his arms. “You are radiant when your passion is lit,” he murmured, smoothing a hand down my back. “You truly are a woman befitting the position of alpha.”

I snorted and pulled back, angry at that, although I didn’t know why. “Why? Because I hurt my sister?”

“Because you have fire.” A smile played around his lips. “If you can stand up to her, you can stand up to anyone—the stuffy werewolf elders, and perhaps even the most ancient vampires in my family. Maybe even my mother,” he added and I shuddered.

“No, thanks. I’d rather fight Regan,” I mumbled.

“You may get your chance,” he said and my stomach tightened.

“Tomorrow—” I began, but Owen cut me off.

“You’ll focus on the test. Don’t worry about me or about anyone else. Just stay focused on your task.”

“Do you think they’ll make us fight?” I asked.

“No. The Test of Knowledge is about information.”

“Like a pop quiz,” I said, brows raised. It sounded too easy. Unless, of course, someone tried to kill me during it.

“Exactly. You focus on that and I’ll do the rest. Stop worrying,” he said, reaching out and smoothing the lines above my brow with his finger.

I smiled ruefully. “I’ll try but what Regan said about her mom and the way she died … It’s pretty obvious someone on our side had to orchestrate all that—”

“Charlie.” Owen’s finger smoothed the lines again and he smiled. “You’re doing it again. Stop worrying.”

“I can’t help it. It’s not like I can think of anything else right now,” I said.

He tilted his head to study me, smile fading. “Did you know that vampires mate for eternity?”

The change in subject surprised me—and distracted me, like I knew he’d intended. I shook my head. “Do you mean, like … forever-eternity or is that figurative? Because, I’m going to live a long time but not—”

“Yes. Our marriages are unlike those of humans, or your wolf pack. What we do to bind ourselves—our beliefs and rituals—have been carried through generations of vampires.” He trailed a hand down my shoulder. I leaned my head on his chest and gazed at the line of his jaw from below. “Vampires are immortal, and so are our relationships.”

“Even if you outlive your mate?” I asked, feeling funny on the last word. I couldn’t wrap my mind around eternity with one person. Having been raised by a single mom, there had had been a parade of potential father figures through the years.

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