Leigh Walker - Promised: A Young Adult Paranormal Romance

PROMISED

A YOUNG ADULT PARANORMAL ROMANCE

THE EQUINOX PACT BOOK 2

Copyright 2020 by Leigh Walker.

All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions. All characters in this book are fiction and are figments of the authors imagination. final.kobo.v.11.23.2020.

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Dad, I told youIll be back as soon as I can. I paced the front porch, the sun warming my bare feet. Edens doing better, but she still needs more time.

Eden was my best friend. My dad, Big Kyle, thought she was upset because her boyfriend, Brian, had died recently. The situation was more complicated than that. Actually, it was a lot more complicated: Brian was dead because my stepmother, Becky, had shoved him down an abandoned well.

That same night, James had turned Eden into a vampire.

But my dad didnt know any of that. He didnt even know that vampires existed

Taylor honey, I understand shes been through a lot. Its terrible what happened with Brian. But you have to come home. Youre supposed to start classes next week. Big Kyle sounded frustrated. You cant skip your senior year of high school. No matter whats going on.

He wasnt just talking about Eden, and I knew it. I have to go. Ill call you tomorrow, okay? Before he could argue, or worsebefore he could mention JamesI hung up.

James Champlain was my boyfriend. At least he had been. Back before all this happened, back before hed turned Eden into a vampire and banished us to one of his estates while she healed

I stared at my phone. No text messages, no missed calls, no nothing. I opened my photos and flicked to the last one I had of me and James, the night of the gala, the lavish fundraiser hed hosted at his home. James looked insanely handsome in his suit, his arm thrown casually over my shoulders. His smile made my heart stop. Then there was me, nestled against him, wearing the blush-pink gown hed bought me just for the party.

There was something funny about me in the pictureI looked different, and it had nothing to do with the dress. I was smiling in the photo, which was rare but not impossible. I stared at the image, searching, but then I realized what it was: the smile reached all the way to my eyes. That was the difference. I looked genuinely happy.

But now my boyfriend, if thats what he still was, hardly returned my calls.

Hey, a familiar voice said.

I stuffed my phone into my pocket as Patrick lumbered out and crouched down next to me, his dark skin glistening in the morning sun. He wore his usual uniform of mesh basketball shorts and a plain white T-shirt. Hed taken his cornrows out and cut his hair shorter, which showcased his high cheekbones and handsome face.

Edens all set for now, Patrick said.

Eden became a vampire six weeks ago, and Patrick and I had been taking turns babysitting her. Her transformation had been difficult. It pissed her off that wed strapped her to her bedshe wanted to hunt. She wanted to drink. She wanted to feast onhumans.

You want to go for a walk, or something? He squinted out at the yard. I need to get out of here.

I grabbed my flip-flops, and we trekked across the lawn to the beach path. I always felt small standing next to Patrick; at six-foot-two and two hundred pounds, he had that effect on people.

Two vampire guards waited at the paths entrance, dressed identically in dark suits and sunglasses. All the guards who patrolled the property wore the same uniform.

Lets get through Vampire Secret Service. Patrick smiled at them. Morning. Taylor and I are just going down to the beach. Is that okay?

The female guard nodded almost imperceptibly.

T-Thanks, I said, but she didnt respond.

The guards worked for the Jamess family, the Champlains, who were wealthy vampire aristocracy. At first, Id been uncomfortable being surrounded by strange vampires, but Id gotten used to their constant, silent presence. If nothing else, they reminded me of James.

Patrick and I headed down the path, the dunes rising on either side. So how is she today? I asked.

Good. Shes drinking a lot. She just guzzled another whole pint of blood.

Is that normalfor her to drink that much?

Patrick nodded. My mom said thats common with newbies. They have to build their strength.

Were lucky your mother can help. Mrs. Cavill, Patricks mom, was also a vampire.

Patrick shrugged. Yeah well, there are perks to having an overprotective parent.

Does Eden remember anything new today? I asked. In the weeks since her transformation, Eden had been confused. She remembered the accident that ended her human life, but she didnt recall becoming a vampire.

Not really, but she seems more like herself this morning. Patrick shrugged. Its going to take some time, you know? Were six weeks in. My mom says shell get better after thisshes at a turning point.

My heart lifted a little. Poor Eden had been through a lot. Thats good.

We reached Lucy Vincent beach. Even though it was early, lots of families had dragged their belongings down the dunes and arranged their chairs and enormous coolers. Children were already in the water, boogie-boarding, shrieking as the gigantic waves crashed. August was the busiest month on Marthas Vineyard, or so Id read. I hadnt really paid much attention to the island wed been hiding out on.

So Patrick peered at me. Howre you holding up?

Im fine. I sighed. But I just talked to my dad, and he wants me to come home.

Dont classes start next week? he asked gently.

Yeah, but its not as if twelfth grade is as important as my best friend. I cant leave her like this.

We walked down to the waters edge and dipped our feet in. It was so much warmer than home. The water back on Dawnhaven, the island we lived on in Maine, was perpetually freezing, guaranteed to turn your toes numb in under a minute.

Youre not leaving her alone. I already told you, Ill stay with her as long as it takes. Im taking the semester off. Patrick scratched his neck. Shes getting better every day. And like I said, with my mom and all, I know what Im doing.

I appreciate that, I do. But I cant go back to the island and face Mrs. Lambert unless I know Edens one-hundred percent okay. But would that ever happen? Could a new vampire be okay?

Eden was supposed to be a sophomore at Bowdoin College this fall, but shed asked for a leave of absence. The school had granted the request immediately, but Edens family was more difficult to navigate. They wanted her home. They wanted to see her. They wanted to know why she was, in Mrs. Lamberts words, hiding from everyone.

There were excellent reasons, but we couldnt tell them the truth: new vampires had a hard time controlling themselves. We locked Eden up so she wouldnt attack us or try and escape to feed from other humans. Wed kept her hidden at Jamess private estate on the Vineyard, surrounded by a fleet of vampire guards, and fed her a constant supply of donated blood.