The Vampire’s Servant
Chapter 161

[Victor]

It was Sunday evening and we were preparing for dinner at the home of Grayson's parents. I was slightly nervous. It had been ages since I was invited to a dinner with living beings and the first time ever with werewolves. Sean and Rosario had returned to the house on Friday. Echo was relieved to have them back and made sure to apologize profusely. She was still rather embarrassed at what she'd done in the hold of the curse. Echo, Grayson, and I had resumed laying together. I would go into her room with them at night and we would be together until they were sleeping. Our bond was growing even deeper.

We made the plan to mark Echo as soon as possible. We'd been waiting on their graduation, but it appeared the gowns would cover any mark we gave her. She wanted to be marked before we tackled the next part of the curse.

She said not being marked had been one of the things that made her feel less safe in the hold of the curse. Considering that it was one of the things I had focused on as well, we felt it was a good idea. If a server hadn't called in last night, requiring Grayson to go fill in for them, we would have done it then.

As it stood, tonight was when we were planning it. We let Valor and Harmony know so they wouldn't grow concerned when they saw the marks. Harmony revealed that she had been marked by Cameron the night after we'd been freed.

I had wondered at her suddenly conservative clothing. Valor didn't seem to be too pleased, but he understood. Marking would make the bond stronger for Cameron and Harmony and they would be stronger for it as well.

Marking would lend the strength of each mate to the other, at least, once the bond was sealed. After our bond was sealed, Echo would be stronger and faster. She would gain the strength of a vampire who was nearly nine hundred years old. It would pair well with all of her abilities.

Amelia came into the entryway. She smiled at me and nodded before heading toward the library. Finn came past, but ignored me.

It had been like this for the past few days. He was basically her shadow. When she would acknowledge him, he would try to talk to her about what it meant to be someone's Solus Amor. He would tell her about the good he tried to do and the adventures he wanted to take her on.

I could see that she was coming around to it. Emmalyn and Talia were helping. I figured I had done enough and didn't try anything.

My intention hadn't been to harm my broodmate. I had no idea that he hadn't told Amelia that she was his Solus Amor. With how excited he had to have been, with the way he talked to her in the cells, I honestly thought he had told her.

It was an honest mistake. That didn't make me feel much better. I had embarrassed myself pretty thoroughly.

"I think I'm getting better at reading you. Stop pouting." Grayson said.

I raised my eyebrow at him. "I do not pout."

"Brooding, then. Whatever vampires do when they're actually pouty." He chuckled.

"You're quite lucky that I'm growing to like you, Grayson. Or I would take offense at that." I replied.

"And do what? Pout more?" Grayson snickered. "I'm just messing with you, Victor. You need to get that sorry expression off your face, though, or Echo's going to get upset. She wants you to be happy about going to see my family." "Is my clothing appropriate for this sort of gathering?" I asked.

"I mean, you look fine. I would have gone a little more relaxed, but this is the first time I've seen you in jeans instead of slacks or dress pants, so it's progress. Don't worry, man. Everyone is excited to meet you... except my grandpa. He doesn't like vampires, though, so we don't really count him." He replied.

Echo came into the entryway from the kitchen. Lisa insisted on watching her in the kitchen after she found out what Echo had done to everyone last weekend. Echo accepted it with no complaint.

Part of me was worried that she was still punishing herself for what she'd done. Echo was a little more skittish than she'd been before. Talia assured us that it was just Echo's mind trying to process what the curse was trying to do to her.

She held up a cooler and smiled. "I have the food for Victor."

"Great, angel. We should get going. Everyone will be waiting for us." Grayson said.

We went out to my car. Grayson offered to drive, but I wanted to be in control of where we were going. It had been a while since the last time I drove.

Grayson chattered on about his family as we drove. Echo would add in things she remembered of them in previous meetings. They were talking so excitedly that I caught myself smiling.

Maybe we were all meant to be together like this so they could remind me to enjoy life. I hadn't really done that. In all the years I'd lived, I had merely survived and existed. My only joy was in knowing I was providing a safe place for humans in my territory to grow up. I knew no one would suffer as I had.

When we arrived, there were teens and children sitting out on the front yard who started jumping up and running around when they saw us pull up. Grayson helped Echo out of the backseat of the car as I walked around the front.

Some teens rushed up, but stopped a few feet away. They looked at me nervously as they talked to Grayson. Echo came over and took my hand. She smiled up at me and I relaxed a little more.

Echo introduced me to Grayson's younger cousins. They all kept their distance until a little girl of no more than six came up to us. She looked at me quizzically, then took my other hand. "C'mon. We're hungry." She demanded.

I chuckled and followed her across the yard. The other children were all frozen, watching her pull me around. Echo stayed by my side, while Grayson followed behind.

The little girl had the same dark hair and brown eyes that Grayson had. She smelled like a relative, but that was to be expected at a family affair. She was most definitely the child of an Alpha. I wondered if this was one of Trent's daughters.

She opened the door and pulled me through. She took me through the house and out the back door. Adults were milling around a little, but turned to look at us as we came onto the porch.

"This is Gray's vampire. Be nice." The girl ordered.

The adults chuckled. Trent approached and ruffled her hair.

"I see you met our little sister. Eden, why don't you go get the other kids?" He said to the girl.

"Okay!" She cheered and let go of me before racing off.

"She likes you, Master Nightshade." Trent winked.

"She's a very forceful little girl. I bet she'll dominate her mate when she grows up." I chuckled.

"We're hopeful that her mate is an omega so that won't cause her too much difficulty." An older woman said with a smile. "I'm Grayson's mother, Elise Padua. You can just call me Elise."

"Please call me Victor, especially you, Trent. We're not leaders in this situation, we're... family." I replied.

"Of course we're family, Victor. You're like a brother to me, but I actually like you." Grayson laughed.

"You'll pay for that, Gray." Trent growled playfully.

"I've been training to fight with vampires for the last few weeks. I think you'll have a hard time beating me now." "No fighting." Elise scolded.

"Sorry, mom." Both boys chorused.

"Please, come sit down, Victor. The children are all hungry. We can talk as soon as we get them fed." She smiled.

I bowed and followed her to the seat she wanted me in. Echo went into the kitchen to prepare my plate while the women started taking plates full of food to the tables that dotted the yard. Grayson sat next to me and introduced me to everyone who was at the tables.

His grandfather sneered and turned away from me. They had already warned me that he didn't like vampires, but it didn't bother me too much. I was used to being hated and feared. It was the way the others were friendly and accepting that really threw me off. "You don't look much older than Trent or William." Landon, Grayson's father, said.

"I was twenty-six when I died." I replied.

"That's a pretty young age to decide you're done with being human." Martin scoffed.

"I was killed by a werewolf." I stated firmly. "My sire found me mere moments before I would have succumbed to my injuries."

The silence which came over the table was heavy. I could see they were mindlinking each other. Grayson put a hand on my shoulder.

"You never told me that." He whispered.

"It's why I've never been fond of them, but werewolves are growing on me quickly. Echo has taught me that you cannot blame a whole species for what an individual did. If she were like me, she wouldn't have ever learned to trust me." I admitted.

As if she were summoned by speaking of her, Echo came out and set a plate in front of me. She sat between Grayson and I. We put food onto the plate in front of her before Grayson served himself.

During the meal, I answered questions and gained more information about the pack. Having so many generations of Alphas there was interesting. They talked to me about issues they'd had in the past.

I learned about hunter attacks, rogue attacks, and even vampire attacks, that the pack had successfully fended off. I promised that any rogue vampires would be dealt with immediately. They seemed pleased.

The ladies talked about the wedding they were planning. They asked about any vampire traditions they should be aware of. We didn't have many. Most vampires didn't actually have weddings.

Once marriage bonds were made, they put in the paperwork to the council. If it were a pair of Solus Amors, they would sometimes hold a celebration with their allies and closest friends. There was a binding ceremony.

"In a binding ceremony, we make our own vows to our Solus Amor. It isn't quite the same. There is no one who officiates. Our vows are for protection and companionship, rarely love." I told them. "Why not love?" Elise asked.

"Because it's understood that we love each other as Solus Amor means 'only love'. You don't need to promise to love someone when they are already fated to be your only love." I replied.

When the meal was over, the men started clearing the table. Grayson helped them, but I was told I was a guest and needed to stay out with the ladies and children.

It wasn't the worst thing in the world. Most of the women were very kind and attentive. The children asked many questions. The teens asked about every vampire trope they had ever heard of. Several smaller children started climbing me if I stayed still long enough. Echo was comfortably chatting with the Lunas. I didn't mind being a jungle gym for the little ones if I got to see her like this. "Uncle Victor. My mommy says you don't like naps in the sun." One of the little ones said.

"I can't go out in the sun. I used to love naps in the sun before I became a vampire." I explained.

"Victor, is that why you're so cold?" Eden asked.

"You gotta call him 'uncle Victor". The other one insisted.

"I do not! He's my brother, because he's Gray's mate." She retorted, sticking out her tongue at the other child.

I heard Echo and several of the ladies start laughing. Echo was laughing so hard, she squeaked. Grayson and the other men came out to see what the women were laughing about.

"Eden, I'm not Grayson's mate. I'm Echo's mate." I told her.

"Dear goddess." I heard Grayson mutter.

"Right. And Gray is Echo's mate. So Gray is your mate too." She reasoned.

With a chuckle, I patted her head. "Well, I suppose that makes sense."

"Don't tell her that! She'll go around telling people you're my mate." Grayson yelled.

"Of course, darling." I called out.

That brought out a new peal of laughter from Echo. Everyone else was silent until Trent started chuckling. They hadn't been prepared for the Master of the territory to say something in jest.

I knelt down and smiled at Eden. "Grayson is my friend, not my mate. It's different We both love Echo like a mate, but we love each other like friends. Do you understand, little one?"

She looked like she was thinking about it. She pursed her little lips and tilted her head a little before nodding and smiling. I was glad I was able to get her to understand. "It's okay. Geoff's mate is just a good friend too. I understand." Eden winked and ran off to play with other children.

Well, that didn't work out exactly as I'd hoped. I returned to where the adults were and approached Grayson. He had his arms crossed and an annoyed look on his face. Putting my hand on his shoulder, I apologized. He uncrossed his arms and put his hand up to embrace my shoulder. I was glad he seemed to be willing to forgive my teasing. "Now kiss!" Shouted three teens.

Echo fell out of her chair laughing as we withdrew. Trent slapped his knee and laughed. Martin seemed to snap out of the stunned mood he'd been in since I revealed that a werewolf had actually been my killer. He scowled and stormed off. Grayson took off after the teens who screamed and ran. I helped Echo off the ground before assisting Grayson in the chase of the offending children. We cornered them and they fell to the ground, out of breath and begged us to forgive them. We helped them all off the ground and ruffled their hair. Neither of us was particularly upset. It was the friendliest and happiest gathering I had been to in centuries.

I could actually feel the coldness of vampire culture shaking off. Talia was always warmer, maybe it was because of how much time she spent around werewolves and beings of other species. Maybe the secret to retaining that vibrant yearning for life was to be around those who celebrated every moment like other living beings do.

At the end of the evening, Echo had exchanged recipes and contact information for Silence with Grayson's mother. Now they planned on me coming to family dinner once a month until the sun started setting at a reasonable hour. Elise told me she expected me to be at every family dinner in the winter.

Being so accepted by Grayson's family made me feel a happiness I didn't realize was possible. I would enjoy watching these people as they grew and changed through the years. I couldn't wait to see what kind of man little Eden ended up with.

When we reached home, I was feeling very content. The end of the night was very near. All we had left to do was mark Echo as ours, at last, and rest. Nothing in the world sounded better to me than that.