The Vampire’s Servant
Chapter 36

[Gray]

I decided not to wait for Echo today. If she was still mad at me, I wasn't going to want to see it. I know, it's childish to hide from someone because they might be mad, but I loved her more than I'd loved anyone or anything before. Cam was with them, with Harmony and Val. He was going to tell me how she looked. That would be what would dictate when I went to see her. If she wasn't mad, I wanted to see her during our free period. If she was, then I would wait until lunch. It was my own fault. Seeing Harmony and Cam, being close to Echo, all of it made me and Rex start thinking of the bond. It made us start thinking of having our Echo all to ourselves. I wanted her to accept the bond so badly. When she hugged me yesterday, I got to really smell her scent for the first time. The sound she made was so cute. I wanted to kiss her and hold her and protect her from any hunters that might come.

Those bastards scared my little mate. I wanted to tear them apart, but the bloodsucker got to them before I could. He was her hero again. I was falling behind.

I needed to figure out a plan to put me ahead of him, somehow. Echo needed to be able to depend on me to help save her. I floated the idea of taking some shifts on the weekend guarding Victor's property, but Trent shot me down. Instead, I'd look for opportunities at school and during the times that she and I hung out. I would be there for her in whatever way she needed me. I even had spare school supplies for the classes we were in. If she needed a pencil, I'd be there. It might seem ridiculous, but I needed to find a way to make her love me. I couldn't force Echo to do it. I couldn't kidnap her and keep her until she gave in to the bond. I couldn't go back in time and be the one to save her from her parents. I wished that I could. I would daydream scenarios where I found out about her and rode to the rescue. Where Echo was so grateful that she hugged me like yesterday... or like she hugged Victor yesterday. "There's the grump." Cam snickered as he took his seat next to me.

"I'm not a grump. I'm just a little less than happy this morning." I grumbled.

"You've been less than happy since we left Echo yesterday. You shouldn't have tried to push it." He chided.

"I know. She won't rush into my arms like Harmony did with you. I just want her to love me." I sighed.

"She will. The bond is already growing. This morning she asked where you were. She looked a little sad that you weren't with us."

My heart leapt. She wanted me to be there waiting with everyone else! She missed me! It was more than I could hope for after how I acted yesterday.

Home room went by quick. There was another announcement about the prom. I would ask Echo if she wanted to go. I knew she hadn't been to any dances, so it would be a fun experience for her. She and Harmony could go dress shopping.

It would be a perfect opportunity. I would pick her up and take her to an event that she hadn't gotten to experience before. She would see me in a suit and all polished. I would show her how to dance fast, then slow. The entire night I would have her near me or in my arms. The bond would grow. Maybe, I'd even get a kiss.

I was practically floating on air when the bell rang and I headed out to Echo's classroom. I would ask her today, before anyone else got the idea. She was standing in the hall, talking to Sean.

He was a nice enough guy, for a human. The way he looked at Echo made me uncomfortable. She was pretty, though, so I could forgive him for some of it.

Today, she was wearing a green dress with little white flowers on it. It buttoned from the top to the bottom and she was wearing white flats with it. She probably had never worn heels in her life.

Her hair was down and framing her face and body like an ebony sheet of velvet. It looked so soft and silky, I wanted to run my fingers through it. One day, I would.

"Hi, Echo." I said with a smile.

"Hi, Gray. I'll see you later, Sean." She replied, dismissing her other friend.

He gave a little wave and scurried off to his next class. I looked around, but didn't see Harmony. Echo seemed a little nervous.

"Harmony had to go meet with the guidance counselor during first period. She said she was changing her plans for after graduation and needed to talk to him about the community college." Echo smiled. "You... you want to see something kinda fun?" I asked.

She brightened and nodded emphatically. I loved seeing her like this. She wasn't closed off, or pulling away. I just needed to relax and she would open up even more.

I led her to the back of the school. Not many people came out here. It was away from the track and the sports fields. Most people hung out in front of the school or in their cars. This was the perfect place to get to know her better.

Behind the school was an old swing set. The story was that the senior class, a couple decades ago, raised the money to have a swing set after a bunch of them started getting nostalgic for their younger school days. They dedicated it to a kid who'd died in elementary school.

Echo's eyes lit up as she saw the swing set. She grabbed my hand and bounced next to me. She was so beautiful when she was happy like this.

"I never got to swing before. Val and Harmony had a swing set, but I wasn't allowed to touch it." She said.

I turned to her and pulled her into my arms. That was one of the saddest things I'd heard, but she said it in such a chipper voice. It was like she didn't regret it. It was only a fact for her.

"Um, Gray. Why are you hugging me?" Echo asked.

"I'm sorry. That was so sad, I thought you might need a hug." I said softly.

"No. It was so sad, you needed a hug. Victor's told me that before. He said some things I say are so sad that he needs a hug. I'm okay with this. You can hug me if you need it." She replied and put her arms around my waist.

Apparently he wasn't as cold as he seemed. Anyone who could hear what she went through and not want to hug her is inhuman. I held her for a little longer and let her go. I wasn't going to hog up all of this time.

"I want to show you a bunch of new things and take you to do things you never got a chance to. Come on, for now, I'll push you on the swing." I smiled down at her.

She got the biggest, sweetest, grin and took my hand, pulling me to the swings. I held one steady for her so she could get on, then pulled it back and let it go. Echo giggled happily as the wind flew through her hair.

I pushed her for a little while and just enjoyed being with her in an unconstrained way. There was nothing pulling her attention away from the moment. There was no pressure from me. Rex was calm with all the time we were having with our mate. He liked that we were touching her so much.

"Can I jump out? Val used to do that. It looked like he was flying." Echo said.

"Sure thing. Just remember to bend your knees when you land." I called out.

She prepared to jump, and leapt out of the seat at the height of the next swing. Her hair trailed behind her as she jumped, but something was off.

I saw that she let go of the chain a little too late and wasn't angled to land on her feet, but on her back. As quickly as I could, I ran to catch her before she hit the ground.

Echo fell into my arms and immediately wrapped her arms around my neck. She was shaking. I held her tightly to me.

"You saved me." She murmured.

Rex leapt inside my head and did a happy dance. I buried my nose into her neck and took in her scent. Echo giggled and squirmed in my arms.

"That tickled. Why do you sniff me when I'm close to you, Gray?" Echo asked gently.

"Werewolves are like that. We use our sense of smell more than our other senses. The scent of our mates calms our wolves. I was just calming Rex down." I explained. "Was he upset?" She whispered into my neck, sending chills through my body.

"No. He was excited that we caught you and happy that you were safe. He was dancing in my head and I wanted him to chill. I hope you don't mind." I replied.

"Is it very uncomfortable?"

"It can be. Are you alright?"

"My finger got caught in the chain and I didn't realize it until I jumped." She responded, holding her hand in front of our faces.

"Can I kiss it?" I asked.

She held her finger in front of my lips and nodded. I shifted to holding her in one arm and steadied her hand with the other. I looked at the finger. It was a little red and swollen.

Tenderly, I kissed it, feeling the sparks of her skin against mine. I looked at her face as she watched me tend her injury. A faint blush tinged her cheeks.

I let her down on her feet and she straightened her dress and hair. I loved her no matter how disheveled she looked. Echo was always beautiful to me.

"Would you like to go to the prom with me? I know you haven't gotten to go to dances or anything where you get to dress up. We can go with Harmony and Cam for dinner and I'll buy you a flower to wear." I offered.

Echo nibbled her lip. "I would have to make sure it was alright with Victor, but I would really like to go. Are you sure you want to take me?"

"More than anything." I smiled.

"You know this doesn't mean I'm your girlfriend. We're just going as friends." She replied sternly.

"Absolutely. Just friends, dressing up, having fun. I swear." I promised.

"Alright. I guess that will be fine." Echo smiled.

"Can I have another hug?" I asked.

She nodded with a giggle and I hugged her, picking her up and spinning her a bit. Echo held on tightly and Rex leapt and danced with joy. I was so thrilled that she accepted. I was steps closer to finally having her for my own. "Want to go back on the swings? We can twist them up and spin around." I offered.

"Yes!" Echo laughed and we went back to the swings.

We played like kids until just before the bell rang for second period. I grabbed Echo's backpack and we headed into the building. I couldn't wait for lunch, when I would get to see my mate again.