Chapter 28: Alicia Keys - If I Ain’t Got You
"At first?" she said, her tone honest, vulnerable. "No. Every werewolf has had it imprinted in their minds since kindergarten, probably before we could spell our own names, that vampires are the enemy. Creatures of the night, bloodsucking devils."
Damien snorted. "Guilty."
She gave him a sideways glance. "I mean, yes, the truce changed things. But centuries of horror stories don’t just disappear overnight. My grandmother used to hang garlic by the window."
"I remember those times," Damien said softly. "And honestly, it’s one of the reasons I think the Blood Goddess does this cosmic mate crap every few centuries. You know, just to mess with us. Sit up there in her divine throne and say, ’Hmm. Let’s stir some drama today.’"
"The Blood Goddess?" Luna raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You guys have a goddess?"
"Yep," Damien nodded. "You wolves have the Moon Goddess. We’ve got the Blood Goddess."
Luna’s lips twitched. "You think both goddesses are up there right now, watching us, drinking celestial wine, and laughing their divine asses off?"
"I know they are," Damien said with a chuckle. "Probably watching this and they are like. ’Oh look, Luna’s crying again. Quick, pour more wine!’"
That broke her. She giggled and it made Damien’s dead heart feel very much alive. For a second, the duties disappeared.
"You never did answer my question," Damien said quietly after a bit of silence.