Illusion: Volume 3 by Ella Price

your family. You need to leave.”
    My
father scoffed. “There are hunters everywhere outside. The marshal will never
get a chance.” My father sounded confident; he had no idea what was coming.
    “Don’t
be a fool. Your brother is the one that told them how to find you. He doesn’t
have hunters out there. How do you think I got in?” Aubrey sounded like he was
pleading with them.
    My
father looked a little unsure, but he didn’t let his guard down.
    “What
if he is telling the truth Lyle?” my mother asked sounding frantic.
    “He
isn’t. Leave now. We will be fine,” my father said softly.
    The
sound of screaming and shattering glass caught everyone’s attention. My mother
barely had time to scream before the vampire pinning her ripped her throat out.
The younger me was knocked to the side, and knocked unconscious. That was why I
couldn’t remember anything.
    My
father yelled in anger and panic. He tackled the vampire, but it was too late
for my mother. “Get my daughter out of here!” my father yelled at Aubrey.
    Aubrey
hesitated then rushed over to me and picked me up. He was suddenly gone and my
vision faded again.
    Suddenly
I was standing near the woods of my house. Aubrey had the young me. He laid me
on the ground, then he attempted to wake me up. I had blood coming from my head
and I didn’t look like I was breathing. Aubrey bit his wrist and pressed it to
my lips. A noise in the brush caught Aubrey’s attention. He ran leaving me
alone on the ground. Luca appeared out of the trees.
    “Oh
god, Lily,” he whispered then picked me up and ran off into the woods with me.
My vision started to blur again. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the memory
fading or because I was crying.
    I
opened my eyes, and I was back in my room. Aubrey released me and looked down
at me worried. My face was wet from the tears. I wasn’t sure if I was better off
seeing my parents die or worse. I didn’t remember because I never saw it in the
first place.
    “I’m
sorry Lillian,” Aubrey said softly as he kissed my cheek gently.
    “You
didn’t do it,” I said relieved. Not only did he not do it, but he saved my life
when he gave me his blood.
    He
smiled softly. “No, I didn’t; but I should have done more. Everything happened
so fast. I should have warned your father when I first found out about
Cornelius’s plan.”
    I
reached up and touched his face. He saved me. I would have died with my parents
if he hadn’t been there. Luca found me because of Aubrey. I pressed my lips to
his and kissed him gently. I was so relieved he wasn’t the one that killed my
parents.
    “You
are not angry with me?” he asked between my desperate kisses.
    “No,
I love you,” I said softly.
    He
hesitated and looked at me like he wasn’t sure what to say. I felt like time
stood still as he watched me. I wasn’t sure if I made a mistake telling him I
loved him. The way he reacted made me think so. “You can’t love me. I am the
reason they died. I should have stopped Cornelius before things got out of
hand.”
    “You
did everything you knew how to. You warned my father, and you did what he asked
by saving me,” I whispered as I pressed my body to his.
    He
looked at me for a minute longer then he pressed his mouth to mine. His kiss
was hungry and needy. I tangled my fingers in his hair and closed my eyes as he
pinned me to the bed. I tore his shirt open and covered his chest with kisses. His
mouth found mine again. My fingers went to the button of his jeans. I wanted
him inside me. I was sure of how I felt now. I no longer doubted him. I was in
love with him.

 
    I
laid on my side. Aubrey ran his fingers playfully down my arm. I loved the
feeling of euphoria he gave me when we were together. The memories he showed me
earlier were haunting me. Cornelius was the one who gave the order to murder my
parents, but who was the vampire that actually did it.
    “Who
was the vampire that took your place and killed my parents?” I asked