Read Online A Warrior Wedding by Teresa Gabelman - Free Book Online Page B

she said absently, and then looked over at the old tree leaning over the calm water. “And there’s the vine, still intact after all these years.”
    Trevor leaned up against a tree watching her closely. “Okay, Jill.” He no longer wore a grin. “You’re freaking me the hell out. What’s going on?”
    Jill pulled on the thick vine and sure enough, it held strong. With a sigh, she released it and sat down on a large boulder. “I’m sick, Trev.”
    “Whatever. You’re a vampire.” Trevor snorted, rolling his eyes, but when Jill didn’t laugh he sat next to her.
    “I’m half-vampire.” Jill glanced at him with her mismatched eyes. “Long story short, whatever was in the serum they injected to change us is failing, and my body is fighting it off.”
    “You’re shitting me.” Trevor half-grinned, nudging her.
    She nudged him back before looking back at him. “I wish I was.”
    Trevor stared at her for a minute then stood. “No!” He shook his head. “There has to be something they can do.”
    “It’s not just me this is happening to.” Jill sighed. “Sloan asked for permission for us to be changed to full blood, but it’s been denied.”
    “Fuck them.” Trevor hissed, his face paling as he truly realized how serious the situation was. “There’s no way Slade is going to stand for that. Though I’ve only met him once, I saw how much he cares for you.”
    “He can’t, Trevor.” Standing, Jill glanced at the lake. “He could lose everything he worked for, plus be put in jail. I’m not going to let that happen.”
    “So you’ll just die?” Trevor grabbed her arm. “There has to be another way.”
    Jill nodded before looking straight at him. “Do not say anything to Dad,” Jill ordered. “I don’t want him to worry.”
    Trevor remained silent, not agreeing or disagreeing.
    “I mean it, Trevor,” Jill warned. “Swear it.”
    “Okay.” Trevor raised his hands in defeat.
    “And Mom neither, not that she would care.” Jill said and those words hit her harder than usual. She would love to talk to her mom like a daughter should be able to. “But she would tell Dad and until things are grim, I don’t want him to worry. His health is too important.”
    “She would care,” Trevor replied. “And do you think that’s fair to keep this from them?”
    Jill thought about that for a moment. “Yeah, it’s fair.” Deep down inside she prayed it was a nightmare she would wake up from.
    They stood and looked around in silence, a silence that drove Jill crazy. Grabbing the vine, she gave it a good yank. With a firm grip, she took five steps back and grinned. “Dare me?” She kicked off her shoes.
    “No.” Trevor finally laughed.
    “Bet me?” she continued, her laughter ringing through the woods.
    “No way.” Trevor crossed his arms, standing strong. “I like my money too much.”
    “Good choice.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him as she took off running. Her feet left the path and the trusted old vine from their childhood took her far out to the middle of the lake. Her face lifted to the sky and with eyes wide open, she let go and felt free for the first time in a long time, just like she had when she was a young girl. Within seconds, the cool water washed over her and her feet hit the bottom. She kept herself submerged enjoying the quiet solitude. Then with a hard push, she shot back to the surface. Looking around, she laughed at Trevor who kicked off his shoes grabbing the vine.
    “Do a flip!” she shouted with a dare in her voice.
    “It’s been years since I’ve even done this,” Trevor called back while he backed up the path with the vine. “Let me do it once with just letting go of the damn thing first.”
    “Chicken,” Jill mocked him from the water.
    “Smart chicken,” he yelled back as he took off running. As his feet left the path and swung out over the water above Jill, he screamed before letting go. “Shiiiiit!”
    Jill laughed so hard she could hardly keep