Free Cursed (The Brookehaven Vampires #4) by Joann I. Martin Sowles

along the beach with my boyfriend did brighten my spirits, even if the dread of going home lingered in the back of my mind. I told myself that I needed to forget about what I could not change, for now. I needed to focus on enjoying the time Oliver and I had left in our little slice of paradise.
    With a sigh, I headed inside.
    Once on the beach, Oliver wrapped an arm around me. I held the hand he had hanging over my shoulder while we walked down the beach, our feet bare and our jeans rolled.
    Without his ball cap, Oliver’s hair got poufy the closer he got to the water. It made me giggle, which made him smile. He had such a beautiful smile.
    As we walked, staring out over the water, catching glimpses of sea life, and being chased by the waves, Oliver would occasionally stop for a small shell and pocket it.
    “You going to tell me what you’re doing with those yet?”
    “Nope.” He grinned at me, wrapping his arm around me once again.
    I rolled my eyes at him.
    I thought about Oliver’s Grandpa Sam while we wandered along the shoreline. I brought up my own grandparents. “Should we go see them?” I asked. “You know, in the future sometime?” I was curious if my mother was buried in Phoenix where my grandparents still lived. I kind of wanted to see her headstone. Honestly, I was curious what it said.
    Oliver’s response surprised me and made all thoughts of my mother’s grave disappear from my mind. “I don’t know, Laney,” he said, his tone holding a hint of concern. “Felix told you that there was a reason your dad did not want them in your life.”
    “He also said the choice was mine now. Wait.” I stopped walking and Oliver stopped beside me, his arm falling from my shoulders. “Why does Felix know so much about, well, this…about my life?” I questioned.
    “That, I cannot say,” he responded very seriously, his green eyes on mine.
    I narrowed my eyes on his. “But you said no more secrets,” I protested.
    “I know, but I literally cannot say anything about this topic.” He gave me a significant look.
    I was totally confused. “What do you mean?”
    He took a deep breath and looked up at the gray sky for a quick moment before he exhaled with a big huff. “Laney, signing an enchanted contract binds one to that contract until it is null and void. Do you understand me?” He dipped his head so his eyes were level with mine.
    I think I did understand. “Oliver , did you sign a contract?” I asked very slowly. His eyes didn’t move, but I knew the answer. “About me?”
    He closed his eyes for a moment, then he sighed and looked at me once again. “No matter how badly I want to tell you something, something you may want to know, I literally cannot.”
    I felt frustrated. Why was Oliver bound by some sort of magical contract, about me? Did this mean my suspicions were correct? Did I come from a vampire line, or was my dad in some sort of vamp protection? Was my dad a vamp, or had my mom been a vampire?
    For some reason, my mom being a vamp made no sense to me. Honestly, none of it made sense. Why was I not allowed to know what the hell was going on in my own family?
    Even more frustrated, I kept opening my mouth to say something, but I couldn’t seem to form any coherent sentences.
    He took my upper arms in his hands and looked deep into my eyes. “For reasons that are unknown to both of us, there are certain things we are not yet supposed to know. It won’t always be like this, Laney. Let’s both just be patient until that time comes. Okay?”
    My brow furrowed and I crossed my arms over my chest. He pulled me into his arms and held me.
    “I don’t know any more on this subject than you. It is Felix who has the information. If you want to be mad at someone, be mad at him.” He paused a moment. “I still am.”
    I knew I shouldn’t, but I giggled. What Felix had done, letting Zane free without telling Oliver. Well, I thought it was slightly unforgivable. Yet, I was not quite sure it was