I COULDN’T SLEEP AFTER THE horrors I’d seen the night before. The stench of blood and rotted souls was still trapped in my nostrils, no matter how hot I made my shower.
Jared was still sleeping off whatever Evie had given him, which was unfortunate. I felt terrible that she had needed to do such a thing, but, of course, she had to if we were going to talk about what was really going on.
About vampires.
I knew she wouldn’t be asleep when I knocked on the door at 3 a.m. Sure enough, she answered, still dressed in her day clothes and completely awake.
“You’re going to be tired tomorrow,” I said, closing the door behind me.
Evie shrugged, avoiding eye contact. “I can’t believe I agreed to stay here.” Her eyes roamed the room as if it were a dirty den infested with cockroaches, instead of a palatial guest room where the sheets were egyptian cotton and the silk cushions matched the drapes perfectly.
“It’s not so bad,” I said lamely. Who was I trying to convince? I might have become used to it, but I still didn’t want to be here. It was pure necessity that had driven me to accept Ryan’s deal and stick it out in Ivy’s house for a few months. Especially after what had happened with Ryan. The bloodlust that itched under my skin like fire ants. The possibility that I could hurt someone I loved. That I could kill them.
“Don’t you think you’re a little too comfortable here?” Evie asked point blank. The accusation in her tone was like a slap in the face. The suspicion that I accepted being here, enjoyed it, even.
You should see how comfortable I got on the kitchen table.
“Things are messed up,” I tried to explain. “It’s not what it seems. I’ll be home soon, anyway.”
Evie glanced around the room and then grabbed my hand. I felt a jolt of electricity sizzle at my palm and rush through my body, stealing my breath. It was power, I realized, the power of a witch. I stared open–mouthed at my best friend and saw a stranger instead. A stranger whose eyes lit up inhumanly as she spoke in hushed tones.
“He can’t hear us,” Evie whispered to me. “I cut off your bond for a few moments. Everything we say here stays between the two of us, understand?”
I nodded.
“You need to come home with us tomorrow, Mia. I don’t trust this guy. This house, this whole situation … it feels dangerous.”
“Of course it’s dangerous,” I replied, somewhat annoyed. “I’m not a little kid, Evie. I’m here because Caleb wants to kill me!”
I tried to snatch my hand back but Evie was incredibly strong, especially since she was now restraining vampire me. Power crackled through our palms and I felt myself immobilized. It pissed me off.
“Let go!” I whispered angrily through gritted teeth.
“Not until you listen to me,” Evie replied in a grave tone. “Mia, I know things. Things about the future.”
“Oh, you can see the future now?” I mocked her openly.
Her eyes flashed with what I guessed to be frustration. “If you stay here, you will die. I’ve seen it, and I’ve never been wrong before.”
I felt all the blood drain from my face as I turned that over in my head.
If you stay here, you will die. If you go home, you will die.
Seemed like no matter where I went, my days were numbered.
My shoulders sagged and I stared at the ground.
“Do you trust me?” Evie asked quietly.
“With my life,” I answered honestly. Because I did.
“Then believe me, please. I screwed up and they took you. Don’t let me get you killed again.”
I sighed, tears blurring my vision. “I want to come home, but I don’t. You don’t know how this feels inside.” I clawed at my chest with a shaking hand. “It’s enough to drive someone insane. You know?”
There was no need for me to elaborate. She knew why I didn’t want to go home.
“I will help you,” she said softly. “I’ll stay with you at your house, and we can get through this together. There are friendly vampires I know of. They can fill in the blanks for us with blood banks and all that.”
I just nodded. It wasn’t just the practicalities stopping me from jumping on a plane and flying home—it was this strange feeling, deep in my belly, that said I couldn’t leave Ryan. That we belonged to each other.
Evie’s face softened. “I know,” she said, squeezing my hand. “I know you think you can’t leave him. That leaving him would kill you.”
“It’s stupid,” I said.
If you go home you will die.
“It’s not stupid,” Evie replied gently, using her free hand to wipe tears from my cheek. “It’s the way vampires are designed. For survival. The good news is, once you’re far away enough that feeling will start to fade.”
I nodded because I wanted to believe her.
“Every time you have that feeling,” Evie said, “I want you to remember the moment you fell in love with Jared. How it felt. Where you were. Every little detail you can think of.”
I started to cry. “Why?” I asked.
“Because,” Evie squeezed my hand tightly, “he’s the one you should share a bond with. The guy you love, not a vampire who took you against your will and Turned you because he screwed up and you died.”
If you stay here you will die.
“Okay” I nodded vacantly.
“Okay what?”
“Okay, I’ll think about that every time. And … and I’ll come home. Not tomorrow, though. I need a few more weeks to … get this shit under control.”
We sat in silence for a while.
If you stay here, you will die. I’ve seen it, and I’ve never been wrong before.
“You were wrong once,” I said softly.
Evie just nodded, the haunted look in her eyes almost too much for me to bear. She released my hand and the spell was broken. She opened her arms, pulled me into her, and held me while we both cried.
Jared and Evie left early the next morning. Poor Jared was extremely apologetic that he had fallen asleep and thought he must have the flu or something. I felt so sorry for him. The guy had driven cross–country to see me for a few measly hours and I hadn’t even put out for him. That last lingering kiss on the front porch before he jumped into the waiting cab was enough to cement my decision to leave immediately.