Chapter 26: Decisions Made

*VICKY*

As soon as I got home, I let loose, and tears flowed down my face onto the hardwood floor below me.

I should know better by now. Blood Bonds, matehood…it's all a ploy set by the Elders to ensure Kindred didn't feed on humans. That's all it was. Love? It was a long-forged myth.

I was the one who had gotten him into this entanglement because I couldn't resist him. I let my guard down, and I got everyone in the crosshairs. It was better for him and me if I kept to myself and let this go before it went any further.

And yet, here I sat, on my living room floor, crying harder than I had when Jacob revealed himself 500 years ago.

This was horrible, and I fucking hated my decision.

I dabbed off my tears and tried to think positively. I just needed to get through the next three years; then, I could fall into a deep sleep, and when I woke up, things would return to normal.

This will work. It had to work.

A startling knock on my door woke me from my thoughts. For a minute, I had hoped it