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Myself?

There was no person or being out there who could help me. I would have to do this part on my own.

Up until then, I had been training my whole life for the moment when I could see the prophecy through. I had gone through grueling training and abuse to make me into the cold-blooded killer they desired.

But they never prepared me for the heartbreak it would cause.

I could feel it. My heart being ripped in two as I made my decision.

I grabbed the hilt of my sword with a shaking hand. But unlike when Nadine cornered me, my heart was calm. There was no panic in my body. Nothing pushing me to rush this. Justa serene heart and an unwavering decision to do whatever I needed to keep us safe.

She gave me a sad smile.

“Do I have any other choice?” she asked. I hated seeing her like that. I wanted her fiery spirit. I wanted her to yell, kick, and scream.

I didn’t want this to be easy.

“Believe me when I say I never wanted this,” I said, my thumb rubbing against her cheek. I committed her face to memory. “I fell for you. I wasn’t supposed to, but I did.”

“Just tell me what we need to do,” she whispered. Her pleading had my chest twisting in pain. “Please, Vesper.”

Fuck. I couldn’t take it. My heart felt like it was being ripped out of my chest. My throat began to close, and my eyes began to sting.

There would be no way out. Not for me, and not for her. We either lived fighting for our lives or died together.

I have to complete the prophecy. And this way, maybe both of us can be free.

“Forgive me.”

I leaned down, my lips brushing hers, so she didn’t see the weapon at her side before the blade pierced her chest. I pulled away, forcing myself to take in everything she was feeling. Hurt, Anguish. Betrayal. All of it clear on her face.

I deserve to see it. Deserve to feel this way.

There was nothing I could do except hold her as her blood seeped out of her wound and onto my sword. It was deep and straight through. She wouldn’t last long with a wound like that untreated, even as a vampire.

She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. The wound was too deep. Blood pooled in the back of her throat and started leaking out of the sides of her mouth.

Her eyes fluttered closed. How awful was it that the last thing she saw was her own lover murdering her? That even on the brink of death, she would be reminded of just how wrong she had been to trust me.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, and leaned down to kiss her.

Please forgive me.