Page 127 of A Debt of Darkness

My legs pound against the floor and I dart through the corridor, sprinting as if my life depended on it. Because it damn well does, and Matt’s taught me exactly how fast vampires move. Fucking fast.

I crash past furniture and make it around the corner, aware the vampire behind me is gaining ground. My eyes snap up and see one of the coven standing in the middle of the hallway, and I weave around him, ignoring his outraged expression and cries of consternation.

Snarls and violence erupt behind me, and I don’t look back. There’s no point looking back. One vampire will survive and I don’t have time to waste if it isn’t the one from Henry’s coven.

The sounds fade as I hurtle down a few steps and onto the hallway leading to my room. I sprint harder, pushing myself to get into my room as fast as I can. My breathing’s erratic and my hands tremble as I reach for the doorknob, frantically turning it as I slam my body against the weight of the heavy wooden door.

It moves and I exhale. Loudly.

I step into my room and slam the door behind me.

I turn the key and catch another breath, stepping away from the barrier between me and whatever the fuck’s outside.

My chest hurts as my heart pounds against its cage and my lungs burn from the heat of their exertion. My body’s on fire and my skin is slick with sweat, glowing as my muscles try to cool and I try to recover.

The handle turns.

I step back and adrenaline surges into my chest.

The door rails against the lock, rattling as someone tries to force it to open.

“You don’t think you’re safe in there, do you, darling?”

Fuck.

He’s far too fucking sure of himself to be taunting me alone. The vampire’s convinced he can get in here and he’s provoking my anxiety, jeering and mocking as he ramps up the cruelty.

I’m confined and he’s confident.

I’m shaky and he’s certain.

I’m panicking and he’s calm. Cool. Composed.

And about to come crashing through that fucking door.

There isn’t time to do anything other than retreat to my bathroom and that won’t help. Not substantively. Not when I’m facing a vampire.

Henry ensured there was no escape from here and my sanctuary has become a prison again. One I won’t survive if the vampire has his way. One he wants me to think is inevitable and I won’t give him my surrender.

There’s more than one way to win a fight.

There’s more than one way to die in one as well.

With honor, or without it. Standing on your feet or cowering in a corner, and there’s not a fucking chance I’m running away from this. Not today. Not after all I’ve been through. Not when there’s a chance I might beat this asshole.

I wait and the doorknob moves as the lock clicks, shifting out of place. The mechanism moves and the bolt slides, releasing the bar holding the door in place.

The hinges creak as the door opens slowly, and the vicious, triumphant vampire steps into my room, crowing at his victory.

“The enchantment doesn’t work when you have protection from the Brotherhood,” he says, leering as he prowls toward me. “Your mate’s not as clever as he thinks he is.”

I step back and wait, trying to calm my nerves and find the courage my convictions tell me I need. I've made my choice. I picked my path. Now, I need the strength and bravery to follow it and I’ll die if I falter.

“He didn't tell you, did he?”

I swallow, playing the helpless girl he's so desperate for me to be. The one who has to listen to him gloat. The one who's unaware it's buying her time.

“The Brotherhood aren't on your side, darling. They're as disgusted as we are at the thought you're contaminating our race. You're filthy, pathetic blood taints the bonds that bind us to each other. To everything we value. Everything we respect.” He steps closer, closing in on his kill. “They thought he'd turn you, but he hasn't. Presumably, he's too disgusted by the abomination of your mortality being bound to him to offer you immortality. He hasn't turned you and we're left with no choice but to act. This is his fault, darling. How does it feel knowing you're going to die because your mate betrayed you?”

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