Page 66 of The Vampire's Vow

“Why?”

“It was the last thing standing in the way of us bonding with you.”

“What?”

“It’s one of the conditions, at least for Dante, Seven, and me, that must be met before we can fully claim a mate.”

“And if it isn’t met?”

“We lose our chance to bond with her. Forever.”

“Why doesn’t that seem to apply to Valentine?”

“He’s our creator, Evi. We’ve always been forced to play by his rules. If you knew what we were … if you’d come here knowing, Valentine would have claimed you the instant he found out.”

“Then why am I finding this out now?”

“I don’t know,” I admit.

“Wait,” Evi says suddenly, flipping open the diary in her hands to pull out a black envelope and note. “He gave me this as well.”

I stare at the envelope for a long moment before swallowing hard.

“If Dante gave you that,” I say carefully, “then …” I trail off.

“Then what?”

“Evi, he’s offered you your freedom. He’s sent you to me in order to break our contract.”

“Why?”

I glance up to meet her eyes, my mind, body, and soul at war within me.

“He must think he’s about to die,” I finally answer.

Evi stares at me for a long moment, her expression blank as she processes what I’ve just said.

“We can’t let that happen. Luci, you have to help me save him!”

I blink at her, stunned by her words.

“Don’t you understand,” I say. “You can sever the contract right now. Leave this all behind. You owe us nothing.”

“You know I can’t do that,” she snorts. “What am I supposed to do? Let Valentine kill you all only to then hunt me down again?”

“No, Evi. Dante wouldn’t have given you the contract if he wasn’t planning to take Valentine down with him. He means for them to die together.”

“Is that even possible?”

“Yes, but it will send the city spiraling into chaos.”

“Why?”

“Valentine has a great deal of control over the inner workings. If he dies before Dante can complete his deal, before proof can be found against him, the other deals he’s made will … Well, let’s just say the carnage that will spread across this city will be unlike anything anyone’s ever seen.”

23

Evelyn

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