“Then what is it?” she called from behind me.
I turned around to face her. “I hurt people, Vail. That’s just what I do,” I confessed, the weight of my actions heavy on my shoulders.
“Oh, Rosie.” She reached out to me, and I recoiled, pushing her hand away more forcefully than intended, causing her to stumble back. Her hurt expression cut through me.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to—” I mumbled.
“I’m okay,” she said, taking a deep breath. “Can you at least stay until I know George is all right?”
“He isn’t back yet? I’m sure he’ll be home soon.”
“The sun is almost up. I’m worried, and I don’t want to be alone,” she said. Her voice trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes as she sank to the floor.
Damn it, Vail.
I paused, dropped my suitcase, and joined her on the floor.
“I couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking about how stupid and clueless we were tonight, and I’ve been waiting for George to come home,” she said as tears streamed down her cheeks.
“He’s probably with that human, Ryley. Sam said they left together,” I told her, trying to offer some semblance of comfort.
“Rosie, aVampire Slayertold us that. I don’t believe him. I think George is hurt. I just have a feeling.”
I took a deep breath. For as long as I’ve known Vail, she’s been a bleeding heart, always putting others before herself. And now, sitting here on the floor with her, comforting her, it felt as if no time had passed since we last saw each other. The familiarity of her presence, the ease of being near her, made me feel as though I could finally tell her the truth about that night.
I trusted her.
“Vail, I didn’t tell you this before, but the other night at the lake … I fainted,” I admitted.
Vail met my gaze through mascara-streaked lashes, her blue eyes, bright as the sea, welling with fresh tears. “What happened?”
I swallowed. “I drank from three people, and then … everything went black. I woke up later with the worst headache of my life.”
I took a shaky breath and told her everything—everything except the part about Connor helping me after.
“And tonight?” Vail asked, her voice quiet but steady. “What happened tonight?”
I swallowed hard, forcing the words out. “I killed a human. Drained him. Left his body in his apartment.” Saying it aloud made the weight of it settle even heavier on my chest.
Vail exhaled sharply but didn’t pull away. Instead, she rested her head on my shoulder, her warmth grounding me. “You’re lucky to be alive right now,” she murmured. Then, without hesitation, she reached for my hand, threading her fingers through mine. “You have no idea how many reckless Vampires I’ve met these past few months who’ve died doing exactly what you just did.”
“I know,” I admitted. “If it helps, I could feel your judgment the entire time.” I tried to joke, but the humour fell flat.
She let out a shaky breath, sniffling between her fading sobs. “I want to go back to the bar. I can try a tracking spell—see if it’ll lead us to George.”
“Okay,” I said immediately, standing and pulling her up with me. “Let’s go now.”
She wiped at her smudged mascara with the back of her hand, leaving dark streaks across her nose.
“You should freshen up first,” I told her. “I’ll meet you outside.”
She nodded, disappearing down the hall. I stayed where I was, staring after her.
I would make sure George was all right—for Vail’s sake.
And then I’d leave town.
I couldn’t stand to see Vail in pieces on the floor again.
