Page 70 of Midnight Kiss

“According to my research, removing the book from her might not have been a great thing to do.”

Anger flooded me. “What do you mean? You told me I had time to get it back to her.”

“Sure,” he said. “Sure, but that was like … an estimation. Turns out, it wasn’t a couple of days; it was a couple of hours. The longer the book is away from her, the worse it is.”

“So, I give it back and?—”

“It’s too late for that,” Julius said. “I’m sorry, boss man. If you give it back now, it will kill her nearly instantly. You’ve got to turn her or she dies.”

“No! It’s a fate worse than death.”

“Who hurt you?” Julius said, but the joke was lame, and he didn’t laugh after he’d said it. “I’m sorry, Alexander.” He never called me that. “I don’t know who she is or what she means to you, but it’s over, man.”

“It’s not over. Keep looking for a way out.”

“I’ll do that. I’ll … Yeah, I’ll do that. But just take my advice and don’t give the book back, all right? Look, I gotta go.” And then he hung up.

I glared at the phone screen and squeezed my phone until a crack spread across it. I shut my eyes.

I couldn’t turn her. I wouldn’t.

The longer I’d been in Emily’s life, the more things had gone wrong for her, and out of all the humans on this earth who didn’t deserve the pain, she was at the top. And now that she was a Guardian, or had the potential to be one, there were more uncomfortable questions to consider.

Had I been attracted to her because of who she was, or because of the hidden power she possessed? Was it love or a deeper attraction? An attraction I had strengthened by sleeping with her.

Doing the right thing seemed impossible. It seemed like no matter how I tried or what I did, I was doomed. And so was she.

My shoulders slumped, and I tossed the phone aside.

Emily’s text had been painful to read, but necessary.

I had to talk to her. I couldn’t give her the book, but I could protect her and?—

And what? Take her away? No, I couldn’t do that. And I couldn’t save her without either bonding her—and I wasn’t even sure that was true—or turning her, and neither of those things were happening. I couldn’t condemn her like that.

I opened the car door and got out, then headed into her apartment building. It was easy to get past the door, and I used my invisibility to ensure that the coast was clear.

The scent of another vampire was in the air, but it had faded, indicating that they were long gone. Her apartment was empty. I could sense it by using my vampire magic, but the one next door, Mike’s place, was coated in more of his Hunter protection.

I stopped in front of Michael’s door and knocked.

Frantic barking and growling broke out on the other side, but faded a few minutes later. A door slammed within the apartment.

A minute passed.

I knocked again.

Finally the door creaked open, and Michael glared out at me. “Asshole.”

“Where is Emily?”

“She’s dying thanks to you.”

“Open the door so I may see her,” I said.

“Why should I? Why should I let you near her after everything you’ve done? You basically sentenced her to death, and I’m here trying to pick up the pieces that you?—”

“Mike.” Emily’s voice was weak, and it sent a spike through my chest. “Let me see him.”

---