If something happened to Jade, I’d turn into one of those soppy useless vampires that I despised.
And something would inevitably happen to Jade. Either she’d perish in combat—likely, given the lifestyle of slayers and the events of tonight being a sample of her work life—or eventually she’d die of old age or sickness. Whatever it was, something would take her out.
This is why I don’t like humans. Because growing attached to them is dangerous. Jade is dangerous.
Never one to languish, I pulled my shoulders back and forced myself to face the problem with cold and clear judgement.
“The problem of being attached to her leaves me with two options,” I said, speaking into the void that was the cold early morning air.
The first option: I could leave Magiford immediately, severing my relationship with Jade.
I was attached to her, yes, but not yet irreversibly so.
Leaving Magiford—fleeing her presence—wouldn’t be fun. In fact, it would take what little bit of sparkle she’d restored in my life and snuff it out leaving me with the bitter sensation of knowing precisely what I was missing in life for the next few decades, until I eventually forgot her.
Jade was laughter, warmth, and affection—all things I hadn’t felt in centuries.
However, allowing the attachment to fade would preserve my sanity and general wellbeing. It was the wisest, surest choice.
I sighed again—another sign that the attachment was already getting to me, as I was not one for melodrama—and rubbed the back of my neck.
I swear I heard Jade’s delighted laughter, the feeling of her warm hand in mine swamped me, and I knew my decision was inevitable.
I frowned as I once again strode down the sidewalk watching for one of the Drake’s black SUVs.
I wasn’t looking forward to what was coming next, but it was necessary.
EPILOGUE
Jade
Iviolently shook my smoothie—trying to make sure I’d properly blended all the cucumber bits and frozen mango chunks—when my phone chirped with an incoming text message.
My guts churned, and I slowly turned the phone over terrified to see what message was waiting for me.
It was my older brother—Peri, short for Peridot—texting in our sibling group message.
Peri
There hasn’t been any yelling, so I assume you still haven’t told the parental units?
Not yet.
I set my thermos down and held my breath, waiting for an answer. My phone immediately chirped again, this time with a message from Jasper.
Jasper
Jade. The only reason we agreed not to tell Mom and Dad is because you said you would. It’s almost been a week. Tell them!
I guiltily tapped a button on my phone to lock it.
They were right, I needed to. But I was waiting for one last piece of info that might help smooth this situation over: Confirmation that Gisila really had left Magiford.
After getting discharged from the hospital, I had immediately called my older brothers to tell them about everything: Gisila, Considine/Connor, the mercenary wolves, all of it. Having Considine be the one to drag my unconscious carcass into the hospital had been a wakeup call to the danger I’d put myself in by not telling my family.
Over the phone call, my brothers had… listened. Furiously.
In the end, they’d agreed to stay silent until I had a chance to tell our parents—and grandparents—but I’d wanted the chance to fortify my situation and get a couple of work items crossed off to use as evidence for why I could and should stay in Magiford, specifically that Gisila had indeed left Magiford. （There was still a very real chance my parents would drag me back home after learning about everything unless I had a strong defense.）
I scooped up my thermos—reassured that I’d blended it well enough. I swapped the blender blade secured to the thermos for a to-go lid—then did one last inspection of my apartment.
My windows—which reflected all the lights I had on, since it was pitch black outside due to the much earlier sunsets—were locked, and the fae defense spells I’d paid a fae to create for me were active and humming. My apartment was safe—a very real concern because despite Gisila leaving, she’d proven she wasn’t above hiring goons to carry out her dirty work.
I have my keys, wallet, everything I need for work… I took a sip of my drink and shook my head. The watermelon flavor of the potion I’d mixed into my smoothie—the one additional requirement my brothers had demanded—that I take daily potions for the next week even though I was perfectly fine—wasn’t the greatest match with the mango-cucumber base I’d blended up.