Be Careful When You Bite Me

I looked back up at my concerned brother. I was beginning to calm down and I could see his perspective. If I didn't kill Seth, if I walked away now, there's no telling how he's going to rule.

I looked down at the crowd of moving bodies. I caught sight of Holly. Her silhouette stood out to me as if the outline of her body glowed. In a room full of vampires, she looked the strongest to me. She was incredible in every way, from the way her hair moved every time she did to the flicker of innocence in her eyes that she would lose if she remained involved with my world any longer. In every way possible she was beautiful, so beautiful it was almost painful. I wanted nothing more than to wrap my arms around her and keep her safe. Be her protector as well as her lover. 

I could feel that she was nervous even from up here. I still couldn't believe that she had risked her life and climbed down that shed just to save me. Never in a million years would I have believed anyone would care about me enough to do something so brave. It hurt to picture her in the dungeon. There wasn't a second in the day that I didn't hate myself for it. She walked through Volati for me, and although she said it didn't hurt, I saw the burn marks on her palms, I knew that she was lying. I wanted to curse the Gods of The Underworld for burdening her with the fate of being with me. Our bond was forming and there was no way in hell I could convince myself to stay away from her now, and I knew if I killed Seth, I would be writing a death sentence for the both of us. Kia had looked into Holly the night that the Council took me away, she knew what Holly meant to me.

Holly would be the first person they would go after in hopes of getting to me. I could ask Holly to run away with me, promise to keep her safe but I knew that that was as selfish as getting her killed. She didn't choose to be mated with me, just like she didn't choose to be apart of this world. She has every right to go back to her human life and forget about me, and that isn't going to happen if I killed Seth, not today.

I knew that regardless of what was going to happen tonight, the only way I could keep Holly safe was if I had Luna perform the Ritual of Obliteration and left her alone. She had to go back to her regular life, that would be the only way to save her from the doom of being mated with me. The Council would have no choice but to leave her alone and maybe one day, Holly and I would be able to reunite. My chest ached with the feeling of dread of having to let her go.

I knew that if I killed Seth today, there would be no hope for Holly and I. I thought of Xavier and how brave he was to walk away from it all just to be with the one he loved.

The idea of giving up on my race for love felt weak, it felt wrong, but Xavier was right, this was going to be a battle that I was going to either lose or die fighting but whatever choice I make doesn't have to be decided tonight.

I looked away from Holly to where my parents sat. Father was busy talking with someone, but my mother's eyes were glued to mine. Her expression was serious and it was almost like she was trying to read my thoughts. I stared her down for a couple more seconds. I almost wanted to reassure her, after all, she was my mother, but she had watched the Council drag me away and was silent the entire time.

I turned around to face Xavier who had been staring off at Asia. His eyes caught mine and it was as if he read my mind.

"Let's get out of here," he said. I nodded and took one last glance at Holly.

"Let's go."

We made our way downstairs to where the girls were standing. Holly's eyes locked with mine immediately and she rushed over.

everything alright?" Her voice was as soft as a feather. I didn't like that she was concerned and I almost wanted to grab her and kiss her. I wanted to reassure her that she was going to be okay,

smiled and

didn't take her much time to figure out that I changed my mind. She smiled a sad and understanding

that were placed at her side. I

open to reveal the garden. Seth stood at the gate and by his side was Isabelle. All six members of the Council blocked the gates where our car

Shit.

Holly's POV

frozen and the only thing moving was the nerves at the pit of my stomach that sunk deeper and deeper. I suddenly left like a deer caught in headlights. The garden had cleared out and nobody was there besides the four of

my brothers," Seth was the first

"Xavier spoke, his

just got here," he continued," you missed fathers speech when he announced that

my fingers

reach out and pull him back

of the members stood," that still could be

his path," you'll have to go

sarcastically," Is

Isabelle. Although her voice was deep

to face the four of us," as I should, after all, it was the three of you that killed my

gulped back and looked at Damon. Beside

go," Damon barked out," I'm the only one

stood amongst the others. The tips of his pitch-black Mohawk were cobalt