Ivy had done as I asked. She had abandoned her feelings of love, and was out of control. And as she let go of my arms to pull my neck to her mouth, I floated in realization that had come too late. I had asked her to change for me, and I was going to die for my temerity and stupidity.

A seeping numbness filled me. My pulse went faint and my limbs went cold. I was going to die. I was going to die because I was afraid to admit I might love Ivy.

I felt the distant thump as my hand fell from Ivy to hit the dirt-caked rug. It echoed through me, coming again and again, growing in strength as if it was my failing heartbeat. Someone was shouting distantly, but it paled in importance next to the glimmers of light that rimmed the edge of my sight, mimicking the exquisite sparkles in my mind and body. I exhaled as Ivy took everything, shivering as my aura slipped from me along with my blood. Ivy was the only warm thing in the world, and I wished she would press closer so I wouldn’t die cold.

The thumping of my heart seemed to hesitate at the frightening sound of metal tearing. Cold and light spilled over us, and I moaned when Ivy pulled away from me.

“Ivy!” Jenks shouted, and I realized that the thumping hadn’t been my heart but Jenks pounding at the back door. “What are you doing!”

“She’s mine!” Ivy snarled, unreal and savage.

I couldn’t move. There was a thundering bump, and the van rocked. The air flashed cold, and I whimpered. I hunched into myself, pulling my knees to my chest. My fingers went warm at the blood coming from me as I found my neck, then cold. I was alone. Ivy was gone. Someone was shouting.

“You stupid, stupid vampire bitch!” he exclaimed. “You promised! You promised me!”

I clutched in upon myself, squinting in the cold, shivering violently as I looked out the back of the van. Something had happened. I was cold. It was bright. Ivy was gone.

There was the snap of dragonfly wings. “Jenks…” I breathed, eyes slipping shut.

“It’s me, Ms. Morgan,” Jax’s higher voice said, and I felt the warm wash of pixy dust over my fingers clamped to my neck. “Tink’s knickers, you’re bleeding yourself out!”

But Ivy was crying, forcing my thoughts out of the dark van and into the sun.

“Rachel!” Ivy shouted, panic in her voice. “Oh God. Rachel!”

There was the ting of metal scraping, and a scuffle of feet.

“Get back!” Jenks demanded, and I heard Ivy cry out in pain. “You can’t have her. I told you I’d kill you if you hurt her!”

“She’s bleeding!” Ivy begged. “Let me help!”

I managed to crack my eyes. I was on the floor of the van, the scent of the matted green rug pressing into me musty and sharp. I could smell blood and cocoa. Shivering, I tried to see past the bright glare of the sun.