As for my troupe, this is what they’ve been training me for ever since the day they tried to get me to stake Adam under the bridge. They wanted to see how far I would go. If I could draw blood and keep going. I did it with the Cecily. I didn’t know for sure she would heal, but I was willing to take the chance if it meant getting what I wanted.

My stomach clenches. I’ve come very far—perhaps too far. They’ve pushed me to the edge of a darkness I won’t come back from. The exact same darkness so many vampires live in: kill or die. The cliff crumbles beneath my feet, and I must scramble back or be lost.

I break free onto the stage. The crowd of magicians before me is as silent as a predator as they stare at me, hungry for blood. I doubt they even care who wins as long as someone dies.

My lip curls in disgust. I turn to Lucius, standing on my right, and then look around him to Ethan on the other side.

Lucius begins talking, explaining the final task, no doubt. No need. Everyone knows, it seems.

Ethan’s hand rests on his gun. His smile winds up as he stares at me. He knows too. He will not hesitate. He’s been trained for this, and he already stepped over the edge of that cliff.

Lucius leaves the stage. The crowd is yelling at us now. Xander and his troupe are in the front. I think my name is on his lips again, and I don’t even care. Whatever they shout doesn’t concern me.

I turn to Ethan because I should go down with my dignity. I don’t want the last thing I see to be Xander’s green hair. I don’t want my last thought to be of kissing Roman. There’s a particular hurt to the loss of something that might have been. I’d rather think of Parker laughing with Jacob. The sound gave me so much pain once, but now it gives me comfort. He will be okay if I never come back.

Ethan draws his gun, cocks it, and points it in my direction.

Confusion mars his determined look for single moment.

He probably thinks I have a plan or reason for not drawing my own weapon.

I don’t. All I have left is me, and I am determined to hold on to her.

But as Ethan’s finger twitches on the trigger, my heartbeat spikes. The magic in my blood awakens like it’s been called. I try to push it away from me, try to keep still and face death head-on, but as his finger moves—

I dodge.

CHAPTER 34