Page 36 of The Coven’s Sacrifice

“We need to make it look like an accident,” Louise started, showing the others her notes. “Anastasia’s schedule is extremely predictable. We just need to mess with her car and then things will happen on their own.”

They hated this, but they needed Anastasia gone. She wasn’t bound to the vampires, Colin was. He was the only one alive who could end all of this.

“And once she’s dead…” Hannah said.

“We wait until the blood vow is broken,” Louise nodded.

“And then we kill them all,” Jannie whispered.

Louise and Hannah both swallowed, then nodded.

“And then we kill all the vampires,” Louise agreed.

“Like we promised to do,” Hannah added.

Because they had promised. These three women were the last left of their coven, and now they had to kill sixteen vampires and their human sacrifices. They had to. Their coven sister Gretha had started this mess and even though eight hundred years had passed, it was their duty to rid the world of this evil.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Colin

Alexander and I were both hurting as we showered together. It was pure comfort and intimacy but nothing sexual as we washed one another. He was hurting because we’d just doomed his lovers–or maybe ex-lovers–into imprisonment for all eternity. Knowing with certainty that Alexander and I would be freed, but they wouldn’t… it fucking hurt.

Selfishly, I was glad to have chosen Alexander without really knowing what it meant. If I had to choose between the three vampires… I wouldn’t have been able to.

“Why did none of you tell me how you were freed?” I questioned as we got dry. If I’d been in their shoes, I would’ve done anything to make me fall for them. They sort of had, just without telling me it would save their lives.

“We made an agreement that we wouldn’t tell you. We each wanted our freedom and it felt better to us that you chose yourself without knowing what would happen,” he explained. “That was also part of the reason why I was so cold towards you in the beginning. I tried pushing you away so Harland or Jacob could have a chance at freedom.”

“But that changed after we spent those nights together?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

He nodded. “My monster wants you, and like I said, I am a selfish man. I simply took what I wanted. And I wanted you, Colin.”

“Do you regret it?” I whispered.

He shook his head. “I have made many mistakes during my long life, but being yours is the thing that I could not control. I was already yours before you claimed me, and I will spend the rest of our very long life making up for my mistakes by loving you.”

My arms came around his waist, holding him tight against me. We were still naked in the bathroom, but it felt right being in his arms.

“I have to be honest with you, Alexander,” I whispered. He likely already knew, but I had to say the words.

“You still care for Harland and Jacob,” he said, speaking the exact words I was about to utter.

I could only nod against his throat. “I feel ashamed of it, but I can’t help it. I feel like I’m tied to all three of you.”

Alexander said nothing as he hugged me back, but his emotions said enough. He felt guilty, sad, jealous, and a tad angry.

“Come,” he said, tilting my chin up and pecking a quick kiss on my lips. “You need some food.”

I groaned. “I can’t stomach anything right now.”

“Nicco came while we were in the shower, it will be rude not to eat what he spent time cooking for you,” he said, chuckling at my indignant expression.

“Can you eat at this time?!” I asked.

Instead of getting irritated with me, his smile went from tender to wicked. “I can eat you at any time, my precious human.” I found myself backed up against the bathroom wall, suddenly very aware of how naked we both were.

“You can?” I breathed.