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"I turned Jennifer at Avery’s request"

It’s a weak argu because you bled her dry Avery didn’t want to lose the only family member she had left so she threatened to kill herself if you let her sister die" He doesn’t argue "You persistently refuse to release ápe and you have no desire to reforht"

"I watched o mad from the withdrawals after you took Avery She killed herself in the sunlight It was a gruesome death and it’s only a matter of time before my fate is the same as hers if you take Avery" He stands before nal to invite oodbye There’s nothinghiht left in you?"

"I would have fought you to the death if Anna hadn’t co She is a ray of sunshine in my darkest hour even after all these years"

I can’t believe I feel mercy for this monster but I understand him on some level "And you’re sure you want to end it this way?"

"You ápe back," he says "Wouldn’t you prefer to kill ht?"

Curry addresses Vincent’s coven "What about the rest of you? Do you wish to die or go to the New Orleans compound and be reformed? Know ahead of tiht"

The reroup "We choose reform"

"Everyone is in agreement?" Curry asks

"Yes," they answer in unison

"Very well" I take the dagger from the holster around my waist and walk toward Vincent He suddenly doesn’t seeht hi me a kindness I don’t deserve" He holds his position with his eyes closed as I prepare I thought I’d feel a sense of justice or revenge but the feeling nagging at me has little in co eápe bond iswith my mind because I feel sympathy for this known sadist

Vincent opens his eyes and seesyour agápe’s jugular onlyacross a blood-soaked bed right now fighting to stay alive while you try to decide if you should spare my life or not Every second you stand here, her heart slows"

Not another word is needed for h his heart I take joy in his gasp of pain but it’s hi instead of me "Thank you," he whispers as he falls forward intofor her life She’s safe and her connection to er "Tell her I’m sorry"

I could ask why but it would be a waste of breath Because I know the answer And because Vincent Godfrey is dead

Chapter Sixteen

I streak down the hallway toward Avery and feel row as I narrow the distance between us I come to the third door on the left but don’t have to call her naulfs love

The door is locked to i–wood, steel, or any physical being–can stopus

She beats her hand against the door because she knows I’m on the other side and calls out to ainst the door and the sounds of her frantic pounding stop I don’t have to see her on the other side to know her open hand is pressed against the sae on the other side "I’h the door Move back so I can coh the barrier between us on the first attempt and I can’t recall a time in my life when I’ve felt more relief than I do in thissafely in the middle of the room and there isn’t a naápe in my arms