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I slumped to the floor, weak and eer I tore off ently on ers to her neck and checked her pulse
"Justin," Elyssa said weakly
I choked back tears at the pain in her voice "How are you, babe?"
She reached her hand tonoises which caused
"I don’t think we’re going to make it," she said
"Sure ill" I took a deep breath to drive away the choking anguish
"I still love you," she said between sobs "I never stopped loving you"
"I love you too," I said, happiness trickling into my heart "You don’t kno I’ve ached to hear you say that"
She pulled ive me"
"For what?"
"For wasting all the precious tiether"
"It’s not over yet," I said, so into my voice "We can make it out of this"
She shook her head "The veno ht it off By the time it wears off, it’ll be too late"
I held out my wrist to her "Take my blood"
She looked at me with tremulous eyes Her nostrils flared as they took in the odor of my blood She pushed my hand aeakly
"I can’t," she whihter than I ath Take e yourself"
She sniffled and pushed ht kill you"
"I don’t care If it et out of here, I don’t care" I caressed her cheek "My only regret would be never seeing you again"
Tears flooded from the corners of her eyes "I won’t do it I can’t We’re forbidden fro directly from humans"
"This is not the time to worry about rules, Elyssa!"
"It’s not just about rules It’s aboutvenom has weakened my human side Even blood won’t completely counter it You’re the only one with a chance, Justin" Her grip on my arm loosened "I can’t feelbreath "Feed off of me Survive"
"No, I can’t"
"It’s your only chance to save you and your dad"
"I’ll figure out another way I’ll search in the lake Maybe there’s another passage"
"It’s too late," she said
I could hear the va closer, herded by the va hand "If you love me, you will do it, Justin Do it for me Survive forof her essence hovering right before me, unshielded and vulnerable like a precious flame in the dark But it felt so much different than what I’d felt with other wo sun that was Elyssa I tried to resist but the hunger clawed at ht the madness and the pain as the need to drink her essence haainst the pain Squeezed my eyes shut I would not do it