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Phillip rose from his seat and stared into my eyes, towering over me in a way that I was forced to crane my neck to meet his gaze. “You’re right about one thing. I’ve been through more than you could ever know. I’ve seen things, lost people who I vowed to protect, been the entire reason someone died, and the guilt never goes away. It stays with you. You have to decide for yourself how much you want to live with, if one day you’re the reason they’re dead. It’s the reality of who we are and what we’re able to do. Rarely does anyone survive the way you and I can. It’s just a good idea to consider that when you make your decision on whether or not you want to be with him.”
Collecting his duffle bag, the older Hunter strolled to the bathroom. “I’ll take a shower and give you a minute to talk to Nigel.”
Frozen, I could only watch numbly as he disappeared into the bathroom. When the sound of water hitting the vampire hunter’s body reached my ears, I finally jerked out of my daze. His words echoed in my head as I lifted the phone and put it to my ear, heart a fast pound and stomach in nervous knots.
“It stays with you...if one day you’re the reason they’re dead.”
“V?”
I gasped, and my spine straightened in shock. “Nigel, why are you only texting me now? Where the fuck did you go?”
“I needed to talk to my pack. It took a bit of convincing, but they’re on board now,” Nigel said quickly.
“On board with what?”
“What’s this I hear about you and the Biology teacher? Why are rumors going around that the two of you are an item?”
I gritted my teeth, trying to keep my temper from affecting my voice. “It’s obviously not true. But you didn’t answer my question. What did your pack have to get on board with?”
Nigel sighed. He sounded exhausted, and I could hear it in the way he spoke. “If we move as a pack, it’s easier to protect you. People are after you. I’m not sure for what reason, but you’ve been made a target. I promised Grams to protect you. Phillip may be there, but he’s not enough. No one is.”
Since I wasn’t sure how much Nigel knew or didn’t know, I couldn’t tell him about how I was a perfect genetic mutation of vampire blood and human blood. Or how Phillip was the same. I couldn’t even tell him about my vendetta, or how Phillip and I were going to build an army to take down the Organization. It was too risky to bring anyone into the fold that wasn’t already a part of it. I couldn’t say anything, and it killed me to keep things from him.
“It’s the reality of who we are and what we’re able to do.”
Maybe that was what Phillip meant. We were a kept secret, and our abilities couldn’t be shared with others the same way other Hunters’ abilities could. I’d be forever keeping things from Nigel if I wanted to stay in a relationship with him, and he’d never know why he had a target on his back with the Organization. He’d be targeted straight away and considered my weakness.
Could I be the reason he was hurt or worse?
“Don’t come back.” My voice was painfully tight, and I fought to keep it from giving me away. “It’s over between us.”
“What? V, I’m sorry I left and didn’t respond. There were reasons. I know you’re angry, but I promise to explain everything when I get there. I’ll make it up to you. You know I’d never leave without saying anything for no reason. I realize I really fucked up by not talking to you first, but I couldn’t waste time coming here. I’m their alpha.” Nigel’s rushed voice was desperate, sorry, utterly heartbroken, and he’d never know how difficult it was for me to say what I said next.
“I don’t want to be with you anymore, Nigel. I’m not angry. I just realized over the last two weeks that it’s better for us not to be together.” I swallowed around a hard lump in my throat, tears escaping my eyes and burning hot paths down my cheeks. “I won’t be staying here long. Don’t come back.”
“V!”
I couldn’t say anything more without breaking down, so I ended the call and shattered the phone in my hand. It sat in my palm, completely destroyed, so I tossed the remnants into the trash.
As I swiftly fled the kitchen where I’d thrown away the phone, I nearly ran into Phillip as he exited the bathroom. It was clear he’d heard everything because he looked like he wanted to say something but knew damn well that he shouldn’t.
“Hungry?”
My eyes hurt from crying, but I nodded. “I could really go for a burger and shake right now.”
“Dinner and a movie it is, then. I’ll let Rose know you’re staying over.”
I eyed the man, unconvinced. “I never said I’d stay the night.”
“I thought you wanted to know what we fought earlier and to hear stories about Rose when she was younger?”
The second part I never said out loud. I absently wondered if he was a mind reader or if I was just that damn easy to read.
After this, I’d need to work on hiding my emotions better. It’d get someone killed if everything showed on my face in a fight.
“I’ll stay, but only if you let me choose what movie we watch later,” I demanded.
His happy grin brightened his annoyingly gorgeous features. “As long as it’s notTwilight, deal.”
