Page 16 of Eternal Surrender

She searched my face, as though hoping to catch a glimpse of her lost love, though seemingly not seeing Jadeon she said, “Even now you manipulate me. Pretending that Jadeon has a say in any of this.”

I stood up, wanting to get closer to her but resisting the desire. “I’ve always loved you.”

“You want me to believe that Jadeon is communicating with me? That’s your way of further torturing me.”

I raised my hand for her to be silent. “I’m going to find a way to reverse this.”

“I’m not that naive girl you kidnapped two hundred years ago. I’ve been around you long enough to know all your tricks.”

“That’s not what this is.”

“So what have you discovered about yourself?” she asked. “Any new abilities which you failed to possess before? You were a Status Regal, a royal blood vampire, and yet it wasn’t enough.”

“This was a mistake. You must believe me.”

“I don’t. We’re going to reverse this. Jacob and I are going to London to find Lucas Azir.” She waved a pointed fingertip. “You’ll not leave here until we have undone this.”

“Have you considered you may be addressing Jadeon?”

She hesitated, as though hoping she was. “He would never be a willing participant in any of this.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

She paused and her pale blue eyes regarded me. “If you make one wrong move, I’ll personally put you back in that coffin.”

“We grew up together. We used to swim behind the castle walls.”

“You stole that memory from Jadeon.”

“I am Jadeon!”

She weakened and looked away. “You do what we say, when we say.”

“Look at me, Catherine,” I snapped. “It’s me, Jadeon!”

Slowly, she rose. “No apology?”

“To who? I did this to myself.”

“No regret?” She motioned to me.

“This was a mistake. I should never have come in here.” I leaned against the back of the pew. Having the one person I revered above all, dismiss me, it cut deep.

Her lip trembled. “I’ll never forgive you.”

I held back tears. “I need you.”

“Orpheus, you have no soul.”

“But Jadeon does?” I shook my head.

“You’re trying to draw me in.” She strolled over toward the altar and gripped the crucifix’s base with both hands and righted it.

It was astonishing to watch a vampire touch a sacred relic and remain unharmed. But of course, if anyone could, it was Catherine.

“It won’t work.” She faced me again. “You trying to get me to believe anything you say.”

“This thing is reversible,” I said, hoping it really was.