Page 130 of Eternal Surrender

“Did you do something terrible?” She peered up at me with confusion.

I hung my head, grasping for words that would carry the truth of what happened to me, and the far more dangerous reality of who I was, and who she had been intimate with.

She drew in a sharp breath. “Get me out of here—now!”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The words tumbled out and I’d almost choked on each one, glancing over at the door, hoping Fabian would end my trial and this terrible fear of losing Ingrid forever.

And by my own hand, no less.

The truth had no choice but to find its way, sparing nothing.

How did you explain two warring vampires had become one and that I was the result? How do you convince anyone it was real, not a delusion? How did you speak of the monstrous thing that I was made of two vampires and still sound sane.

How could I go on with all that had happened to me?

Ingrid’s back was pressed up against the far wall. “I don’t believe you!”

“It happened at Stonehenge,” I continued, trying to get through to her.

“You’re lying.”

“Afterward, Alex took you back to the Mount. You actually witnessed my transformation.”

“I didn’t, William.”

“Fabian really did wipe your memory.” It sounded fantastical, convenient even.

“Stay right there!”

I made a gesture to reassure her I would.

She pressed her hands to her face trying to hide her terror. “There’s no Fabian Snowstrom.”

“You’re holding back something, Ingrid.”

“What?”

“If you’d have shared it with me, we’d be out of here by now.”

She was staring, full of mistrust.

“I know how this sounds,” I said. “I don’t expect you to believe me.”

She slammed her hand against her mouth stopping any further words from spilling.

“I told you Orpheus is dead because I didn’t know how to explain this to you,” I said.

“Please, William, let’s leave now.”

“I’ll do what I can.”

The end wall shifted and shoved me forward, and I turned round to see it advancing toward us. I pushed up against it trying to slow its advancement.

Ingrid screamed.

“Fabian!” I yelled, pressing my shoulder against the advancing brick.