The Last Theiro

26

Eden
•••

My breath was pale against the numbing air. I blinked thoughtfully as the frost patiently kissed my face, captivated by the soft, dusty illusions of light that sat heavy on my eyelashes. I adored the snow, more so when it was falling.

The sun had already set and it was time to rest, but I couldn't stay in the cabin with the other vampires. I had to get out and clear my head. The next day was the day I had prepared so hard for. Two days of training, running through tall trees, testing out my fast reflexes and draining the blood of wonted after wonted couldn't calm the nerves that whizzed around in the pit of my stomach. Of course, I was nervous. Everyone expected me to kill the person who I considered as my only family. But how could I do that after all those years Tessa and I shared together? Not even betrayal could erase those happy memories.

"Eden?"

I slowly turned around and met Claude's amber eyes. I nodded my head in acknowledgment and turned back to the river.

"What are you doing here?" He asked as he joined me and tucked his hands in his pockets. His voice was still thick and gruff from sleep. "You were supposed to be in the cabin, resting for tomorrow."

"I can ask you the same question, Claude." I raised an eyebrow at him and he rolled his eyes.

We stood in silence, both of our gazes locked ahead, our breathing slow and steady.

"Do you think I'll be able to do it?" I broke the silence.

Claude glanced at me sideways. "No. You don't have it in you to kill her."

I crinkled my nose at his harsh confession. "What makes you say that?"

He chuckled lowly. "Do you really think you can kill her?"

Did I really think I could kill her? No.

But I wasn't going to admit that to Claude. Somehow, I knew he thrived in my weakness and I felt insecure around him.

"Does it have to be me that kills her?" My voice was shaky and laced with concern.

Claude stayed silent for a moment before he turned to me. His brows were creased and his lips were turned down slightly at the ends. "It was supposed to be me. I was going to be the one to kill her. I was going to be the one in full power. I was going to be Primus." He paused. "But then, you came along and pushed me to the sides. You took what was mine, Eden. I'll never forgive you for that. I trained for years and years to take Artem's place as Primus and when the chance came, you swooped in and claimed the throne that didn't even belong to you."

I gaped at him. What was I supposed to say to that? That was the reason Claude hated me. I took what was his. He was supposed to be the Primus, yet I stole that opportunity from him.

"I'm sorry, Claude. But I didn't know any of that. It's not like I had a choice. I was forced into becoming Primus."

Claude waved his hand and dismissed the conversation. "It doesn't matter, Eden." He pressed his lips together. "Are you afraid you won't be able to kill Tessa?"

I nodded my head. "Yeah. She was my family. How do I kill her after everything?"

"You need to forget her. You need to forget the part of her that you loved."

"How do I do that? It's not exactly easy to forget the person that meant everything to you."

He shrugged and turned away from me, walking back into the forest. "Well, then I guess you have to suck it up and stop whining and at least try to forget her because you need to kill Tessa. There's no other choice."