The Vampires and Their Captive Bride (The Beloveds Collection)

Lena

It’s a depressingly normal day, my last day alive. I skipped breakfast and logged into my remote job as a client services rep for Stronghelm Securities, still in my pajamas.

On my lunch break, I went to the grocery store and got a buffalo chicken wrap from the deli and some things to cook later in the week. When I settled back to my desk in my apartment, I had a couple of tickets to call customers back on.

I may have been eating the wrap while I was on those calls.

And I may have still been in my pajamas.

After work, I had leftovers for dinner and I finished watching the Queen Charlotte season of Bridgerton. Again. I cried during the last episode. Again.

That evening, I finally convinced myself to be a real adult and get some exercise.

I went for a walk in my very well lit neighborhood. I didn’t wear headphones. I carried mace. I'd changed into bright athletic clothes with little reflective stripes along the long sleeves and leggings.

And my ass still died.

The drunk driver hit me after he came to a full stop to let me cross. I think his foot slipped or maybe he doesn’t care for blondes. Either way, his sports car shot forward fast enough to send me flying forward and the man who killed me didn’t brake in time to avoid running me over with his front tire.

I’m pretty sure the tire crushing over my ribcage did it. Maybe I would have lived if he hadn’t done that.

He got out of the car pretty upset. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him pacing as he stared down at me, muttering in a slurred panic.

When he pulled me out from under his car, the numbness that had started to radiate from my extremities inward snapped off and pain punched through every single one of my nerve endings. I screamed.

“Shhh!” the man begged. “Shut up. I’m sorry, okay? I’m so, so sorry, but shut up. I’m just moving you so you—so someone can find you and get help. I’m so sorry.”

The pain was already starting to grow dull again. Something very essential was draining out of me. It made my vision bounce in and out of focus with my slowing heartbeat. It made the man’s voice come from very far away until I couldn’t hear him at all.

Or maybe he just left me there.

Now, I’m lying on my back, staring through the branches of a bush. Beyond the leaves and thorns, I see the soft streetlight filtering through. I stare and stare until the branches grow thick and blot out the light from the entire world.