When Tristan fell back to the floor, Eretria tackled King Gabriel to the ground and threw him across the room, causing him to fly into the food table. Several vampires ran out of the way, not wanting to get in the middle of the bloody fight. He got his footing and grabbed one of the tables, throwing it at Eretria, but she was quick to dodge it. He continued to throw tables and chairs at her as she ran and jumped to the side. Julian took the opportunity while he was distracted to try to take him down, leaving me by myself.

Everything was happening so fast. The King was able to hit Eretria with one of the tables he threw right before Julian knocked him down. Eretria was thrown on impact and her head hit the hard, marble floor. Tristan was still trying to recover from hitting the wall, and Julian and King Gabriel were fighting each other as guests tried to get out of the way.

Eretria got herself up off the floor and ran over to Tristan. She helped him get up to his feet and wrapped her arms around him. Her bloodied, black hair veiled her face as she supported him as they walked over to the mother and his sister.

I looked back to Julian, who was now pinned. His hand was wrapped around the King Gabriel's throat, and the King was holding a stake above Julian's chest. Julian's other hand was pushing against the arm with the stake, but his strength was no match against the old vampire. He was gritting his teeth as it got closer to his heart. My heart sank—Julian was losing, and I couldn't let that happen.

I ran towards them. "Stop!" I screeched.

King Gabriel paused and our eyes locked.

"Leave him alone! That's enough!"

He grabbed Julian by his shirt with one hand and flung him across the room. My eyes widened as he began to walk towards me with the stake. My heart pounded in my chest and ears, and I was suddenly frozen.

"You're right, Claire. I've had enough. It's time I stopped messing around and just finish this," he declared, his face animalistic.

He then raised the stake and ran towards Eretria and Tristan. Time stood still as I held my breath and looked between the King and the people I've come to care about—people who have already experienced enough pain. I willed my legs to run as fast as they could towards them. As his arm swung down to stake Eretria, I jumped between, sealing my fate.

"No!" I heard Julian and Tristan yell.

My wide eyes met King Gabriel's before I looked down at the piece of wood piercing my flesh. As I looked back up, shock resonated on his face. His brows pinched together, and that's when I noticed blood spreading on his chest. He looked down at the crimson liquid and grabbed at the wound before falling to his knees and onto the floor, revealing another stake in his back that punctured his heart. The Queen and Celine's screams echoed through the ballroom.

The Vampire King was dead.

Julian stood behind him, seething with rage. His black eyes met mine, and I fell back into Eretria's arms. Julian and Tristan were suddenly next to me. I gave them both a sad smile before coughing up blood. Julian gently moved some of my brown hair out of my face and behind my ear.

"We need to give her blood," I heard the Queen frantically say.

"It won't do anything, maman," I heard Celine solemnly reply. "The stake is in her heart. Our blood can't heal her now."

"Claire... You didn't have to do that for me," Eretria whispered softly as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Yes, I did." I put my hand on hers. "I couldn't just let you die. You've gone through so much already."

I looked over at Tristan, who also was crying. I couldn't help but think that this would be the last time I got to look into his beautiful, aqua eyes that I've seen all my life. A stray tear fell down the side of my face at the thought.

"I'm sorry," Tristan uttered in a small voice. "We should never have brought you into all this."

"Don't apologize. I told you I could take care of myself," I joked, but they didn't find it funny.

"And look where you are," he replied solemnly.

I reached up and touched his face. "I'm where I chose to be, and I'd do it all over again if it meant saving you guys."

More tears began to flow down his dark skin, and he put his face into the crook of Eretria's neck. I watched the two of them for a moment, and I saw how truly perfect they were for each other. Tristan was never meant for me. He was hers.

I looked up at Julian as my pulse grew weaker.

Don't, princess. Julian's voice echoed in my head.

Don't what? I asked.

Don't try to make this okay. It's not okay.

I replied. It was the right thing.

This isn't right, Claire. I should've protected you. You're only human... His voice responded.

Another tear fell from my eye. And I did what any decent human would do...

Julian looked away and his jaw clenched as he tried to keep his emotions at bay. I felt my heart slowing, and my body felt weaker.

You can't leave. He sounded desperate. Claire—I... I love you.

I'm not sure when the feelings started, but I knew that I loved him. A part of me thinks that maybe I did all along.

"I love you too," I whispered as I shut my eyes.

Tristan's voice filled my ears, but sounded distant, "I can bring her back, Julian."

Before I embraced the darkness, one last thought entered my head that gave me comfort.

I will follow you into the dark.

***

I've always been scared to died, especially since the accident, but I also secretly longed for it. I thought that maybe if I died, I would see my parents and brother again and would be free. Being surrounded by vampires—by Tristan and Julian, I finally felt that freedom, and I didn't need death to feel it.

Since I lost my family, there was no place that felt like home. That was until I was brought to a castle full of vampires by a snarky, mind-reading vampire who's kiss literally took my breath away. Thinking back, I knew that I always felt something towards Julian, but Tristan and his aqua-colored eyes shielded me from what I felt because I knew saw those as something familiar—home. They were all I've known for as long as I could remember. I did care about Tristan, but what I felt for Julian was more intense; it was all-consuming.

My mind kept going back to that dance that Julian and I shared. In that moment, I felt true happiness and content. Even though I wouldn't see him again or feel his hand in mine, I still would die all over again if it meant saving Eretria, or anyone else that I had come to care about and see as family. I finally felt at peace after the accident that happened years ago.

The darkness was cold, and silence completely surrounded me. So many thoughts and memories flowed through my mind. I kept going back to Julian though. I thought about his eyes and the way they looked when he was up to something. I thought about his mischievous smile, his laugh, the way his kiss left a foreign sensation on my lips, and how his smooth, Spanish accent said "princess", the nickname that secretly made me want to melt.

His voice kept echoing through the darkness, making me long for him even more.

Princess...

His voice got louder and louder, giving me warmth in the cold. The darkness around me began to diminish as a bright light engulfed my body. I began to feel heavier and my senses heightened. A tingling sensation began to erupt throughout my body until I was able to feel again and move.

My brown eyes fluttered open to see Julian looking down at me with one of his signature smirks.

"There you are, princess," his playful voice filled my ears.