"Fuck"

"Yup"

"Fuck"

"I know"

"No really, what the fuck? How...what?!"

"Honestly, same. I'm pretty sure I haven't actually processed any of it but my brain is too fried to even try right now."

"Do you think he could be lying? I mean, that's some wild shot to lie about but still"

"Nah. It makes too much sense even if it's insane. It explains how they're all supposed to be old friends of my yéyé when they all look so young. Or how they still look exactly the way I remember them from when I was a kid. That's just for starters."

"You would go and get yourself a man just to have him be a vampire" Zoya snickers and it goes a long way toward lightening the mood. Still, Sofia feels like her head is about to burst, thoughts and emotions too chaotic and jumbled to get a grip even as she attempts to stay outwardly calm.

"Hey. Do you think Hiari also has one of those soulmates or whatever?" Zoya's voice breaks through Sofia's inner turmoil.

"I guess? It would make sense if she dies. From what Cass explained at least"

"Damn! A woman that gorgeous had to be attached already. There goes my daydream of seducing her down the drain" Zoya grumbles and Sofia can't help the small amused smile that graces her lips and knows that her eyes must show her endless fondness for her best friend.

"Don't count yourself out just yet" Sofia replies just as they turn onto their street and slowly come to a stop in the driveway.

Zoya just waved her hand dismissively before turning her eyes to Sofia with concern shining within their depths. "Are you coming in?" She asked softly. It's a valid question considering she hadn't turned the car off.

"I'm just gonna drive around for a little while. I don't think I'll get any sleep until my brain can settle down" Sofia answers honestly while trying to give a reassuring smile. It must not be the most convincing if Zoya's raised eyebrow is anything to go by.

"Alright. Do what you have to do but remember, I'm here if you need me"

"Thanks, Zo. I'm fine, really, just gotta process. I won't be too long but I'm gonna take off early. I wanna drop off the order for the event. Hopefully, I'll be done and gone before those creeps show up"

"Ugh, please stay as far away from them as possible. I'll head over to the bakery once I'm up then. With the two of us, it should be a quick delivery then we can do something fun." Zoya kisses Sofia's cheek and hops out of the car. "Be careful and don't stay out too late" she warns cheekily before closing the door and jogging towards the house.

Sofia rolls her eyes but smiles to herself. Making sure Zoya gets in safely, Sofia then backs out of the driveway and absentmindedly drives down random roads, staying away from any main streets. The stillness of the night and the darkness that blankets everything around her is strangely soothing.

For all the information that had been thrown her way, her brain somehow still wanted to ask more questions. Had her father known before he died? Had he told mom? What would it mean if she walked away?

The lack of civilization along the backroads made it easy for her mind to sift through the current mess. Thoughts and questions got labeled before being categorized and compartmentalized in her brain. The organization calmed her mind and nerves now that she could think clearly without the mental clutter. The exercise helped immensely. Without everything in the way, she could finally make out what her true feelings are.

Sofia had never made it a habit to lie to herself. She could make arguments for walking away or try to convince herself that it's the weird bond talking and that the feelings she has aren't real. But, those would be lies. Life is too short to overcomplicate things needlessly. To go around and around in circles and hide behind denial and purposeful miscommunication.

At the heart of it all, Sofia has known all along that Cassius is hers, and she is his. The bond and vampires and whatever else don't matter because it all boils down to the same thing...she has fallen for Cass and the rest she can handle.

Admitting it to herself is so cathartic that she feels high and struggles not to start giggling like a dumbass. The urge to drive right back to the mansion to confess to Cassius and kiss him senseless is almost overwhelming. The grin on her face is most likely slightly manic and a quick look at the dashboard tells her it's 4 am and the road looks completely unfamiliar to her.

Needless to say, what she should actually do is go and get some sleep. Cassius is probably asleep anyways...or is he? She'll have to ask about the sleep situation. Either way, exhaustion is finally catching up with her now that Sofia has made a choice and the peace that came along with it. At this rate, she might not be able to make the delivery as early as she had been wanting to.

With a heavy sigh, Sofia sets the car's GPS to guide her back home. The signal must be spotty because the display keeps switching which direction it wants her to head in. Her best bet would be to drive until the signal strengthens and she can get the right directions.

The temptation to pull off on the side of the road and just get some sleep there is high but Zoya would probably murder her for doing something so stupid. Sofia reaches for her phone on the off chance that the signal is better and she can at least call someone. The signal is dead so plan A it is. With her eyes back on the road, a tendril of unease works its way in. Something feels off now and she wants to chuck it up to paranoia given the circumstances but she knows better than to ignore her instincts.

Feeling wide awake now, Sofia scans the area as carefully as possible but it's too damn dark to make anything out. The moonlight breaks through the clouds and aids the visibility a little. The beam of soft light seems to bounce off of something in her peripheral and she turns her head enough to check it out but it's too late. Sofia barely registers the large SUV barreling straight into her from the passenger's side before it makes contact. A split second later she is hit from the other side and from behind with equal force.

The airbags deployed, slamming into her as her body was flung forward then ricocheted to the side where her head hit the window. Cracks can be heard but whether it was the glass or her head, it's impossible to tell. Warm blood drips down her face and her ears ring as her vision darkens around the edges. Distantly she can make out the creak of metal and the crunching of glass beneath boots but she is unconscious before she can even call out for help.