Page 41 of Born Wicked

My heart is racing. Something at the back of my eyes stings. And there is a crowd of people snapping pictures, talking loudly, gossiping about the vampire nightclub owner who just got hauled out of his own establishment in handcuffs.

“I think you know exactly why he did what he did, Juliet,” Warren says softly.

My eyes swing over to his.

I hope you recognize it, just how important you are. This city needs you, Roman had said.

Roman turned the spotlight away from me and put it right on himself.

If it weren’t for him, it would likely be me in the back of that police car, the handcuffs around my wrists.

Find the cure, Juliet.

Pound, pound, pound. My heart is thundering in my ears.

Roman put himself in the line of suspicion so I could keep working to cure the vampires and the gifted.

“Why would you do that, Roman?” I breathe out. “Why… why would he ever do that for me?”

“You know why he did it,” Warren says again. No, I don’t know why he did it.

But as I imagine Roman on his way to jail, it all hits me at once.

Elena is in a coma. Mason is in the process of Resurrection. Sigrid has lost her gift.

Now Roman is under arrest.

It’s me now. It’s just me.

And even I can only take so much.

I stagger around, my eyes sweeping the city. It suddenly feels too big. It feels like too many eyes are looking to me. And I suddenly feel so small. I feel so young. I feel so incredibly inadequate.

“Juliet?” Warren asks warily.

I take a step forward, followed by another.

I can’t be here right now. I can’t keep standing here while that crowd of clubbers snap pictures of me and speculate who I am. I stagger forward, unsure of where I’m headed.

“Juliet?” Warren calls again. His stride matches mine. I feel his eyes on me, but he doesn’t say anything as I let my feet guide me.

I stand at an intersection, and my breath comes in and out faster and harder.

Left to home. Right to the hospital.

Emotions prick my eyes. My throat feels tight. My hands are shaking.

I’m alone.

I’m all alone.

There is no backup. There isn’t anyone else to rely on now.

Me.

Just me.

The weight of two races on my shoulders.