Oops, My Vampire Ex Wants a Do-Over!

I led Lucian to one of the empty backrooms. We stood there in awkward silence until he gently guided me to the sofa.

“How’s your injury? Do you still feel any pain?” he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

“Isn’t it a little late to be asking that?” I couldn’t help the snark in my voice.

He’d had plenty of chances to show he cared, but it always seemed like he only noticed once he realized he’d screwed up.

Lucian grasped my hand, pressing it on his cheek. “Sera, I was wrong. Please, forgive me,” he said, his voice heavy with remorse.

That move used to break me every time, but I wasn’t going to fall for it again.

I pulled my hand back. “Lucian, we need to stop this.” I sighed, keeping my eyes down. I knew one look at him would shatter my resolve.

“What do you mean?” he asked, clearly taken aback.

“Us…” I started, but he cut me off.

“You’re making this really hard for me, Sera,” he said, his voice losing its gentleness. “You know I’m doing this for us, right?”

“I’m not blowing things out of proportion, Lucian. We’ve been avoiding the truth for too long. A pureblood with a dhampir was a joke.”

“Blast it!” he growled, slamming his fist into the coffee table, splitting it in half.

The room crackled with tension, but before it could get any more awkward, Elsie suddenly barged in.

“Lucian? What are you doing here? I thought you couldn’t make it.” She stopped when she noticed me. “Oh, I didn’t mean to intrude. The door was open when I passed by.”

“Don’t worry. We’re done here,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady as stood up.

“Good.” She smiled, pulling Lucian by the arm. “Our friends are waiting for us. Let’s go see them.”

Then, she turned to me, adding with a syrupy sweetness, “Sera, you’re welcome to join us.”

Her words were inviting, but the venom behind them was unmistakable.

I tried to decline the offer, wanting to be left alone, but Elsie wasn’t having it and practically dragged me along.

She led us to another room, full of their friends, all buzzing with cheers. I felt out of place and wanted to slip out, but someone who recognized me pulled me into a seat before I could. Elsie and Lucian took their spots across from me.

“Took you two long enough! You shouldn’t keep your guests waiting!” Someone complained, to which the others agreed.

The party got going. Couples started making out, others were deep into flirting, and of course, Elsie was glued to Lucian’s side. I wanted to leave but couldn’t find the right moment to make my escape.

Then someone dropped a bomb.

“So, why’s this half-breed still tagging along, Lucian? I thought you finally moved on when you got engaged to Elsie.”

The room went dead silent, and suddenly, all eyes were on me.

“Why don’t you ask the one who dragged me here?” I said flatly. These thoroughbred vampires always threw their weight around, and I usually kept my head down, never defending myself. Lucian had no idea how they treated me when he wasn’t looking. Maybe they thought they could do whatever they wanted now that he’d dumped me for Elsie. Jokes on them, though—I was in the mood for a fight tonight.

“How dare you talk back to me, you halfwit!” he shouted.

I stood up, ready to throw down, when Lucian unleashed his dominion.

“Enough.”

The room went dead silent under the weight of his power. It didn’t hit them as hard as it hit me, though—I dropped to my knees, wheezing. Our eyes met for a brief second before I bolted out of there. Forget my shift. I just needed to be somewhere safe, so I went home.

I didn’t remember much after I got home, but I woke up sprawled on my apartment floor, my phone buzzing nonstop with an unknown number. My head was pounding from the aftermath, so I answered without thinking.

“Sera, it’s me.” Lucian’s voice, slurred and clearly drunk, cut through my haze. My dizziness vanished in an instant. I glanced at the screen, wondering if I was imagining it. I wasn’t.

“It’s morning. Why are you calling me?” I replied, my voice was cold.

Lucian sighed deeply. “I’m sorry. Can we start over? I miss you.”

I swallowed hard, at a loss for words. Why does he keep playing this wicked game with me?