Preface

I never thought I would die in a Cathedral.

Of course, I wasn't supposed to die at all. It wasn't that I'd never considered the possibility, but it was always so unlikely; I didn't think about it often. Not my own death, anyway. I often worried about Jacob—Jacob, who was only immortal as long as he stayed, who was vulnerable, who could be killed more easily than any of us. My Jacob.

My best friend, and yet, so much more than that.

The church doors opened, and I knew who was entering to greet me. The ravenous monster's desire for revenge would not be satiated until I was soaking in my own blood. And I was alone.

That part was my fault. I shouldn't have been so rash. I should never have come here by myself without telling anyone. I should have listened to my parents and to Jacob. But since I did all the things I shouldn't have, and none of the things I should have, I was going to die. That fact in itself did not scare me. Only two things filled me with dread. The first was the pain my death would cause the ones I loved. I never meant to hurt them like this.

And the second was losing Jacob forever. For this reason I would not surrender to the killer, even though I knew it was a losing battle.

I heard her low growl from behind.