Vespera's POV
“Now we can finally kill you.” The woman said.
The woman wearing my face smiled as the words settled between us, and I couldn't decide what frightened me more, the threat itself or the fact that she sounded as though she'd been waiting years for this moment.
Behind her, Richard Blackthorne stood beneath the violet lights, looking at Damon with the calm affection of a father greeting a son he hadn't seen in years.
My mother stood beside him. Neither of them looked surprised.
That hurt more than it should have.
“Damon. Tell me this isn't real.” I whispered.
He stepped in front of me, keeping his weapon trained on the woman.
“Stay behind me.” He said.
“Still protecting people who don't understand what they are. You always did inherit your mother's worst habits.” Richa
