POV (OLIVER)
I watched as Alec sprinted to the door with Noah not far behind. I was certain they were going to Abelia, yet I could not move. The damn vampire's statements had spelled me in such a way I felt I needed more. Annabell could never be mine. I had already accepted that fate, even if she wanted me I would reject her. She deserved better than a condemned orphan. I did not need a vampire to tell me that. Yet, there something about Vladimir's words that were twisted and confusing, and I could not let them go.
Balance? What balance? What was he talking about, when he said there were forces outside our control, a give and take that always had to be maintained? Was it possible that we had been too quick and emotional when we damned thousands to exile? Maybe we should have let them fi
