There was a time, on a different world and in the distant past, where Joscelin Fitzthomas, despite being supremely gifted in the vampire art of mind control, found himself under someone else’s sway and didn’t even realize it. He spent nearly 300 years happily doing his “Mother’s” bidding, not understanding the degree to which she had eroded his free will and sense of self until Aurelia had completely remade him in her own image. It took centuries for him to understand the extent to which she’d changed him, and he swore that he would never allow it to happen to him again.

That Joscelin would want to have Words with this one.

The boy approaches his best friend, the person in this universe he cares for above all others, confusion and grief written all over his face. Why would Romeo do this? Why would he join them? Wasn’t he happy here?

A piece of masonry tumbles off a building as he walks toward the other boy, missing him by inches, but he doesn’t seem to notice. He’s too focused on Romeo’s betrayal for that. A flash of color under the skin of his cheek illuminates his face for a moment before it fades.

“I trusted you.”