Lucien's POV
Christian immediately staggered to his feet, his expression twisting in confusion. His vision seemed unfocused, his stance uneasy.
"What is this woman saying?" he muttered, his voice low but sharp.
Shirley, however, remained perfectly composed—arms folded, head tilted slightly, a smirk curving her lips.
"I am a vampire," she declared calmly. "Vampires originated from the Salvatore twins—twenty years ago. And here I am today, standing before you, the last of my kind."
Christian's hazel eyes flickered, his posture tightening.
"The only reason nature didn't take me," Shirley continued, her tone unwavering, "was because I was in the middle of my transition when the purge began. When nature decided to wipe out the vampires, I was already half-turned—between life and death. And though I was on the brink of dying, someone came to save me. But that's another story."
Her words hung in the air like smoke.
