Free The Asylum by L. J. Smith Page A

asked, her face registering confusion. “She was the beautiful vampire?”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter,” I said.
    â€œApparently, she’s the reason we’re all on the run from Samuel,” Damon said at the same time. “She fell in love with me, and Samuel couldn’t deal with it.”
    â€œDamon, let it go.” My impatience was getting the best of me. “It doesn’t matter what happened twenty years ago or who loved whom more. Katherine’s gone. She can’t love anyone.” I knew he was looking for a fight, but I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.
    â€œShe was mine ,” he said, seething.
    â€œReally?” Cora’s voice cut through the tension. She stepped between us. “That’s what you plan to do? Fight each other over some long-dead vampire while a live one is terrorizing the streets, not to mention framing Damon for murder and holding my sister captive?”
    â€œNo,” Damon said contritely. “I just don’t like it when my brother disrespects me. If Stefan minds himself, then we’ll be fine.”
    â€œRight,” I shot back. “And if no one bruises Damon’s fragile ego, we’ll be best friends.”
    Cora opened her mouth as if to say something, then closed it. She glanced between the two of us. “Fine. But if you keep fighting, then I’m leaving. And I’m not sure any of us would survive on our own.”
    Without another word, she swept off into the darkness of the tunnel, leaving Damon and me alone.
    The firelight flickered on the dirt wall, making our shadows loom large and ghostly over us.
    â€œKatherine was the one for me,” Damon said petulantly, lost in his own world. “Why can’t you accept that?”
    â€œShe didn’t love either of us,” I said flatly.
    â€œMaybe she compelled you,” Damon said. “But with me…”
    â€œStop it!” I exploded, springing up and shaking his shoulders. I stared into my brother’s eyes. The whites were bloodshot, but the irises were dark and huge in the light from the fire, the pupils dilated. I held on to his shoulders even as I sensed Damon’s muscles twitching beneath my grasp. But he didn’t try to break free.
    He raised a dark eyebrow. “Stop what? Stop telling the truth?”
    I roughly pushed him away. “Stop bringing up the past,” I said, balling up my fists. “It’s pointless. Katherine is dead. And you will be, too, if you don’t give up this ridiculous vendetta. Cora’s right—we need to worry about the vampires that are still alive. We need to save Violet, and then leave London. Can we at least agree on that?”
    â€œWhatever you say, brother,” Damon bit back, standing up and stretching his arms over his head. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to feed.”
    Once his footsteps had faded, I lay down quietly to sleep.

7
    A ll in, brother,” Damon advised, clapping his hand on my shoulder.
    I was back in Mystic Falls, deep in the woods, where we always went in our youth when we were up to no good. We’d tie our horses to a tree and stay up all night, drinking slugs of whiskey, playing cards, and talking about girls. There was a heavy mist over the pine needle-covered ground and a sharp chill in the air. It was fall, and I was fifteen, eager to be a man in any situation.
    Surrounding me were the Giffin brothers, Matthew Hartnett, Nathan Layman, and Damon. A few years older, Damon had been skipping out on our gatherings in the woods lately in favor of nights at the Tavern.
    â€œHe ain’t allowed to have a coach! Stefan’s gotta play for himself, or else I ain’t interested,” Ethan Giffin called, swigging from his flask. With his curly red hair and round face, Ethan reminded me of an overfed toddler.
    â€œI’m not coaching, I’m just giving some brotherly advice. Do you have a problem with