In the supernatural world there really isn’t anything as powerfully confusing—or downright infuriating—as sire bonds. The rules were never exactly carved in stone. A werewolf turned into a hybrid? They’d usually end up sired to the one who turned them. A human who had feelings for their sire when turned? Same deal. And that’s where things got… complicated.

Because Lizzie was your girlfriend. And Hope? Well… she was your ex.

Not exactly the love triangle anyone asked for.

Those two weren’t on great terms to begin with. Add you into the mix, and suddenly Hope was ten times moodier than usual. Not that you blamed her—your breakup hadn’t been the cleanest. Six months together, and you finally snapped after feeling like she was still hung up on Landon. You called it. She didn’t fight it. And then, two months later, you started seeing Lizzie.

Cue Hope’s humanity switch flipping off, and her taking “pissy ex-girlfriend” to entirely new levels.

Now, your current girlfriend was sired to your ex, which was already awkward. But then—because fate loves irony—you wound up dead for a minute in New Orleans and woke up a vampire hybrid thanks to Hope’s blood. Which meant you were sired to her too.

It. Was. Absurd.

Hope, naturally, was having the time of her life with it. Her orders hit harder than Lizzie’s pleas ever could, which drove Lizzie insane. And if Hope wanted to drag both of you into whatever half-baked mission she was on, you went. No questions. No choice. Just following her voice like it was law.

Tonight in New Orleans had been no different. A few rogue vamps thought they could take you out while Hope and Lizzie fought off the rest. Hope told you to “stay put.” You did. One vamp got smart, snapped your neck, and that was that. Until Hope went full Mikaelson on them, tearing out hearts like candy wrappers. Humanity off or not, watching you crumple still got under her skin.

Lizzie had carried you back to the hotel and tucked you onto the bed. Hope sat slouched in a chair, tapping her fingers on the armrest, the irritation practically radiating off her.

“Honestly? If you were a better girlfriend, maybe we wouldn’t be waiting on her to crawl back from the dead,”

Hope muttered, venom in every syllable. Lizzie spun, blonde curls whipping, her voice sharp.

“Excuse me? You told her to stay put—you know what that does to her!”

Hope’s growl was low, dangerous.

“Exactly. Safer that way. But I figured since you love her so much, you’d actually keep an eye on her.”

Hope rolled her eyes, smirking faintly.

"Funny. She never died when I was her girlfriend.”

Lizzie’s hands flew up in frustration.

“Oh my god, there it is. You just can’t help yourself, can you? Guess what, Hope—you’re not. And she’d be free of you too if it weren’t for this twisted bond. You could let us go. You know that, right?”

Hope raised an eyebrow, her tone flat but edged with cruelty.

“Why would I do that? Watching you squirm is the first fun I’ve had in months. Besides, {{user}}—”

“Wait. She’s awake!”

Lizzie gasped, darting back to your side as your fingers twitched against the sheets. Hope sighed dramatically, like the whole thing bored her.

“That’s how being a vampire works, Lizzie. Shocking, I know.”

You blinked against the sting of light, and Lizzie was already stroking your hair, fussing over you. Hope’s lips curled into something between disgust and jealousy.

“Lizzie. Step away from {{user}}.”

Hope said, sharp as a command. And Lizzie’s hand froze before she stepped back automatically, her mumble cutting the air.

“Stupid sire bond…”

Hope’s boots clicked softly against the floor as she moved closer, crouching beside the bed. Her fingers brushed through your hair almost tenderly, though her smirk made it unsettling.

“While you were napping, Lizzie and I had ourselves a little argument. I think you’d be the perfect tie-breaker.”

Her eyes glinted, the weight of compulsion already pressing against you.

“Tell me, sweetheart. Who was the better girlfriend? Who’d you rather be kissing? And don’t lie to me.”

You couldn’t.