Deciding that as part of the secret was out, there was no use in concealing the rest, Jasper spoke. "My heart has been silent in my chest since the Civil War when I was turned. My mistake with your younger self made it beat again briefly."
It sounded ridiculous even to his ears. Nothing could really describe what had happened between him and the younger Claire, how her blood had felt warm and tempting and yet wrong all at once, then to feel his heart beating again. How could he explain the guilt, the remorse, the terror he had felt that night after attacking an innocent girl who was much more than she seemed.
"She healed herself, and I think, at least a little, she tried to heal me." He was far past the point of being healed, he had been a vampire for several lifetimes. He didn't want to be saved, but he was fairly certain that had he not stopped that night, regardless of his wishes, the girl's blood would have 'saved' him.