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His body was riddled with arrows. Blood coated the ground. So much blood. He lay face down in it.

No, no, no. Not again.

I lifted to my knees, checking him over. At least a dozen arrows covered his back.

I’d be dead if they’d have hit me.

Perhaps he’d done it because he was a vampire, invulnerable to simple arrows. He had accelerated healing. Surely, if I removed the arrows he’d be fine…

“Are you okay?” It was a stupid question, but I just wanted him to sayyes. Yes, hewas fine. Yes, he was an extremely powerful vampire, and what would fell a mortal was no match for him and his ego.

The only answer was a groan.

I swallowed. Even if he could heal, he wouldn’t do it with the arrows inside him. I maneuvered around, taking care not to aggravate the wounds. Arrow wounds were tricky, because taking the head out ripped the flesh on the inside. There was a special way to get them out…Think, Samara. I’d seen it somewhere. A book, as a child? I’d need something that could hook around the point. I withdrew the contents of my skirt pockets, thanking the gods I hadn’t left everything on Alphonse. In the days I’d spent tinkering, I’d made a few different objects. One had to work…there. What I’d intended to use to make a kit for picking locks. Now, I twisted the metal into a new shape, a long stem with a loop at the end, which I lined with the leather to hopefully protect his body from the worst of the arrows.

“This will hurt,” I warned.

Raphael didn’t answer, but his back tensed. I swallowed and set to work, snapping off part of the arrow shafts and working out the pieces. It was slow. If I rushed, I risked breaking off the tips inside his back. I didn’t dare move him and jostle them further. Raphael grunted through his teeth as I worked, trying to hold steady for me. My fingers grew slick with his blood. I wiped them on my skirt, returning to the task.Don’t think about the blood. Just getthem out. For once, memories didn’t take me. Only the pressing need to get the arrows out.

I stole glances at the ripped flesh, hoping it would miraculously knit together. When the last of the arrows were removed, I helped lift Raphael, moving us away from the center of the hall. I didn’t want to risk the arrows coming for us again, but something told me as long as I didn’t open the grimoire again, we’d be safe. The book was… aware. Of that, I was certain. If it didn’t want a vampire to touch it, perhaps opening it had elevated its awareness to the point it detected a vampire—a threat—in the space.

But none of that mattered if Raphael died here.

There was an alcove a short distance past the lectern, with no glowing glyphs on the wall. He was heavy, so it was a struggle to move him that far. By his pained exhale, I wasn’t doing a very good job. Still, with reserves of strength I didn’t know I had, I managed to reach the alcove.

“Can I set you against the wall here without setting off another trap?” I asked quickly.

The slight dip of his head was either a nod or he was about to pass out. I propped him against the obsidian wall. The swirling storm in my chest refused to stop.

“You’ll heal, right?”

“It’s cursed copper.” The words came out strained.

Panic swept through me. “But you’re a vampire. You’ll heal. Right?”

He strained to lift his head up, dull, hooded eyes looking back at me.

“Not without blood.”

I bit back a curse. He’d never make it out in this condition to feed. And I didn’t stand a chance at going out to get him an animal. Even if I could navigate the traps on the way out, I doubted that would be enough. He’d once said animal blood was barely enough to survive on. To heal wounds of this magnitude, it wouldn’t suffice.

No choice.

“Feed on me.”

It was hard to tell which of us was more surprised by my words. His eyes widened, pain forgotten for the moment while he took me in. As for me, all I could see was that moment playing over and over in my mind, the impact of the floor as I was slammed to the ground while he shielded my body with his own.

“Before I change my mind,” I said with impatience, trying to hide my urgency. Hadn’t I sworn I’d die before I ever let a vampire drink my blood? Not afterthatnight. But here I was, offering, instead of leaving him to die.

“You’re sure?” he rasped.

“You’re bleeding out. I’m pretty godsdamned sure!”

The promise of blood roused him from his stupor. Still, this weak, he could do little to move from where he was propped against the wall. I sank to my knees in front of him, kneeling between his legs. I steeled my core, readying for the pain that would come. I’d endured worse. And he’d saved me twice over. I owed him a debt.

Was the debt really the only reason I didn’t want Raphael to die?He bent his head, red eyes glowing in the dark. Lithe fingers brushed my hair away, tickling my shoulder blades.

His breath burned hot against my skin. I fought a shiver.Fear? Worry for him?His hands gripped my shoulder for stability. I was grateful for the brace, because if he didn’t hold me in place I might bolt before allowing him to do this.