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Fergus’s chest rumbled with a growl.

Shame swept me, and I looked down so I wouldn’t have to meet their eyes. “When I was young, some of my father’s warriors tried to teach me how to channel. They thought if they thrust me into the sun my instincts would kick in and my body would save itself. But…that didn’t happen.”

The men were utterly still. After a long moment, Bram spoke in a rasp. “They forced you into the sun? The daughter of the prince?”

I shook my head. “Vampires don’t care about birthrights. Only the Blood. It chooses the strongest to serve as prince. My weakness is a liability. If it wasn’t for my brother, the warriors at court would have killed me.”

Bram studied the scars on my hand. “He saved you this day?”

“Yes.” The memory of the sun blistering my skin—of the bones underneath beginning to crumble—was as clear as if someone had emblazoned it on the inside of my skull.

“And he killed those who tried to murder you?”

I pressed my lips together. “He…did not.”

Fergus scowled. “What possible reason could he have had to let those scum live?”

“He told me that living among my enemies would make me stronger, and that if I wanted to stop being a victim I should learn to fight.”

“And I don’t suppose he offered to train you?”

Fergus’s voice dripped with sarcasm, but I answered anyway. “Aleksander never does anything unless it benefits him directly. To be honest, I’m not sure why he saved me. My uncle spoke recently of giving me to another prince as a concubine. Maybe Aleks thought it was worth keeping me around for that kind of alliance.”

Bram clasped my hand in both of his. “That won’t happen, Halina. Your worth isn’t measured in alliances. As for training, it would be my honor to teach you to rip the bawbag off the next vampire who dares lay a hand on you.”

Fergus caught my eye. “He means scrotum.”

Mirth bubbled up, but I managed to nod solemnly.

“I’d take him up on his offer, lass. There are few warriors as fine as Bram.”

He was difficult to resist. Both of them were. They looked at me like they would do anything to protect me.

Like I was precious.

“All right,” I said.

“There’s something else,” Bram said softly. “You’ll need two good hands if you mean to swing a sword.” Fire flared to life in his pupils, but this time the blaze was…calmer. Somehow, I knew its source was altogether different from passion.

The courtyard around us appeared to sparkle, as if someone had tossed glitter into the air. There was no wind, but currents teased my hair and swept gently over my skin. Before I could fully absorb the magic of it all, a small, perfect tear slid from the corner of Bram’s eye and onto his cheek.

Only it wasn’t a tear.

It was a diamond.

I held my breath as he collected it from his cheek and carried it to my lips, and it was the most natural thing in the world to let him place it in my mouth.

The second it touched my tongue, a flash of fire licked through me. Heat traveled a wild and unrestrained path from my mouth to every part of my body, filling me with euphoria. Minor aches disappeared, and the back of my hand began to itch. As I lifted it, the rippled skin smoothed out, the remnants of the burn giving way to whole, unblemished skin.

Astonished, I could only stare. This was what they’d sent to Krovnosta. Their healing tears—as priceless as diamonds. Only now I knew they were diamonds.

He reached out and stroked my cheek. “I can’t heal the scars you carry inside, but this is a start, hmm?”

“Yes,” I whispered. It was a start.

My skin tingled—and then it began to burn.

The sun.