Page 34

She couldn’t lie. “And your eyes?”

“A Horde vampire clawed me.”

Plague. “You’ve never tapped a neck?” Had he brushed away that possibility because otherwise he’d have to admit he was tormenting a young innocent?

“Never! Most Dacians consider drinking from others a deviancy, a pollution of our rational minds.”

No wonder Mirceo had been clear-eyed. “Don’t vampires live to take throats?”

Kosmina kept her weapon up as they continued to circle. Tension ricocheted between them. “We would harvest too many memories, losing our revered logic.”

Even if a vampire didn’t possess that blood-reading ability—and most Horde vampires didn’t—they still couldn’t drink indiscriminately without madness trailing them. “That plague you landed is going to do a number on any logic you might possess.”

She raised her chin. “Nothing could horrify me more. I’ll greet dawn before then.”

He fought against what might have been a kernel of sympathy. She didn’t feel any for him, saw him only as adissolute addict bound by a vow. And now he saw her as a clueless princess who’d bumbled into a shit fate. “If you plan to greet dawn, why are you fighting so hard for escape?”

“I’m not ready to give up. Once I get free of Nightside, I can consult Dacia’s healer. If she can’t cure me, then I’ll seek out a magical talisman that grants wishes, a ring possessed by a powerful sorceress.”

“You’renottalking about Dorada’s Ring of Sums.” La Dorada, the Queen of Evil, possessed that talisman, a wishgiver with a twist: the more wishes one made, the farther off course one’s outcomes went.

Kosmina slowed. “You know her?”

“By and by.” Since Sorceri were relatively short-lived for immortals—they didn’t enjoy the protective unity of a Lykae pack or the Horde’s ability to trace—the older survivors tended to become aware of each other. “Heard she got mummified somewhere.”

“She’s returned. She now grants the use of the ring if one gives a vow of absolute fealty, but she only bargains with those who are good.”

“Good, is it? The Queen of Evil can control all evil beings—that’s her Sorceri power—so she must be looking to expand her reach.” For what purpose? “Only a fool would swear fealty to that one. Beware the Sorceri.”

“I do, especially you.”

“Especially me, little princess.”

“What if that ring is the only thing that can save my life?”

“I’d prefer death,” he said, and he meant it. “You’re just delaying the inevitable. She’ll make you wish you were dead when she’s using you to kill your loved ones, or some other waking nightmare.”

A flicker of doubt arose in Kosmina’s courageous gaze, and some long-buried part of him didn’t like that he’d put it there.He commanded himself to muzzle this fascination he felt for her. Lips curving, he said, “I’d make your peace, sweet, and prepare to feel the rays.”

“Loathsome man! Again,youare the villain here.”

“Appears so.”

“Look at you. My innocence changes nothing, does it?”

“You were about to behead me in my sleep! That’s the closest I’ve ever come to death. You remain a menace.” Besides, Revenge still commanded him. He would keep the vampire close in case her brother showed. But Silt feared that was not the only reason he wanted her next to him. Protecting her against those wendigos and saving her from the lava had felt . . .

Good.

As ever, the hedonist in him craved more.

She twirled her weapon. “I do remain a menace where you’re concerned—a menace with a purpose to . . .” She trailed off, cocking her head.

“What is it? Your ears are twitching.”

“Silence!” she hissed.

“Ordering me like a servant?” Like a fucking Inferi? Memories of slavery bubbled up.