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My mind cast back to the place where my tincture always stood, just by my bedside table. It hadn’t been in its usual place. I was sure of it.

Regardless, I’d grownway toocomfortable there.

“Maelor,” Sion said, his voice low. Then again, more slowly: “Maelor.”

Cold magic chilled the air, and fear prickled over my skin.

“Should I run?” I whispered to Sion.

“No,” Sion said, eyes darkening. “If you run, youwilldie.”

Now my heart slammed against my ribcage.

In the next moment, in a blur of darkness, Maelor lunged for me. Faster than a heartbeat, he pulled me from my chair, one hand around my lower back, his fangs at my throat.

Fear spiraled through me as his fangs started to pierce my neck, sharp as blades, driving deep into my vein. Before I even had the chance to scream, an unrelenting force pulled him off me.

In a whirlwind of fury, Sion liftedMaelor into the air and threw him through an open window with a ferocious force.

My stomach plummeted, and I ran to the window, peering outside as Maelor’s body fell to the rocks far beneath us.

“What did you do?” I whispered.

I gripped my throat where Maelor had bit me, and blood dripped between my fingers, onto the stones.

“He’ll be fine,” said Sion. “He’ll recover. But if I hadn’t stopped him, he would’ve ripped your throat open.”

I turned back to Sion and Lydia, my heart thundering.

Lydia had gone pale. “Sorry, I really did think it was safe. Thought they controlled it better.” She cleared her throat. “You know, I might just sneak back to Veilcross Haven.”

I turned and peered out the open window again, my breath hitching at what I saw—or more accurately, what Ididn’tsee. Thick shadows pooled around the base of the tower, but I saw no sign of Maelor.

I whipped back around to face Sion, my mind spinning. “He’s already gone.”

Sion yanked the ring off his finger and shoved it into Lydia’s hand. “Take this to Aelius. He’ll be in the Great Hall. He’ll know it’s from me.” His voice was deep, commanding. “Tell him to send out a retinue to find Maelor. Now. The gates are shut, but I want men guarding them and patrolling the outer walls. Tell them the thralls need protection, too, and you’ll need at least twelve soldiers to get you home safely.”

Lydia nodded, gripping the ring like her life depended on it, then hurried out. I stood there, my hand still pressed to my neck, feeling the warmth of my blood soaking into the fabric of my dress, staining the white.

Sion’s gaze shifted back to me, his eyes dark and dangerous. He prowled forward, slowly and deliberately, his focus never leaving mine. Every step he took sent a thrill of something wild down my spine.

“You’re in luck, Elowen, because vampires can heal with our mouths as easily as we can hurt.”

I took a step away from him, my back resting against the cool stone of a column. “You really think I want to let a vampire get anywhere near my throat after that?”

“I won’t hurt you. I promise.” His voice was a dark caress edged with a dangerous intensity. Embers of gold smoldered in the darkness of his eyes.

He closed the distance between us, and I should’ve moved. But gods—I didn’twantto.

“Don’t worry, Elowen,” he whispered, his words sliding over me like honey. “I’m not going to hurt you, love.”

The wordlovefell from his lips like a wicked secret, making warmth spread over my skin.

I couldn’t tear my gaze from his face—the way the moonlight painted him in silver, every perfect angle making my breath catch. He was too beautiful. Too hypnotic. His magic wrapped around me like a spell, something primal and heady, making me feel more drunk than I was.

“Healing, that’s all we’re doing,” I managed to murmur, though the heat pulsing between us said otherwise.

“Of course.”