Page 122 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood

“It’s called a glamor, kind of like the one I gave you that night at the apothecary, except it can hide what a person truly is.”

“The sired cannot go against the nobles, trust me.”

He laughs at this.

“You mean the blood vow?” My eyes widen at his words. “Yeah, I know a lot more than you think. I also know that Julian was working on a way of severing that connection. He may have already figured it out. This is big, Adina, and for once, we humans are not involved. This isn’t our war, so I say we just stay out of it, let the monsters kill each other.”

My stomach churns at his words because somehow I have come to care for some of the vampires, too, though I’m not about to admit that to him.

“I can’t do that,” I whisper.

“Then you’re a fool.”

“And so are you if you think we won’t get caught in the crossfires, that Julian won’t use us even worse than the vampires have. Sitting back and pretending something isn’t happening doesn’t make it go away. At some point, the fight comes to you, and you have to stand up and face it. Or you could get there first. I know which side of history I want to be on, and it’s not working for a monster like Julian.”

He considers my words for a long while.

“Why did he take your sister?” he asks.

“He wanted me to kill the prince.”

His eyes widen. “Clearly, you didn’t.”

“I tried.”

A small smile tugs at the corners of his lips.

“Of course you did.” He closes his eyes for a brief second. “Fine, I’ll try, but if I die, then it’s all your fault.”

I smile at him. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

“Ah, there she is.” I pause at Karius’s casual tone as I step into the small drawing room that the guard just advised me he had requested I attend. Another stupid event. My back stiffens as I notice the two guests accompanying him. Vaughn and Vincent Vancova. My eyes scan the room, but there is no one else present other than the two guards who stand like statues in the two corners of the room.Why the hell am I the only pureblood here?

I don’t like this,Athriel says.

Neither do I.

“Come, Pet.” Karius beckons me over, and anger courses through me at the use of the nickname. It’s the second time that he has used the term, and I feel like taking my dagger to his throat for it.

He gives me a warning glare that has me moving forward. I have no idea what he’s up to, but there is a seriousness that I feel tugging at me that tells me that now is not the time to argue.

I step forward reluctantly, unsure of the purpose behind this. Usually, I’m only required at large events where other purebloods are also in attendance. These smaller private meetings have always been reserved for vampires only, and I can only assume that it is when they discuss things that they do not wish for us to be privy to.

I stop beside Karius as he sits lazily back in his chair, his posture relaxed and easy. He’s never like this. I eye the amberliquid he is swilling around in his glass and wonder if he has perhaps had one too many.

“Sit,” he orders, pointing to his lap. My back is to the two Vancova vampires, so my eyes narrow in question. “It was a simple command, human. You are competent in Kalish, are you not?”

A pause passes between us, and I swallow, too angry to do anything else.

“I am,” I say before I sit on his lap.

He slips a hand around my waist, pressing my back right up against his chest. He releases an irritating laugh that I have never heard from him, and I stiffen. His hand is splayed out flat across my stomach, but his thumb sweeps up and down against the exposed flesh that my dress lets out.

He knocks back the contents of his drink before placing the empty glass on the wooden table that sits between us and the Vancovas. Vincent’s eyes scan me from head to toe, and the lust in his gaze cannot be missed. He flicks out a tongue to wet his lips, and it sends memories of his warm breath against my ear, his mouth still hot with Jace’s blood.

“I have become quite fond of this one, gentlemen,” Karius says, breaking my train of thought. He inhales deeply against my hair.

“I can see why,” Vaughn says, sitting forward as he adjusts the bulge in his pants. Bile rises in my throat. Another sweep of Karius’s thumb steals my attention from the disgusting creature for a second.