Page 123 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood

“Did you know that I took her from Lissian Blackwood?”

The two men exchange wicked smiles, as though impressed by the entire thing.

“You should have seen it,” Karius continues. “He was very disappointed that I took his prize away from him. She was one of the most desired purebloods in Blackwood bloodhouse, but thenyou must know that, Vincent, since you were a regular patron there, were you not?”

Vincent smiles, his eyes coated with lust as the tips of his fangs peek from beneath his lips. Karius squeezes me against him tighter, but all I want to do is get out of this room and run away.

“I am a frequent patron indeed.”

Karius leans back in his chair, his thumb constantly sweeping up and down my skin. Anger sizzles inside as I fight the urge to enjoy how good it feels. He’s treating me like an object, like a possession, and the last thing I want to do in his presence is feel good.

“And I bet you got a good taste of this one, didn’t you?” he says, sweeping my hair off my shoulder. I recoil, anger seeping through me at the thought of what the hell he is doing. Was this his plan all along—to use me to gain more vampires to renew their vows? My temples start to pound as the blood in my veins begins to set ablaze. I grit my teeth to control it. Fighting against my power’s need to take over. To hunt. To kill.

“I have indeed. She is one of a kind.” Vincent’s eyes darken as he speaks.

Karius laughs at this. His hand slides to my thigh, resting there, though it feels stiff.

“And what else have you done to her?”

Vincent looks up at Karius with glee, excited to have someone impressed by his depravity. His gaze falls briefly to the scar on my wrist, and instinctively, I cover it with my hand.

“I left her with a sweet little reminder of what happens when she forgets where she is on the hierarchy.” He gestures to my wrist with his head, and I feel Karius stiffen beneath me.

“As I thought.” His words are a harsh whisper. “Get up.”

His words are clipped, and all humor has died, confusing both me and Vincent.

Vincent tries to laugh it off. “Your Majest—”

“I said get up.”

Vincent’s face falls, and confusion widens his eyes. He looks from me to Karius as he slowly rises to stand.

“Kneel.” Karius’s voice is commanding, and the deathly tone leaves no room to deny the anger that lingers there.

“What is the meaning of this, Karius?” Vaughn interrupts.

“I said to fucking kneel.”

He ignores Vaughn as though the only people in the room are the three of us. Vincent hesitates a second too long, and without warning, shadows shoot from Karius’s hand, wrapping in a hold around Vincent’s throat. The dark mass drags him to the floor, his knees smashing against the hardwood.

Vaughn shoots out of his seat.

“You take another step, and I’ll kill you where you stand,” he warns, and Vaughn takes the threat seriously.

My heart races uncontrollably as the scene unfolds before me, and I sit not knowing what will happen next. The shadows drag Vincent, his fingers clawing at the darkness in desperation, but he is no match for the overwhelming strength of Karius’s shadows. His legs kick against the floor as he is pulled right in front of where we sit. The dark tendrils lift him by his neck until he is in a kneeling position once again, and his eyes bulge as they flick from Karius to me.

Karius leans forward slowly, and though I cannot see his face, I know he is looking down at Vincent.

“Beg,” he sneers. “Beg her for your life.”

“Karius, this is insanity! You cannot expect him to do such a thing for ahuman.”Vaughn says the word human as if it’s something filthy—something to be looked down on.

Shadows suddenly surround his feet, and from them rise three shadow figures. He desperately tries to step back, lifting his hands to shield his face.

“Please, I’m sorry.”

“Speak again, and I will have them deliver you back in pieces to your estate.”