Page 127 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood

“In a way, yes, but it’s more than that. Demons cannot create like the gods, so they imbue or infect what is already existing with their soul, or essence, as this book calls it.”

“Like a possession?” It’s a word I’ve heard the oldbloods use when talking about the vampires. They think that they are possessed by demons.

“Kind of yes, but more than that. You see, the gods created life, and demons are the opposite of that. A demon cannot create life for itself, so instead it steals it.”

“So, the impures are already dead?” I ask.

She nods. “Yes. I believe that once the full transition has been made, then the essence of the demon has fully taken over and the life that resided there before has gone.”

“That’s why the boy said that they were all one because they all derive from the same source. They are just broken pieces of the same thing that share the same life and the same mind. So, killing the demon that the gods imprisoned would kill them all.”

“Yes.”

“So, the impures are nothing more than puppets.” I breathe.

“Exactly.”

“Then Willow…” My words trail off, too afraid to say what I’m thinking out loud.

“She may not have made the full transition yet. I believe that this Julian you mentioned is awakening the impure when he needs to. And whatever Finn was giving you for Willow was stopping that transition from being able to fully take place. It kept her alive. Kept herhuman.”

“But he has her. What if it’s too late?”

She shakes her head. “He still wants something from you, Adina. There is every chance that she is still herself. We can still find her, and once Finn has found a way to fully stop the transition, she will be ok.”

A sliver of hope returns.

“I think we’re close to figuring this thing out. If Finn can truly make this stuff, then we could prevent another war and save your sister. Julian obviously began awakening the impuresa year ago because he’s close to finding their master’s prison. If he’s here, then we’re close too. We will beat him.”

She looks up at me, her eyes hopeful. And I know that she truly means every word, I only hope that she’s right.

During training this morning, Piper invited me to dinner. I was about to say no until I saw the look in her eyes, and I gave in. And now I’m sitting at a dinner table across from Ajax and Ivana, who are speaking in their own silent way as we wait for Piper to bring out her famous stew that she has cooked. Ivana tries to keep her face straight as Ajax tells another joke, and I’m honestly kind of glad to see him smiling. Since his mother’s arrival at the palace, he hasn’t been his usual self, always seeming just a little on edge. I can only imagine what it was like for him and Kaia growing up in a house with that woman.

“I haven’t actually thanked you for the other night.” The voice is quiet and comes from Iza, who is sitting beside me. I turn to face her, and her eyes shift nervously as she pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose.

“For what?” I ask.

“With Hira. It was brave to stand up for me like that. Incredibly stupid but very brave.”

A smile touches my lips at her words.

“You don’t need to thank me, Iza. Nobody deserves to be spoken to in the way that you were. It was the right thing to do.”

A small smile tilts her lips upwards as she looks up at me through her thick rims. Her shoulders relax as I offer a smile back.

“I know that vampires have been awful to you, and so I just appreciate it.”

I go to answer her, but I honestly don’t know what to say. She’s right—they have been awful to me, but never her, Piper, or Ajax. Even Ivana, as serious as she is, has never been cruel. It almost makes me question whether I have been right all these years. Were all the vampires that I killed been Vincents, or did I kill a couple of Pipers too? My stomach drops at the thought, and I shift in my seat.

“Are you ok?”

Worry mars her face as she looks up at me.

“Karius and I had a little disagreement, and we haven’t really spoken since.” It’s the first thing I can think of other than the truth of my dark thoughts. It’s not a lie, though. He hasn't spoken to me since I ran away from his study. He hasn’t been sleeping in his room either, which, for some reason, makes anger bubble inside my veins.

“I’m sure the two of you will be fine. I know you may not believe this, but he’s a good person, Adina.”

I roll my eyes, but they lack the edge that they would have had a few weeks ago.