Page 130 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood

Everyone starts laughing, and I cannot help but join them as Piper rolls her eyes and heads to the kitchen.

The evening goes by in a blur of laughter, funny stories, and lots of ale. I found myself relaxing throughout the night, and I was surprised to find the joy that I experienced as they all shared their stories of their past. I never stopped to think about what it must be like to live for so long and see so many things come and go, and just remain. The culture and the experiences they have make me crave the chance to see the world through their eyes.

After dessert, which was a beautifully baked lemon tart, Piper proceeded to get her violin out to prove that she wasn’t as bad as they were all saying. In all honesty, she was worse. Somewhere between the large helping of ale and laughter, Ajax shoved the table to the side, and Piper and Eamon took to singing old songs from over the years while the others danced around in a circle. Iza slipped out around an hour ago, explaining that she hadresearch to do, but I think the socializing had become too much. I make a note to check on her in the morning and see if she is ok.

I lean back in my chair, watching them laugh and dance, the singing providing a strange comfort in the background. I find myself smiling at their happiness, and it’s so at odds with the image I had for the vampires that ruled our court.

“You’re quiet tonight.” Karius’s deep voice slips through the singing in the background, and I hate that it’s now the only thing I can focus on. He slips into the chair beside me, and I suck in a breath when I feel the press of his thigh against mine. I’ve been watching him throughout the night, and he hasn’t drunk as much as the others. He may be relaxed, but he is always on guard. Always watching for danger.

“I haven’t been quiet; you’ve been ignoring me.”

A low rumble of laughter fills his chest, and I feel his arm snake around the back of my chair.

“Does that bother you?” There’s a tone to his voice that causes me to cross my legs.

“No,” I lie. “It’s just an observation.”

“And what else have you beenobserving?”

Gods, what game is he playing? My heart quickens inside my chest, and I struggle to breathe.

“Nothing.”

He tsks, and I whip my head to look at him. Big mistake. His eyes fall to my lips, and instinctively, I flick out my tongue to wet my lower lip, and he watches the entire movement.

“Remember what I said about intentions, Adina.” He dips his voice so low I almost miss what he says. “I always know what you want even when you try to lie about it…or run away from me.”

I swallow, but I cannot take my eyes off him. I hate him, yet there is an undeniable pull that is drawing me closer.

“I wantnothingfrom you.”

He smiles at this as if I just said exactly what he wanted me to.

“Is that so?” He traces the pad of his finger slowly along my collarbone until he reaches the bottom of my throat. He gently sweeps the hair from my shoulder, and his eyes home in on my throat. He presses a finger against the pulse that pounds against my neck, and I fight the urge to moan. I hate that his touch has this effect on me. I should be pushing him away, but his touch feels so right.

He shakes his head as his eyes scan every inch of my face.

“I wanteverythingfrom you. That’s why I stayed away.” His whispered words leave a mark that burns my soul. The pattern on my arm tingles with every second that he’s in my presence. “I see you in every room. I hear you in every voice, and I want you at every moment. Ignoring you is impossible when you are the center of my every need, Adina.”

Suddenly, the doors burst open, and Eamon comes stumbling in. I didn’t even realize that he’d left. His eyes sweep straight to Karius.

“We have a problem.”

Istare down at Lissian Blackwood’s mangled body, a hole in his chest where his heart used to be. Eamon wasn't lying when he said that we had a problem. We all rushed here as soon as he came into the room with that announcement. But it is not Lissian’s corpse that makes me gasp—it is the body lying beside him. Its eyes are completely black, veins streaking down its cheeks, just like all the other impures.Ember.

I sensed that something was off about her that day when she told me about the blood vows, but I hadn’t expected this. She was still kind to me, and all this time Julian had his hold on her, keeping her prisoner until he was ready to use her. He’s going to pay for every life he’s destroyed.

“You knew her?” Eamon asks.

I nod. “Karius asked her to help protect me from the other humans in the palace.”

Karius’s attention turns to me. “No, I didn’t.”

A sinking feeling fills my stomach. “She said that you…”

My words trail off as my thoughts ring louder. Julian.

“Hesent her,” I whisper. “She’s the one who told me about the blood vows. He wanted me to know.” I’m careful with my words, given Celeste’s presence in the room.