Page 15 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood

I’m not sure what the hell a bloodring is, but I know that it can’t be anything good, especially if Amabel has anything to do with it. I knew there was a reason that the sired followed her like lost sheep, and now I’m going to find out exactly what that reason is.

“I do not disagree, but there is a time and place.”

“Our kind are dying almost daily. How do we know that the prince himself hasn’t orchestrated this entire thing to stage a culling?”

“Because we’ve seen this before…you know that.”

What does she mean?

I do not know, but I certainly want to find out,Athriel answers.

“Not the fangs. It’s like they’re taking them as fucking trophies this time.”

“I don’t think it’s the same people doing that.”

Dante’s eyes widen at her words.

“You think there are two groups after us?”

“No, I think the second is a lone wolf with a twisted vendetta, and I’m willing to bet coin on that.”

My stomach tightens at her words, and my earlier meal threatens to make an appearance. I need to get the hell out of here.

“That’s not possible. That would mean it’s a human, and they couldn’t take down a vampire like Xavier; he was bigger than me.”

She shrugs.

“That’s because you think like a man.”

“What in the realms is that supposed to mean?”

She leans forward, the corners of her mouth curving up into a smile.

“It means that you think that brute force is the only thing that can kill you, it’s what makes males such easy targets. Always thinking with your dicks, one way or another.”

He snorts at this, but my stomach churns at her words. I edge closer, needing to get ahead of the information they have.

“Perhaps we should discuss this another time. Come, Gabriel will be wandering where we disappeared to soon,” she tells him.

He nods his agreement, and then they disappear into the shadows. I wait until I’m sure the coast is clear, my mind reeling with what I’ve just learned. One thing is certain—I can’t risk attacking a vampire in the open. If she already knows that much, then they’re far too close to uncovering who I really am. I need to learn exactly what a bloodring is because it might just be the answer to all my problems, and I know exactly who to ask.

I sit cross-legged on the cold stone floor as I watch the rise and fall of Willow’s chest. It would have been wise to sneak straight back into my own room since the guards would soon be due to do their nighttime checks, but I couldn’t resist my nightly ritual of watching her sleep. The steady rhythm of her breathing settles the tightening in my chest as I’m reminded that she’s still here.She’s alive.

“This never gets any less creepy, you know.”

I smile at her sleep-filled words.

“If you weren’t so nosy, maybe you wouldn’t notice I’m here.”

She turns on her side to face me, propping her head up on her hand. A sliver of white starlight leaks through the tiny, sealed window, highlighting the dark rings forming beneath her eyes. Something heavy weighs on her features, and I already know what she wants to ask.

“Finn didn’t have any more of your medicine,” I say, leaving out everything else. I still don’t know what Finn has himself mixed up in, but I don’t want Willow to have any part of it.

For a split second, she lets her face drop before the mask slides back in place.

“It’ll be fine. Cora can probably find me a dress that covers my stomach. It’ll be ok.”

“Hey.” I touch her arm, and her eyes fall to mine. “I’ll find a way.”