Page 17 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood

We stand there in silence until her reminder of the guards forces me back to my own room. Even then, sitting alone in the darkness with the door shut, her words refuse to leave me. They ring even louder as my head hits my pillow and up until sleep takes me whole. I promised her that I’d try, and I will, but it doesn’t mean I’m giving up on her. That’s not an option.

Even as I try to focus on following the cloaked woman down the darkened street, my mind continuously pulls me back to the stranger at Finn’s apothecary. I still can’t shake the feeling that there was something familiar about him.

You felt it too?Athriel’s whispered words carry the same confusion that coils inside me.

I nod.

Shaking away the thoughts, I move silently through the night, taking every twist and turn down the cobblestone street to keep up with the woman. It didn’t take long for Cora to admit that she knew exactly what Amabel’s bloodring was. She may not have wanted to tell me, but the truth is it might be the only way to keep Willow alive, so in the end, she gave in.

This isn’t the first time I’ve stalked a stranger, but they’re always vampires, not humans—and usually, I’m planning tokill them.. I hate what I’m about to do, but since Cora was right about the increased patrols, I’m out of options. Perhaps if Willow’s life weren’t on the line, I may have taken the risk, but that’s not an option.

In the distance, I see the exit to the alleyway and know I must act now if my plan has any chance of working. I keep my footsteps light as I move closer to the woman. I make quick work of grabbing the back of her cloak and slamming her body against the rain-soaked wall. She grunts as she hits the dark gray stone, but I act quickly, pressing the tip of my blade into her spine, just enough to hurt but not cut. She instantly freezes.

I drop my voice down low. “Make a sound and I will slit your thro—”

The back of her head slams into my face, cutting my sentence short as a rush of wind leaves my body in a flurry of grunts. I stumble backwards, barely catching my balance before her fist connects with my face. The familiar coppery taste of blood fills my mouth, and my veins heat with rage. Athriel’s rage.

For the love of the seven courts, stop letting her hit you!

I’m not letting her hit me,I hiss.

You could have fooled me.

She caught me by surprise.

Twice?

I zone him out before she can land another blow, twisting just as she pulls her fist back again. I curse as I duck, barely missing her attack. Her form is off, and her blows are weaker than what I’m used to, but it doesn’t lessen the throbbing in my face. I clench my fists in frustration and focus on the target. As angry as I am, I can’t kill her. She’s a pureblood, and I wouldneverturn my blade on my own kind.

She throws out a kick that causes her hood to slip down, revealing a black and gold mask that covers the top half of herface. I can just about make out its intricate swirls and patterns, not too dissimilar to the red and black one I’m wearing.

I dodge her attack and land a punch to her stomach, forcing her to double over. With a swift kick, I sweep her legs out from under her, sending her crashing to the ground. Before she can recover, I straddle her, pinning her arms with my weight, and press my blade to her throat. The threat doesn’t work as she thrashes beneath me uncontrollably.

“Get the fuck off me before I rip out your throat.”

I freeze. I would recognize that voice anywhere.Shit.I rip the mask from her face, and as expected, a pair of angry blue eyes stares up at me.

“You have got to be kidding me,” I say.

She instantly stops moving. Athriel’s laugh roars through my head.

This is not funny.

On the contrary, my dear.

“Adina?”

I move the blade from her throat and push my own mask atop my head. I get up, grabbing her hand and pulling her to her feet. As soon as she is standing, she snatches it back, pinning me with a scowl.

“Why in the realms are you attacking me?” Tori asks.

My eyes scan the dark alleyway, making sure we are still alone, before I turn to face her.

“I didn’t know it was you, obviously. Do you want to tell me what you’re doing dressed for a blood orgy?”

I gesture to the mask I’m still holding, and she takes it from my hand.

“Evidently the same thing you are.”