Page 43 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood

“Mypointis that the people in there just about get by, and if they suspect who you are for even a second, they will sound the alarm quicker than you can say vampire.”

“Why would they do that?” Tori asks.

“Gods, you are so sheltered,” he says. “When a pureblood escapes a bloodhouse, the vampires lose coin, so they will pay a pretty hefty reward to get you back. So, trust me when I say, there isn’t a soul inside that place that would hesitate to sell you out.” He points to the tavern.

“Nice.” I scoff.

“When people are offered the kind of coin that could feed their entire family for a week, there’s not much they wouldn’t do.”

I hate that his words fill me with shame.

“And keep those things covered.” He spits as he gestures to the crests on our wrists. For once, I just nod.

We follow Finn through the wooden door of the tavern and are instantly assaulted by loud chatter and clouds of smoke. I wave my hand through the air, clearing away the thick fog.

“Put your hand down, you’re literally screamingI don’t belong here,” Finn warns.

“What the hell is that stuff?” I splutter.

“It’s just cigar smoke. Come on.”

He weaves through the bustling crowd, and as I follow, my gaze snags on a woman straddling a man, her tongue so far down his throat I’m amazed they can still breathe.

Your species is truly a marvel to watch.

Do you have to have an opinion on everything?

What else would you have me do? You tell me not to just kill, so I am watching and learning. Perhaps I will find something I like.

I laugh.

You are incapable of liking things. You’ve moaned from the day your voice crept its way into my head.

It’s all about perspective. I quite find myself the voice of reason.

“You can’t do that in here.”

My attention falls on Finn, his eyes serious as he watches me.

“What?”

His voice falls to a whisper as he leans into me.

“I don’t know where the hell you go when you do that, but I know that wherever it is, it isn’t natural.” He pauses to look around the room. “If these guys sniff out anything that looks strange, then this night will take a turn for the worse quicker than you can say lost gods.”

Let them try,Athriel warns.

I want to agree with him and argue, but instead I bite my tongue. He may annoy me, but this is his world, and he knows the rules. I need this plan to go smoothly so that I can get Willow back, and if that means having to follow Finn’s direction for one day, then I can do that. Besides, I hate to admit it, but he’s right—I have no idea how to fit in here. At least in the bloodhouse I had a purpose, whether it was providing blood or scrubbing floors. I don’t quite know what to do when the only expectation is to blend in.

“Sit,” he tells both of us as we reach a table. I hesitate for a second, but then follow the command. “I’m going to get us some drinks.”

He heads toward a large bar heaving with people.

“They look…happy,” Tori points out as we both look around the room. My eyes land on a group of rowdy people all sitting on wooden stools, gathered around a table. One of them slams a card down on its surface as they all roar in laughter, exchanging coins.

I look to my left and find two women deep in conversation, one holding the other’s hand across the table. One smiles before lifting a hand in the direction of a rotund woman wearing an apron.

“What can I get ya?” she asks them.