Page 47 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood

“Unless you want to go back?”

I pin Finn with a cold stare, but he only smiles before lifting his hand towards the darkness.

“Ladies first.”

I grit my teeth, my scowl promising him death. I slide the dagger from my belt, scooting to the edge of the darkness, before stepping over the threshold. The sting of cold air assaults me, and an uneasy feeling creeps up my spine. I remind myself why I’m doing this. I need that donor spot to save Willow, and for Amabel to agree, she must truly believe Tori is dead, so this is the only way. I move forward until I’m completely blanketed in darkness. How the hell are we supposed to find our way in here?

“You still alive in there, Barron?”

“No thanks to you!” I call out before hearing him laugh.

I take a step forward, but my eyes refuse to adjust to the darkness.

“It’s pitch black in here, so you need to be careful,” I call over my shoulder.

I hear fumbling behind me and move slowly, unsure which way to go. I stretch out and find the wall’s jagged edge for purchase; the damp surface bites into my palm. A cold washes over me, and I curse myself for not wearing more. But heavier clothes would slow me — I need quick access to my dagger, so a little cold is a price I’ll pay.

“You ok?” I call back.

“I’m ok,” Tori answers.

“Finn?” Nothing. “Finn? Finn, are you ok?”

A dark laugh comes from behind me.

“So, you do care then? Nice to know.”

“You bastard, I thou—”

The words die on my lips as six starlight orbs appear in the air above us, their bright white light illuminating the tunnel. I laugh as I take in the vast space around us, bending my neck back to get a better view. It’s incredible.It’s huge.I have no idea how humans could have ever had the strength or stamina to build something like this without the aid of magic.

A gasp comes from beside me, and I find Tori staring up just as I am.

“This just isn’t real,” she says, and I can’t help the smile that slips onto my face.

“Oh, it’s real alright,” Finn says as he dusts his hands off.

I turn towards him and narrow my eyes.

“You had those starlight orbs the entire time, didn’t you?”

An ear-splitting grin fills his face.

“Yup. It was just fun hearing the panic in your voice.”

“It’s going to be fun hearing yours, too,” I say.

“I look forward to it.”

“How did humans get their hands on starlight anyway?” It’s no secret our court trades shadows with the Court of Starlight in return for their light, the only way we can move through our darkness. But those lights are a luxury, granted only when the vampires choose. Humans are never allowed to gain direct access to such magic. Especially magic as versatile as starlight. The other two courts in Kalyn don’t trade in magic, and Rumyr’s kingdom trades nothing, bound beneath the rule of the Court of Nightmares. Everyone knows they are friends to no one.

“There are a lot of things humans are capable of doing when vampires are not standing in their way, Adina.”

I find myself nodding in agreement with him. This place is proof of that. I still can’t believe it exists.

“As much as I would love to take a trip down memory lane and give you the full tour, we have at least an hour’s walk ahead of us.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Tori groans.