Page 49 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood

“Francis.” My attention snaps back to Finn, and he must see the confusion there because he continues. “Your family name. It’s Francis.”

The entire world goes silent, and the edges of my eyes burn with tears.Francis.Purebloods are never told their family names, but now I know mine, and it’s beautiful. It’s real.It’s mine.AdinaFrancis. The name of my ancestors, who were brave enough to fight in a war they most likely knew they would lose. Vampires are faster, stronger, and have far more advanced senses, not to mention the shadow magic the nobles wield. Iclose my eyes, imagining their bravery as they fought against vampires for our freedom. The only way I can fight them is by poisoning them first. Without Athriel, I wouldn’t stand a chance.

I’m glad you know it.

That was a private thought, Athriel.

There’s no such thing inside this shared space, I’m afraid.

“Are you ever going to tell me where you go when you look like that?”

I look up to find Finn watching me, a curious glint in his eyes.

“No.” I stand to my feet, eager to escape his scrutinizing gaze. Other than Cora, Willow, and Tori, there’s no one I trust enough to tell about what I can do.

Or perhaps you’re just ashamed of me,Athriel teases.

I ignore him, opting to stretch out my muscles instead, letting the aches and pains slowly melt away.

“How much further do we need to go after this?” I ask.

“We don’t,” he says. I lift my brows in confusion. “This is the end of the line for you and I, Barron. When we get the signal, your friend will go up there, and we will be heading back.”

I freeze. “What? I’m not leaving Tori.”

He shrugs. “I’m afraid you don’t have a choice.”

“Don’t play games with me, Finn. I’m not leaving her side until she gets onto that wagon. When she’s safe, I’ll return.”

He presses his lips into a thin line.

“Always so damn stubborn. Well, you can do what you want, but once she’s through that hatch, I’m going home.”

“You can’t be serious.”

He rises to his feet as if bracing for an attack, unwilling to be caught on the ground. He would be right because I’m seconds away from plunging my dagger through his damn chest.

“You’ve got that murderous look in your eyes. Look, like it or not, Cora paid me to do a job, and that job was to get her to this point. I’ve done that.”

“So, if I weren’t here, you were just going to leave her to get there alone?”

“She’ll be fine, she only has to travel a few feet to board the wagon. No big deal.”

“You’re a spinle—”

A loud bang interrupts us, and my eyes go straight to the hatch. I almost think I’m going crazy until another tapping sounds against it.

“It’s the signal. She has ten minutes before the wagon leaves her. Wake her up.”

I run over to where Tori is slouched against the wall; she must be exhausted to have slept through the noise. I shake her shoulders, and she gasps.

“It’s just me,” I tell her.

The fear dissipates for a moment. “It’s time.”

She bites her lip before scrambling to her feet and hurrying in the direction of the makeshift ladder. Her fingers tense at her sides, and I know fear is stopping her from moving.

“Come on. You’ll be ok.”