Page 51 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood

His eyes lock onto us, his brows knitting in confusion.

“I can’t take two,” he says as soon as he comes to stand in front of us.

“I know. I’m just here to see her off.”

He dips his head in understanding before disappearing behind the back of the wagon. I hear the tiny cry of a baby, and my head whips in its direction. Children and babies are raised in orphanages. I don’t remember what it’s like to be one, and I’ve never seen one. I step forward instinctively, my curiosity getting the better of me. A gust of wind catches the corner of the material covering the wagon, lifting it into the air for a second. Inside, there are at least fifteen people, all huddled together in a group. A mother clutches her weeping baby as her eyes meet mine. A strange sensation fills my stomach, and I do not recognize it.

Do you see that?

I do.

I can’t believe there is a world where a mother gets to keep her child. It’s…

I have no words for it. My mind suddenly goes blank.

A marvel,Athriel offers.

I’m unable to take my eyes off the mother who watches me wearily.

“It’s a miracle,” Tori whispers from beside me as we both watch in awe.

“It’s time,” the man tells us once all his checks are done.

We turn to face each other, the moment so painfully final. Tori throws her arms around me, and this time, I don’t hesitate to do the same. I let my face sink into the crook of her neck and take in her scent one last time. I have no idea whether we will ever see each other again, so I savor the moment.

“Promise me you’ll come one day,” she whispers, but I can’t, so I say nothing. I squeeze her tighter, a silent apology, and she answers with a sob.

“I love you, Tori.”

Her body shakes against me. “I love you to—”

“Well, isn’t this the most touching moment?”

My entire body freezes at the sound of the familiar voice. I would recognize its sharp edge anywhere.

Amabel.

Ireach for the dagger at my thigh, but a hand wraps around my arm, pinning it behind my back so roughly I cry out. A large hand grabs my other arm, and then I find my back slammed against a hard chest.

Amabel tsks and flicks her hand in a simple gesture, prompting one of her vampires to restrain Tori as well.

“Get your filthy hands off me,” I sneer, but the vamp only laughs in my ear.

“The more you struggle, the more fun it is.” His hot breath fills my ear, and the more I fight, the tighter his grip becomes. I don’t stand a chance of breaking free like this; he’s too strong, and without feeding him my blood, I’m no match for him.

My eyes flit around the darkness, and I see three more vamps surrounding us, one of them with a foot pinned on the wagon driver’s back as he squirms against the ground. He screams outas the vampire pushes her foot deeper into his spine. I look away.

Amabel’s eyes are alight with amusement as she moves closer to us, a long fur coat wrapping her body in a sea of black. Her dark eyes sweep past me and to the man pinned on the floor in front of the wagon.

“You know, I’ve always wondered how they’ve been getting across the border. Now I know.” She turns to me. “I have you to thank for that, Adina.”

“Fuck you,” I spit. Amusement fills her features at my words.

Her steps are slow as she moves toward the wagon, lifting the edge of the sheet to reveal the terrified figures inside. She cocks her head in a feline-like pose as she takes in the individuals.

“Please don’t hurt us, we just want to be free.” The woman who was holding her baby earlier cries out. I grit my teeth, anger radiating through me as I still try to break the vampire’s hold on me. It’s futile. I can only watch in silent horror.

“Hurt you?” Amabel shakes her head. “I do not wish to hurt you, only free you as you so wish to be.”