Page 60 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood

“Karius, please,” he calls out in desperation, but it’s too late.

As if given a single command, the shadow figures all sever the heads of the purebloods they are holding, sending their bodies falling to the floor. Then they release their heads. I cry out, but the prince holds me upright.

“Hush now, human. I’m not done yet.”

Instinctively, I fight against his grip, but he only laughs.

Lissian looks around the room in horror as the now dead bodies lie still on the ground. He turns his attention to the prince, his eyes wide with disbelief.

“That was—”

The prince’s grip tightens around my throat, yet it doesn’t hurt. “Was what?”

“Please,” Lissian begs.

“Please? Were you not blackmailing me just moments ago?” Lissian shakes his head, but no words escape him. “Renew your blood vows or don’t, I am a crown, and I will not be blackmailed by you or any other council member at this table.”

“Y…yes,” Lissian stutters. “Please, just let the girl go.”

The prince laughs at this before dipping a nose to my throat and inhaling.

“Get the hell away from me,” I spit.

“You seem fond of this one, Lissian.” Lissian steps forward, but the prince growls, halting him instantly. “I can smell the potency swirling in her blood. I’ve never smelled anything quite like it. It’s a mystery how you kept her so well hidden from me.”

“Your Majesty, please.”

The prince ignores him to continue his monologue. “Gods, she must bring in a good amount of coin, must she not? I can’t imagine what a loss it would be if she were to die.”

Lissian steps forward cautiously.

“I apologize if I offended you. That was not my intention.”

“No?”

Lissian shakes his head.

“And yet here we are. Tell me, what would it mean to lose her?” I can feel him looking down at me, but I only grit my teeth as my eyes try to avoid looking down at the bodies on the floor.

“Please, your majesty.”

“Answer me,” he demands.

“It would be a great loss.” Lissian dips his head in defeat, and I know without a doubt that I’m about to die.

The prince sighs.

“That it would. But killing her would be so easy. I’m not entirely sure you would learn the intended lesson.” He moves forward in a flash, and we are standing right in front of Lissian. I gasp in surprise, and Lissian seems just as confused. “Remove your mark of ownership.”

The prince grabs my crest-marked wrist and holds it before him.

“Your majesty, I—”

“Remove it.” His voice is a deep rumble.

I see the moment he gives in, taking my wrist and hovering his hand over it. I watch in horror as the black ink turns into wisps of shadows that rise from my skin in a dance until they sink beneath his palm, leaving my skin completely clear. An odd emotion fills me at seeing the skin unmarked.

I feel Athriel’s emotions swirling inside me, yet he remains uncharacteristically silent.