Page 61 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood

Lissian drops my wrist before taking a step back, creating distance between him and the prince.

“You wanted me to own something of yours so badly. Well, now I do.”

Lissian’s face drops at his words as the entire room looks on in shock. The prince finally frees me from his hold, giving me the chance to turn my angry gaze on him.

“No need to get angry, little human, there’ll be plenty of time for that back at the palace.”

His words cause me to pause.

“The what…”

The corners of his mouth lift as he seems to revel in my confusion.

“The palace, or thanks to Lord Blackwood here, your new home.” For once, I’m stunned into silence. “I will be waiting in my carriage, Lissian. See to it that the human is dressed and ready to leave within the hour.”

Before I can react, he vanishes from the room, and the realization finally sinks in. I’m no longer the property of Blackwood House. I belong to the prince now.

I fold the last of my items into the small satchel Lissian provided for my journey. I didn’t even hide the sneer on my face when I snatched it from him. His big mouth landed me in this position, and it’s not as if there’s anything he can do to me now that I am the prince’s property.

Even just thinking the words makes my stomach sink.

This could be a good thing.

How in the realms can anything about this be good, Athriel?

You need to kill the prince, and now you have all the time you need.

I laugh at this.

Yeah, inside his heavily guarded palace. It sounds fantastic.

It will be easy if you are cunning enough. Now you have the time to plan ahead.

I’m not waiting. The prince is dying tonight, and then I’m getting out of that place to find Willow.

I do not think that is wise.

Honestly, I don’t care what you think.

A loud bang rattles the door, and Cora stumbles toward me. The moment she reaches me, her arms wrap around me.

“I just heard what happened.”

She steps back, looking at me with reddened eyes.

“He killed them all. Like they were nothing.” I let out a breath. “I thought…I thought he was going to kill me.”

I finally let out the thoughts that have been plaguing me since the prince announced I would be leaving with him. Why did he kill all of those innocent purebloods? Why choose me? Their cold stares still haunt me, drawing my mind back to Tori’s twisted body.

“Perhaps he took a liking to you?” Her voice is hopeful, but I kill it with a simple shake of the head.

I hold out my wrist where the crest no longer sits.

“He made Lissian remove it, but he didn’t replace it.”

I see the worried lines mar her skin at the realization. The prince did not seek full ownership of me by replacing my mark, which means he doesn’t intend to keep me. Perhaps only long enough to teach Lissian a lesson. I need to kill him before that.

She takes a step closer, lowering her voice to a whisper.