Page 92 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood

I’ve fought vampires in the past, and yet something about this boy and the way he’s speaking is scaring me more than any vampire ever could. He moves forward, and my hand tightens around the metal opener.

“Stay back!” My voice breaks at the end, and I curse the fear that clutches my heart in its grip. I need to get out of here. I need to get away.

“Shh. Let me open you…I will make it quick, I promise, and then all will be right.”

Kill him before he kills you.Athriel’s voice booms inside my head.

I kick out my leg, and my foot slams into the boy’s chest. He flies across the room, landing in a crumbled pile in the corner, but before relief can swallow me whole, he jumps back up at an unnatural speed.

What the hell.

Run!

This time, I don’t hesitate to listen to Athriel’s warning, and my feet slam against the wooden floor as I bound out of the door and into the hallway. I race down the corridors with no idea or care for where I’m going, only that it is away from that boy. I didn’t even get a good look at his face, so I have no idea what he even looks like.

My heart pounds inside my chest like an out-of-time drum, and sweat sticks to every inch of my flesh. My legs ache as I push them to move faster, not stopping as I round corners, only pushing myself faster as I race toward the unknown. For a while, I feel the presence of the boy behind me like a shadow that creeps on the walls and slithers its way around the place. I keep moving, never slowing, even after the sensation disappears and his presence seems to diminish.

I turn a corner and, for the first time, risk a look back, but I see nothing. That doesn’t stop me. I keep running, making turn after turn until I find a darkened hallway that I slip into. I bend over to catch my breath as my chest burns with a mixture of fear and adrenaline. My eyes flit around the space, expecting him to appear around the corner at any minute, but as time passes, a slow feeling of relief settles in me.

I still have no idea where I am, and the need to return to the safety of my room is palpable. I start to creep out of the hallway, but the sound of a familiar voice stops me in my tracks.

“The attacks are increasing. Just last night, two more guards were found dead in their homes. They had families, Karius, people who will miss them. It is causing unrest.” The voice belongs to Eamon and comes from a room far down the darkened hallway. I know that I should leave, but something about the sound of his voice draws me in.

I inch closer to the room. The door is slightly ajar, allowing me a small gap to see him standing across from Karius as they both stare down at a piece of parchment spread across the wooden desk between them.

Painted onto the wall behind them is the entire realm of Soliys, with the kingdom of Kalyn standing large and proud to the west while Rumyr, almost half the size, sits to the east. I’ve never seen such a large and intricate rendition before, and I cannot tear my gaze away. I risk a step forward, my eyes sweeping over our land, taking in the sprawling mountains and vast forests that separate the four courts: Shadows, Starlight, Minds, and Visions. Rumyr is home to the three remaining courts—Nightmares, Colors, and Weavers—all ruled by power-hungry vampires with more magic than the gods should ever have allowed.

My eyes glance back at the dense forest tucked behind a tall mountain range, and my throat bobs. It’s not marked on the map, but the human settlement is hidden somewhere in there. The place Tori should have been now. My eyes burn as it truly sinks in that she never even got the taste of freedom before a vampire snuffed her life out.

“Fuck.” I jump as Karius slams a fist down on the desk. All thoughts of Tori fall to the back of my mind as I remember where I am. The prince blows out a breath as he looks at Eamon.

“The nobles’ suspicions are rising. They are starting to ask questions,” Eamon says.

“I know, but they cannot learn of this. If they suspect a thing, then you know what will happen.”

Eamon nods before walking over to the window and staring out at the view for a long moment.

“It’s happening again, isn’t it? Just like before. I fear that war is coming, and we cannot keep it hidden for much longer.”

“We have no choice,” Karius says.

“Kaia and I are working around the clock to clean up the bodies, but we cannot sustain this.”

“Take Ivana and Ajax with you next time. Until the ceremonies are complete, we do not have a choice.”

“The humans could become a problem again.”

Karius shakes his head.

“Things are different now. They fear us.” His words sicken me, even more so because I know they are true. “It will keep them in line.”

Eamon turns to look at him, his dark eyes shrouded with worry. “I hope you’re right, Brother.”

Sensing that their conversation is about to end, I hurry back the way I came. I speed down the hallway, taking a swift turn at the bottom as my mind reels from what Eamon said about a war and its connection to the vampires that have been turning up dead. I remember Cora first mentioning it when she thought I had been the one killing them. But why would a few dead vampires start a wa—

My body slams against a hard chest, and I scream before I slash at them with the opener that is still clutched in my hand.

A firm grip wraps around my wrist with ease, stilling my attempt.