Page 96 of Loreblood

Finally, after an hour of leisure—assumedly while their meal digested—Garroway broke the silence. “So, what do we do with her, Master?”

Skartovius rested on the cot, staring up at the cracked ceiling with his hands behind his head. “I will return to my court this evening at Manor Marquin, to quell the tensions arisen since last night, before they can grow. I don’t think she should come with me.”

“She’ll be recognized,” Garroway replied.

“Precisely. It’s too soon to bring her around the public, especially until we better understand who we’re up against and how many know of her secret.”

My secret . . . the Loreblood.I still didn’t know what to make of this newfound knowledge.Could I truly have such a powerful thing inside me?

It would somewhat explain Master Lukain’s reaction to drinking my blood—his hesitation once he noticed.And his reticence to continue our affair,I thought.

Even with this dangerous new information swirling around my brain, and the illusion of “choice” Skartovius and his kin were giving me, I didn’t trust them as far as I could throw them.How could I? They watch humans fight for sport. They feed on us, keep us corralled in Nuhav like livestock.Nothing they could say would ease the tension and fear I intuitively felt around them after growing up my entire life believing the Olhavians to be monsters.

The truth was even worse: They were beautiful monsters. Elegant, refined, yet coarse in their barbarism. Walking contradictions that seemingly cared for each other—these three being a good example—but cared nothing for the wider world around them or the people suffering in it.

Garroway said, “Could bring her to the mines.”

Vallan grunted from the corner of the room. The massive vampire unfolded his burly arms. “Don’t like that.”

Garroway sneered at him. “We have work to do, Vall. Leaving her here alone is too dangerous.”

“No, we can’t let her out of our sight,” Skartovius agreed. “She’s too important.”

I said, “I thought I had a choice.”

Skartovius tilted his head on the bed, frowning at me. “You have a choice about staying with us or seeking refuge elsewhere. If we’re going to protect you, then there needs to be some ground rules.”

I snorted. “Not much of a choice after all.”

Skartovius swung his legs around, sitting up on the edge of the bed. He nudged his chin over to the heap of the man they’d killed. “Do you want to end up like him?” When I wisely didn’t answer, he nodded. “Then listen to me.”

Thick silence filled the room.

“. . . We still haven’t made a decision,” Garroway pointed out.

“She goes to the mines,” Skartovius answered. He stood, picked up his hood and cloak, and clasped it around his chest with a broach. Then he pulled the hood up. “I shall return to the manor to rest until evening. You three had best do the same.”

“The mines” sounded like a prison.So they’re just going to pop me into another cage, is that it?I didn’t want to ask.

Lord Ashfen marched past his allies, who gave him a wide berth. When he reached the door, he turned to Garroway. “And graybird?”

Garroway glanced up from the floor, attention rapt on his master.

“Don’t let me down with this girl. She’s important to the cause.”

Garroway bowed low like a perfect minion. “I won’t fail you, Master.”

“The cause.”

These three were scheming something. It shouldn’t have surprised me. I had only ever known humans to be the plotters and schemers and hucksters of the sister city, because we were forced to due to our miserable living conditions in Nuhav.

Down there, it was every man for himself. Entire likeminded communities sprouted up to support those with certain agendas—the religious Truehearts in the House of the Broken, the down-on-their-luck guttergirls and sewerboys who could be easily molded by the Diplomats, the folk with delusions of freedom in the Grimsons, even those hungry for a hint of power and superiority, joining the Bronzes as lawmen. I figured there were countless other operations, guilds, and gangs carrying out missions in Nuhav.

Up here, in the polished and cultured world of the vampires? I hadn’t expected such drama and gossip to rule the land.

Once Skartovius Ashfen was gone from the safehouse, a noticeable cloud of stress lifted from the room. The three of us remained quiet for a long time as the day dwindled and the sun began to set.

I napped, regained some strength from my draining evening, and prepared for a new one. The other two did the same, in shifts so they could keep an eye on me but also get their rest.