Page 51 of The Vampire Court

I think of the scars on my arms and how Alaric couldn’t heal those wounds completely. He said that the power of the night-forged silver opposed his own—power that came from his demon.

Even as exhaustion works its way through my body, a final thought occurs to me. A vampire is vulnerable to night-forged silver as a mortal would be to any weapon, so why wouldn’t a demon be just as vulnerable to my blade?

My fingers tighten around the hilt.

If the demon wants me to find them, then I will find them.

Chapter Nineteen

Clara

I smootha hand down my shirt and reach for the door. My nerves ratchet up, and I have to remind myself that I’m Cassius’s ward, not his prisoner. The hollow ache in my stomach is enough for me to take the chance and leave without him. After all, it’s only a trip to the kitchens through the servants’ quarters for a little food.

Pulling open the door, I step out into the hall and close it behind me. A half snort, half laugh comes from behind.

I whirl.

“Is this how you sneak around?” Cassius asks with a smirk, his arms folded across his broad chest. He leans a shoulder against the wall, one foot crossed over the ankle of the other. “You’re not very good at it.”

I step back as he prowls toward me like a large cat.

“Where were you going, little bird?”

“I was hungry. Thank you for checking on me, but I will be fine.” I turn my back on him and keep walking.

I find it hard to look at him in the light of the day. A thread of shame curls low in my stomach, twisting it into knots. I allowed him to stay and keep the demon from returning.

His fingers entwine through mine, and with a slight tug, he spins me to face him. “Miss Valmont, I am your guardian. You are not to go anywhere without me by your side.”

“Do you expect me to stay in my room and starve while waiting for you to remember I need to eat?” The words fly from my mouth before I can stop them.

Cassius releases my hand and shakes his head. “No, of course not, Clara, but having me with you is safer—” he frowns. I could almost swear that he’s genuinely offended by the look I give him. “You are so much more than that.”

I roll my eyes.

He takes my arm and hooks it through his then leads me down the hall.

“You shouldn’t worry so much about my presence as much as you should be worrying about tomorrow morning.”

My steps falter. “W-what’s tomorrow morning?”

He gives me a sidelong glance and raises a brow like I should know. When it’s clear to him that I don’t, he frowns.

“Tomorrow is the reclaiming. You will get your new master before the night is through.”

“So soon?” I ask.

I’d expected it to take longer. Elizabeth told Cassius to train me. I’d assumed she meant literally, but maybe she’d only meant for him to keep me from killing any more vampires.

Cassius nods. “Elizabeth wants this over sooner rather than later.”

My gaze snags on his. He doesn’t need to translate the meaning of his words. We both understand that the queen wants me dead.

Nerves form a rock that settles in the pit of my stomach. My insides twist, and form a pit in my stomach.

“Why so soon?” I ask dumbly.

Cassius gives me a disbelieving stare. “Don’t ask questions you know the answer to. Did you think she would allow you to remain unclaimed for long?”