Page 68 of The Vampire Court

“Trust me, little bird.”

I snort. His eyes and smile widen at the sound. “You know I don’t trust you,” I say. “We already had this conversation, and after what you did—”

Cassius presses a finger to my lips, silencing me. If he tries to tell me to put the past behind me, I might be tempted to draw my dagger on him. My fingers twitch.

Instead, he says, “I know. I know I will have to earn your trust, and I am also well aware that it may never happen, but I might be the only other vampire in this city who doesn’t thirst for your death, so you might as well come with me.” He motions toward the empty room. “Unless you would rather remain locked up in the room for who knows how long?”

“Fine. Show me whatever it is,” I say. Pausing, I eye him up and down with a heavy sigh. “And this better not be a trick, or I will—”

“Kill me?” he asks in a tone that almost sounds… hopeful.

“Yes,” I say slowly.

“I count on it.” Cassius grins.

Vampires are so strange. I press my hands to his chest and push him back a step.

I let him lead me back through the hall and down the main stairs then through the corridors.

As we walk, I lose myself in thought, going over the conversation I had with mother. I wish I’d said more; I wish I’d said less. There are a thousand ways that could have gone, and none of the ones my mind can come up with would leave me satisfied.

Halfway down a flight of stairs, I stop to look around. The stairwell is dim with a musty dampness to the air, and the lighting is spaced farther apart, making this area darker than the main halls. Ahead of us is pitch black.

“Where are you taking me?” I move up one step, backing away from Cassius.

“You’ll see.” He jerks his chin and pulls a torch from the wall. “I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise.”

He continues walking. After a few heartbeats, I follow, not wanting to be left alone in the dark.

The torch in his hand blinds me to our surroundings.

When we come to a stop, he looks over his shoulder and offers me a large grin before pushing open an old door. The wood is cracked and warped from age.

A smile tugs on my lips. I know this place.

Using his vampire speed, Cassius enters and runs around the room. Light flares to life, bathing everything in an orange glow. The floor is mostly open, with weapons stored against one wall that glint with the light of the flickering flames.

Cassius stands in the doorway, looking like he found a stash of hidden treasure. “Well?”

When I don’t answer, he takes my hand, pulls me in closing the door behind us.

“Why did you bring me here?” I ask.

“You don’t seem surprised.”

I press my lips together to stifle a laugh. “No. Alaric brought me here when we first arrived. We trained… until everything happened.”

Cassius deflates, and I almost feel bad. He crosses his arms, muttering under his breath, “Of course he did.” He straightens, his smile reappearing, though this time, it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I suppose it doesn’t matter. We’re still going to use this room.”

He circles me as he talks. Stopping behind me, he rests his hands on my shoulders and brings his mouth close to my ear. His warm breath glides across my skin.

“I am going to train you, little bird. You can’t expect to protect yourself against every vampire like you did with Victor or by being compelled into killing one. Or…” Cassius pauses dramatically. “By luck.”

I shrug him off, stepping out of his grasp.

“Alaric is already training me,” I say.

It makes me uneasy having him step in to take Alaric’s place in anything, even this.