Thalia’s throat dried as he walked away, and it suddenly clicked. The Vampyr from Cardin. Reina had said he was from an important family—from one of the courts.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Are you ready?” Reina said, suddenly at her side.
“I killed his brother.” Thalia’s words were no more than a whisper.
It took only a moment before Reina cursed. “Keep your eyes open at all times; donotfind yourself alone with him.”
Thalia shook her head. “Reina, I can’t—”
“You can. Because you’re stronger than anyone I know. Remember what I taught you.” Reina scanned her face, then pulled her into a tight embrace. “Remember your vow.” Thalia nodded, and the cold metal of a stake pressed into her palm. Thalia pulled away and Reina opened the carriage door for her. “I’ll see you soon enough.”
Thalia nodded and took a last glimpse at the castle, but her mother still hadn’t appeared.
The carriage rumbled underneath her, and Thalia tried to distract herself. But with every turn of the wheel, her mind kept flashing back to Lord Damien, the fact that she’d shoved a stake straight through his brother’s skull and felt no remorse.
Gods, how many Vampyrs had she killed? How many of those creatures’ families would she face once she was in their world? They would be even more inclined to kill her now. Especially Lord Damien.
She sank against the cushions, craning her neck to peer out the window, but only a starless night greeted her back. They’d have to stop at some point once the sun rose. They were still days away from the forest.
Thalia hauled the satchel to her, pulling out the first book Marcus had packed. The bound leather was worn and cracked, its cover carved in swirling spires and thorns.
She opened the page and was immediately greeted by a drawing of a Vampyr.
Thalia glanced at the windows of the carriage, but they remained dark. She flicked on a switch inside the carriage and a small light fluttered to life above her, one of the many examples of what the ore could do. At least now Agripa had access to the ore once more. Its strange power would rebless their land, making it fertile and lush.
Thalia pushed aside the thought as she studied the drawing, the fangs that were just sharp enough to draw blood. Their bites were worse than death, because if one was bitten and did not feed, one would simply decay from the inside out—flake away like paper.
The choice of either becoming a monster or being forced to die in such a gruesome way—it made sense why so many turned.
Except her.
No, she’d rather succumb to whatever dark fate awaited her than be turned into one ofthem.
Thalia scowled, turning the page, and a new drawing appeared. This one depicted an iron stake shoved straight through a Vampyr’s skull.
Thalia’s steel blade had done nothing to Cassius when he first turned. He’d bled out on her rug as she ran to find help. But when she returned, he was gone, nothing but a stain in his place.
The carriage rolled to a sudden stop, and Thalia jerked as the doors of her carriage were opened.
The golden-eyed Vampyr regarded her, eyes going straight to the book in her lap. She snapped it closed.
“I’m Keegan,” was all he said.
“I don’t care.”
Keegan raised a brow. “Well, do you care to rest?”
Thalia shoved the book into the satchel. “Where?”
Keegan’s lips twitched in amusement. “We have a camp. Unless you prefer the carriage, which will no doubt become an oven in the sun.” Thalia would have much preferred to remain in the safety of the carriage, but the Vampyr just inclined his head. A head that was decidedly normal and not whatever grotesque trick of the light it’d been in the throne room. “Well?”
“Fine.”
Thalia stumbled out of the carriage, blinking against the hazy gray of dawn.
They’d stopped off the road, no towns or cities in sight. In fact, they rested along a small, wooded area. Thalia resisted the urge to shiver as she followed Keegan to their makeshift camp. Tents had been set up with thick sides to block out the sun, which she thought must have some cooling mechanism to keep out the heat.
