“It’s not as if I need you, really, Arch,” she purrs. “But tradition is tradition and we must protect the bloodlines.”
I look at Colette and the townsfolk. Some wear masks of courage despite their trembling and the fear leaking from their tight expressions. Others appear enraged and fully prepared to take the vampires on. Halvard, for one, has grabbed a fallen limb. He shakes the snow from it and lifts it onto his shoulder like a battle axe. He went from a fellow who grins at his youngling and cooks amazing cuts of meat to being thescariest thing aside from Valeria. His support warms me despite the dire situation.
What should I do? Offer to fight her one-on-one and let everyone else leave? Would she even agree to that? I take a deep breath and try to keep myself calm and clear-headed.
“Let’s you and me talk,” I say with more bravado than I actually possess. “Your friends and mine can move on. This is between us.”
Colette makes a sound full of disapproval, glares at me, and tightens her fingers around mine. “We’re not leaving you, Archer,” she whispers.
“At least this human you’re cavorting with has a good head on her shoulders.”
“Fuck you,” Colette says loudly.
I pull her closer. “Please. Don’t.”
“I’m not afraid,” she whispers back as the vampires come closer. Their boots crunch over the snow and their scent is nauseating.
A chill travels down my back. “That’s only because you haven’t seen them Feed.”
Colette swallows, but she keeps her head high.
“Just say when, Archer,” Tully calls out.
Grumlin nods as does Cyrus. Rom stretches his wings and puts Laini behind him.
Valeria snorts. “If you’re planning on throwingstones, gargoyle, know that vampire flesh is nothing like any other creature’s,” she says with a grin that makes me want to strangle her.
The swish and whipping motion of Tully’s wand catches my eye.
Colette squeezes my hand. She’s looking down. The snow is changing somehow. Golden lines form in the glistening white. Runes. Grumlin is holding up a fist and whispering. Blue light joins the golden magic, and within a few fast beats of my heart, Colette and I are encircled by a runic pattern.
Valeria stops and stares, a growl building in her throat. The other vampires step a bit closer. There are three I hadn’t noticed in the branches above us.
A cold breeze blows from the runic circle, up Colette’s and my legs, and swoops over our heads before turning warm and rushing back to the ground. The runes flash brightly. The vampires turn their heads and wince.
“Their vampiric vision is activated,” I say. “They can’t handle the bright light.”
Tully stops waving her wand and points it at Valeria. Grumlin crosses his arms and gives the vampires above us a flat look that dares them to attack.
“This circle will breakyour first betrothal bond, Archer,” Tully says. “If you wish to keep that bond in place, all you need to do is step out.”
“What?” Valeria starts toward me, her hand outstretched like she’s going to grab me.
Gold and sapphire light shoot upward and slam into her. She falls back two steps, blinking and swearing.
“Archer,” Valeria hisses, “you’re going to let a witch break our bond? After all I did for you? The Vampire Council wanted you dead for your disloyal behavior.”
Colette looks to me, her eyes full of defiance and pride. I feel the support beaming from her like the warmth from a fire.
I face Valeria. “I never had the choice to make that bond. I don’t feel its pull as you do. Let me break it, and you can be free to marry someone of your choice.”
“You are my choice. I swore an oath to your mother.”
“My mother doesn’t value promises of any kind. Just stand back and let me break this bond. I guarantee my mother would do exactly as she pleases, despite any promise she made to you. She knows nothing of loyalty.”
Valeria spits like I’ve said something blasphemous. “Your mother is a shining example of a true vampire.”
“Well then, I’m the farthest thing from that. I’m half goblin, in case you’ve forgotten. Why do you even want me? My blood isn’t pure.”
