“It’s soap, idiot. These vampires keep their humans like pets. They see them cleaned and treat them as equals. You’re smelling what a clean human smells like.”
“But—” A small step forward from the shadow pushed us farther into the dark corner.
“It’s nothing. She’s not here. Let’s mark this room as searched and move on.”
Go. Please go.
The door to my room slammed shut but the figure remained in the bathing chamber doorway. The long-nosed vampire stepped into the room. He came closer, and closer. He should have been able to see us. Why couldn’t he see us?
Cova’s hands shook. She was using her magic. She was shielding us. And by the way she began to slouch, I could tell she was fading.
My sister let out a soft, exasperated breath and the vampire snarled. “I know someone is here.”
Just when Cova’s body fell to the floor, I rushed the vampire, pressing the serrated blade of Dommik’s sword to his feeble neck.
I was close enough now to see his face move from surprise, fear, realization, and then a confident smugness in the matter of seconds.
“I knew it!” he said as he threw me effortlessly against the opposite wall.
My back crashed into stone and pain erupted throughout my limbs as I fell forward to the floor. Dommik’s sword bounced and clanged on the marble next to me.
If the commotion wasn’t loud enough to draw attention, he would be. We had to kill him quickly before he called for any more guards.
I coughed as I pushed myself to my hands and knees. My lungs refused to draw a new breath. The vampire approached, snickering to himself, “I don’t know what a clean human smells like…pshh.”
“Where—is—Dommik?” I managed to gasp despite my restricted airways.
The vampire dropped to a crouch in front of me. His hand grabbed a fistful of hair, lifting my gaze to his. “He’s about to greet the dawn. And I don’t want to miss it.”
I shook my chin, coughed, and rasped, “Where?”
A fang-filled smile looked down at me. “He’s with my regent. Tell you what, I’ll bring you to him.”
My yelp of pain echoed off the marble as he pulled me upright by my hair.
“Drop her!” Cova growled, her fingers curling on the marble floor. Lydia bent to help her stand.
“Or what?” My captor turned. “Are those weak little arms going to try to do what she couldn’t? Pick up that sword and have a go? Nah. I think I’ll take her to Eryx and get a nice reward for this prize. He might just make me a lord.”
Lydia braced Cova, who seemed to be regaining strength. She staggered, but she stood, and then my ferocious sister hissed, “Last chance.”
The male sighed, “Miss, we both know there’s nothing you can d?—”
I was suddenly released and thrown to my knees again on the unforgiving floor. My jaw dropped as I took in my sister.
Twisted vines of swirling smoke flew from Cova’s outstretched hands. The vampire grunted as shadows shackled him to the wall around his wrists, ankles, and neck.
She wore a look of wonder and surprise while Lydia’s form slumped behind her. “How is this possible?” Cova gasped.
“Just—hold—him—” Lydia strained, her hands flat against Cova’s waist and back.
This was it. This was her power. She could amplify magic. A conduit to the invisible energy that activated our inherited skills. My own bristled beneath my skin at the proximity.
“Yes,” I agreed as I moved to stand. “Hold him.”
I approached the vampire who was all teeth and fury beneath the magical restraints.
“Where is Dommik?” I asked slowly, my anger thinly blanketed with clarity and calmness.
