Page 59 of A Kingdom of Broken Bonds

I glance at the female I have been paired with as I continue sorting through the mounds of donated clothes, folding and placing them into piles to go to those who lost everything in the flood. Felix and Geoff are helping in the food tent just opposite, and Eli hovers close by, cleaning up debris with a group of minotaurs. I know my mate is struggling to hold in his possessive, protective mate instincts, and I am really proud of how he is putting his feelings aside to help others.

Today, I have been placed with Ama, a siren who lives in the city by the harbour. Many of those in the outer slums are sirens, driven here by destruction in their homeland, and Ama wants to help in any way she can. She is very knowledgeable about the city and the workings of the slums, seeming to know everyone—the perfect person for me to ask some quiet questions.

Glancing around to make sure we are out of supernatural earshot, I step closer to the pretty siren. “Ama, may I ask you something?”

She glances up from the clothes she is folding, her bright coral hair shifting with a life of its own. “Yes, my lady.”

“I told you, please call me Thea,” I insist with a small smile. She has been friendly, if not a little wary, but has given me a far warmer reception than many here. If anyone is going to give me answers, she will. “Is there a section of the slums where the vampires dwell?”

She stiffens at my question and shoots me a look as though suddenly remembering I am a vampire. Doubt plays across her face, and she bites down on her lower lip, finding the clothes before her very interesting. For a moment, I think she is not going to answer me, but then she drops her chin and clears her throat.

“Not many vampires like to live in the crowded conditions of the slums, so they live in the city or hide underground when the sun rises. There were a few vampires who resided here though.” She glances up at me then quickly back at the clothes once more, seeming anxious. “That has all changed now.”

She was hoping I wouldn’t hear her last comment. I can tell from the way she ducks her head and murmurs it under her breath. Noting this, I store the information away for later and do not question it. Instead, I go over what she just said. It makes sense. Vampires are hurt by the sun, so they would not want to dwell in a shelter that could not protect them from it unless there was no other option. I thought it strange I hadn’t seen many around, but that explains it.

We continue sorting the clothes in silence, both of us lost in thought. I have more questions, but she is nervous. If she were branded a snitch for telling me anything, it could put her in great danger. Is that what the issue is here?

“Do you know where I can find them?” I ask quietly, not looking up from my work so I do not draw attention to us. “Where is the underground entrance?”

Ama stops what she is doing and faces me, grabbing my arm tightly. I turn to look at her but see she isn’t trying to hurt me. No, her expression is full of fear and concern—for me. In the background, I see Eli move closer, instinctively following his protective needs, but he refrains from closing the distance between us completely.

“You do not want to go there, my lady.” Ama’s eyes are wide and full of caution. “Even before all of this, it was a dangerous place to go, even for fellow vampires. I strongly advise you stay away.”

Again, the ominous mention of change. The transformation in her is dramatic, meaning that whatever I said triggered something within her. It makes the hair on my arms stand on end. She knows something. I may be forbidden to tell anyone of it, but if she already knows and tells me, then I am not breaking any rules.

“Before all of what?” I probe gently, fearing scaring her off if I press too hard.

She stiffens at my question, realising she said too much.

“Is this about the changes with the vampires?” I am very careful with how I phrase my question, not directly giving anything away, but enough to hint that I already know a little. If I were to be questioned, I could innocently say that I was querying why the vampires all left the slums. However, when her eyes widen, I know I asked just enough to encourage her to talk.

“What do you know of the attacks, my lady?”

This is it, the information I was looking for. My heart pounds wildly in my chest. “Call me Thea, please,” I remind her, letting my lips turn up as I look at her. To all the world, we appear like two young females in light conversation. “Not much, to be honest,” I reply, “but I want to help my people. If there is an affliction hurting them, I want to know.”

Her movements still for a moment as she looks up at me, really looks, like she is seeing into my soul, and whatever she finds clearly surprises her. Sighing, she returns to her folding, shaking her head.

Resigning myself to the fact I am not going to get any more answers, I try to control my disappointment.

“They say it is a disease.” Ama’s lyrical voice is soothing, like a peaceful lake, only I know that there is a dangerous current beneath the surface that could sweep me away. My whole focus is on trying to maintain a casual posture while she reveals what she knows in quiet whispers.

“Infecting only vampires, it turns them into bloodthirsty beasts. They lose all sense of reason and attack without discrimination. Once they have caught the affliction, there is no going back.” Blowing out a breath, she shakes her head again and raises her hands in a stop gesture. “I have said too much. Take no heed, all this is just rumours.”

We both know that is not true. Whatever is happening in the city is real and dangerous. Everyone is on edge, yet no one is willing to do anything about the threat hovering over them. The king is only harming his people by doing nothing. Those in the slums already know, and it is only a matter of time before those in the city learn of it too—gossip travels quickly.

We are still being watched, and wary looks are still being sent in my and Felix’s direction. No one is outwardly avoiding us, but our every move is closely monitored.

“Please, Ama,” I plead. “I need to know more. How can I help?”

My sincerity must come across, because her expression softens. “You really do care about your people.” This is said as a statement rather than a question, so I stay quiet as she ponders my query. “Go to the west dock.” Her voice drops even more, and I have to strain to hear her despite being so close. “At the end of the far pier, you will see an old boat. It looks abandoned, but it is not. Board the vessel, and you shall find Harvey. Tell him that Ama sent you.” Holding up her hand, she gives me a wry smile, stopping me from speaking. “Do not thank me for this, and do not expect him to be friendly.”

Eli narrows his eyes as he stays hyperalert, looking for any signs of danger. “This is a bad idea,” he mutters, his voice low as he takes in all of the possible escape routes should we need them. The bond is tight in my chest, letting me sense his wariness. It is not his safety that he is so concerned about, but mine, fearing that something might happen that will put me in danger. I am much more capable than he gives me credit for, though, and besides, I know he would never allow anything to happen to me.

Placing a gentle hand on his arm, I draw his attention to me. “We need to know more, and Harvey is supposed to be able to help us. We did everything to make sure we will not get caught.”

Once we returned to the castle after our visit to the slums, we made sure to take the more public route back to our wing of the castle so we passed the palace gossips. Eli and I went about locking ourselves in my room and made sure it was clear how tired we were from the excursion. I feel bad about lying to Geoff and Felix, but I need them to remain in the dark in case we get caught. They will not go down with me.

After that, Eli and I managed to give our guards the slip, and we entered the city. While I feel bad they will get punished if it is discovered that we left the castle, there was no other option. We need to find Harvey, and although my guards are loyal to me, the king has assigned me additional guards to keep me safe. If they knew I was going to meet someone to get more information about this sickness, then they would report me, and I would be in a world of trouble. These new guards are positioned outside the door to our suite, noting everything. We all know the king is having me watched, ensuring I am not going to leave the city.

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