Page 61 of A Vow of Shadows

The darkness moved aside, allowing me to pass unhindered. A sign I took for agreement. I rolled my eyes as I passed the shadow, wondering when they had gotten so bold. I knew the answer. She’d had a similar effect on me as well. I wasn’t surprised to find myself eager to return to her side.

I smiled as I reached for the doorknob, cursing when it burned my skin. I yanked my hand away and stared down at the mottled flesh as it healed. My instincts told me to run, to gather my shadows and disappear into their darkness, but I knew that he would hunt me. Running was futile, and it wouldn’t keep Katrin safe.

Squaring my shoulders, I winced as I opened the door and found Death waiting at my doorstep.

His hands were tucked into the pockets of his deep red suit, a bold color against the backdrop of The Between. Though his posture was casual, his body radiated power, a coiled serpent prepared to strike. Upon seeing me, he cocked an eyebrow. “Going somewhere?”

“Behryn,” I growled, ignoring his question. “Why are you here?”

He had the nerve to look affronted by my words. “Can a king not visit his people? Can a master not check in on his servants?”

“You did receive my last payment, did you not?”

The king’s eyes swept the space behind me, assessing, searching. “And then some,” he replied distantly.

I’d sent some of Katrin’s money with my last payment, enough to ease the sting of my tardiness, but not so much as to draw attention—or so I thought. Was that how he knew of Katrin staying with me?

He stepped to the side, and I mirrored the movement, blocking his view as I invaded his space. “What do you want, Behryn?”

“I have reason to believe there is someone else residing here.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I plaster a look of boredom across my features. “What gave you that impression?”

“Come now, Evander,” Behyrn hissed. “Do not play me for a fool. Who is she?”

It took all of my strength not to react to those words—not to deflate in relief that he did not know her. He had no idea I harbored the girl he’d marked for himself all those years ago. Somehow, he knewofher but not who she was.

My mouth twitched with the effort of holding back my smile. Behryn tracked the motion, his dark eyes squinting as he filed the information away.

“She was nothing.” I shrugged, adopting the cocky grin I’d seen on demons after they engaged in carnal activities. “A bit of fun.”

Let him think what he wanted as long as it kept Katrin safe.

“And where is she now?”

I huffed out a laugh. “Gone. She wandered into the mists yesterday afternoon. I spent the night searching for her but came up empty handed.”

“Your duties didn’t call to you last night?”

As if in answer, the tug in my chest amplified. I didn’t have to fake the wince of pain as I rubbed at my chest. “Of course it did, but I know my limits. I’ll get to it.”

“See that you do.”

“Is there anything else I can help you with?” I hoped for a miracle. I didn’t want to leave Katrin in Sam’s care, but at least I knew she’d be safe. She’d been right, of course. It had been foolish to risk coming here, especially if his eyes were not yet focused on Sam’s place. Now, I had to decide if it was worth returning and potentially leading Death right to Katrin.

Behryn looked me up and down. I didn’t blink as he took my measure, forcing myself to breathe normally. The air reeked of smoke and brimstone, but I choked it down. He turned without comment, striding away as though he’d walked here and not appeared in a flash of fire like he always did. He made it ten steps before he lifted one hand and snapped his fingers.

I fell to my knees, head bowed, unable to move even to blink. Pain lanced up my legs, but I was glad. I’d played this game before. The spell would release me when Behryn was out of range, leaving me free to return to Katrin without fear of being followed. I just hoped he didn’t linger in the area long.

Night had fallen before I could finally move, though movement was an overstatement. By the time the spell wore off, I couldn’t feel my feet. If it weren’t for my shadows, I’d have crawled from the manor. As it was, I raced to Sam’s under cover of darkness heedless of the incessant tug that urged me toward the mortal world.

When I burst through the door, I stumbled to the floor, the shadows unloading all I’d packed along with me as they, too, battled exhaustion.

“Are you moving in?”

Sam’s sarcasm was a welcome sound after fearing I’d never return again. My answering laugh was equally sardonic. I sat up, dusted off my shoulders, and looked around curiously. Concern swept through me when Katrin did not immediately greet me, but my eyes quickly found her asleep on one of the chairs before the fireplace. “What happened?”

Sam showed me his palms, cigar grasped between his right thumb and forefinger. “Nothing happened. She was having a good time.”

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