Page 43 of Trapped By Vengeance

“Will Konrad kill me, since he’s such a rule follower?”

“No.” Eloise huffs. “He’s burdened as it is by killing those who destroyed everyone he loved. He’d never hurt someone he has tried so hard to protect as penance for his perceived sins. Especially someone he’s been kissing.” She gives me a pointed look.

I pucker my lips, making her giggle despite herself. “And my father? How does he factor in this vengeance plan? Konrad doesn’t seem to want him dead.”

“No, that would be against the code of the kinsman avenger. Only those directly involved with the slaughter, either by commanding it or carrying it out, must die. Those who turned a blind eye when could have helped must repay in coin.”

“And my father is no elf, so he wouldn’t comply with such a request. I see now what is going on here.”

Eloise nods. “Abiisn’t in the habit of kidnapping women. Or kissing them. You seem to be the exception to every rule. Especially now that I know you’re an estrie.“ She looks past me, and her eyes widen.

I follow her gaze. Somehow, despite the awkward and strenuous nature of this labor, I’ve rowed us far enough away from the island that it is a silhouette in front of the slowly setting sun. Several figures dot the shoreline, watching us and probably yelling obscenities I cannot hear.

And one form swims in the ocean between us, pushing a piece of bark before him as he awkwardly doggy paddles. Konrad.

I turn quickly back to Eloise. We have only moments before Konrad catches up to us, and Eloise is back to the estrie topic despite all my attempts at distraction. “My father is not kind like yours. Don’t misunderstand— he loves me dearly— but he is willing to slaughter everyonebutme. It just became too much for me, and I fled. But that left me unprotected, and an estrie found me . . .” I sniffle and touch my chest, like the Dark Ritual doesn’t demand a willing victim.

A willing victim . . . unless the person carving out the victim’s heart is their blood relative. Of course, that wasn’t the case withVaterand me. I trusted my father enough to allow him to become my sire. It was my choice to become his thrall as well as his daughter at the appointed time.

Thankfully, Eloise does not seem to be aware of these factors, likely because the Dark Ritual isn’t something people often tell children about except in vague whispered warning. Her eyes warm in comparison, becoming a deeper shade of green.

Dropping her hand from shielding Sir Pigeon, she studies me intently. “And you’re frightened of your father learning you became an estrie while you were rebelling?”

“Yes. Not that he would hurt me. But I am so ashamed . . .” Chewing my bottom lip, I keep rowing to buy just a few moments. “I’ve been careful to only drink blood from my enemies, and not enough to hurt them. So, there is no reason to report me—“

“You’re okay.” Eloise smiles brightly and winks about our secret. “I knew there was something off about you, and I’m glad it’s just that you’re a blood-sucking monster. I feared it was something worse . . .” She shakes her head. “But I’ll keep your secret. Won’t tell a single soul— if you help us get that ransom without incurring your father’s rage.”

I nod. “I was going to do that anyway. My father owes your family the money, and I’ll see that you get it.”

If only Konrad could live long enough to spend it.

“What are you girls on about?”

“Abi!”Eloise cries, trying to crawl over to my side of the raft and nearly toppling us.

I hold up a hand to halt her. Then I set down my oars and turn back to Konrad.

His shoulders bear his coat and shirt, which he transfers to the raft. “If you ladies will look away for a moment . . .”

Eloise quickly turns her back. I twist away, too . . . for a moment.

I turn back in time to watch the view of Konrad’s muscles pulled taut as he lifts himself up onto the raft. Water droplets skim down his naked chest, disappearing into his ragged pants.

“Valda says she’s going to help us get the ransom from her father!” Eloise calls merrily from where she’s still turned away and is shielding Sir Pigeon’s innocent eyes.

Konrad turns to me in surprise, his shirt in his hands.

“He would never pay a ransom,” I begin.

He narrows his eyes.

“But he’ll pay a reward to anyone who rescue his daughter from her abductors and saves him the effort of slaughtering them himself.”

Konrad’s eyes stay narrowed and focused on me as he tugs on his shirt. “And how do we know that you won’t betray us to your father the moment we return you to him?”

“Because I swore by all the saints that I wouldn’t snitch if you let me go. And because I like you . . .” My words slur as I realize we are in the last strains of sunset. I have mere moments before my spirit leaves my body. I need my next words to be completely convincing.

Pulling on his coat, Konrad continues to study me. “Oh, you do, do you?”

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