Page 74 of The Court of Truth

What other knowledge lies within these pages?

“You say that like it’s simple enough to get close to the frenzied vampires. We don’t know where they are, they’ve almost been non-existent the past few weeks,” Raiden states, dashing my hope, but Arlo interjects.

“That might be the case, but it looks like there’s enough going on here for us all to get involved. The quicker we get through these books, the more knowledge we’re going to obtain, which can only lead to a greater chance of our success,” he insists, and I nod frantically.

“Absolutely,” I agree, grabbing the top book before Brody can take it, but he doesn’t seem to mind as he pulls out our seats and waves for me to sit down.

I’m too excited, too fueled by the hope that there’s something among the madness able to aid us in this disaster.

“What we really need is to find the frenzied vampires. Then we could actually start gaining some hard evidence to allow us to make educated moves,” Kryll offers, his muscles tense as he taps his fingers on the table. “This is our chance to gain the upper hand and we need to be able to grasp it with both hands and run until there’s nothing left to run to.”

He sounds as determined as I feel, just as weighed down by the strain of it all as I am, and I can’t help but agree with his statement. The issue is we have no idea where to find the vampires. Not one. The only people who may be able to guide us in the right direction are the threats to the kingdom, so I don’t see them offering any help in the slightest.

“Do you hear that?” Raiden blurts, slowly rising from his seat. I frown, confusion fogging my vision as he presses a finger to his lips.

It takes me a moment, but the second I do, it’s undeniable.

Footsteps.

Hurried. Four, maybe five people?

What the fuck is going on?

Rushing back to my feet, I turn for the door as a soldier appears in the doorway, four men lined up behind him. He heaves a breath, frantic eyes searching the room before he finally speaks.

“We’ve just received reports of an outbreak of frenzied vampires rampaging through the City of Harrows.”

My blood runs cold.

“This feels too much like a coincidence,” I murmur, the words barely more than a whisper as I turn to the others.

“It looks like we’re about to find out, Dagger.”

42

RAIDEN

Clementine is controlling the vampires? It doesn’t make sense. If I thought blood magic was at play, I would have sworn its connection would have fallen to my mother or, fuck, Vallie’s father, but the pair of them are dead.

D.E.A.D.

Yet the frenzied vampires still run rampant around the kingdom.

It feels wrong for them to be connected to anyone other than a vampire. Our entire origin runs on stature and they’re handing control to someone else? It’s impossible.

The quicker we can get a sample of their blood, the faster we can get some answers and the sooner we can kill whoever they’re linked to.

Without a word, everybody rushes for the door, the soldiers leading the way as Beau starts to holler out commands to them. Thank fuck Adrianna put him in charge of them. I can’t focus on anything other than getting to the bottom of this mess. I’m supposed to be defending the kingdom, but with the odds stacked against us right now, it feels impossible.

As we round the corner and step into the entryway, Nora and August descend the stairs, concern etched into their features as they take in the commotion going on around them.

“What’s wrong?” Nora asks, looking straight at her sister, but Adrianna shakes her head.

“Nothing for you to worry about,” she murmurs, fitting a vest around her slim frame, and I note the usual glint of silver lining the sheaths. It feels like forever since I’ve seen her draped in daggers and ready to fight.

This is who we are. This is what we were made for. It’s about time we remembered that instead of falling into preset roles and being blinded by the new expectations that surround us.

“Addi, please!” Nora shouts in exasperation, earning a stiff head shake from Adrianna.

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