Page 31 of Vows Forged in Blood

I sigh. “I had a feeling that was the case—about us being non-sexual friends, I mean, not about Nova’s sexual preferences—but I thought maybe if we tried it would, I don’t know, force the fire again.”

“Sorry to disappoint. You seemed…desperate for a distraction, like you said. Want to tell me from what?”

I exhale roughly and sit up, wrapping my arms around my legs and resting my chin on my knees.

“It’s nothing. Just…trying to adjust to everything, I guess. It’s all so much and I just needed to not think about it for a while.” It’s partly true.

“Well, there are approximately two thousand other vampires who might serve as a distraction for you, if you want to give it another go. I have a few in mind right now I could call, or we can hold auditions if you’d like.” I smack him in the chest and he laughs lightly, easing up to his feet and reaching down a hand to help me up.

“Do you want a drink? We can get sloshed and go mess with First Quadrant’s armory. Or steal all the laundry from Fourth Quadrant’s wash house.” I grin, a different kind of spark lighting between us. The old mischief, the reckless fun of the young and stupid. I wonder just how much Kane will let us get away with…but knowing that he himself is a notorious prankster, mygrin grows wider. Not only will he let it happen, I bet that he’ll actuallyhelpus.

“That sounds like an excellent plan.”

Alaric continues to avoid me,obviously completely unaffected by seeing me that day at the practice rings, but I’ve gotten over the initial sting of it. Hardly think of it at all really. I gladly give my blood to the squire—a shy young vampire named Milo who has adorable dimples—not wishing at all that the High General was the one taking it himself. I don’t mind not seeing him, and I don’t feel the pull to him like I did before, and I don’t think about him at all.

Some of those things may be lies, but I’m going to continue to say them until they become truth. Eventually, they have to…don’t they?

Though I haven’t tried to force Alaric from my mind by sleeping with anyone else, I’ve thankfully found distraction in other places. I’ve spent time with Braddock at the forge, made several more trips to the village, and gotten to know some of the other humans here. I’ve started learning old Nakish, Takara’s native language, and though she says my accent is atrocious, she’s very encouraging and patient with my lessons. I’ve also taken to reading late into the night in Alaric’s—or, technically,our—study. It’s got hundreds, maybe even thousands of volumes lining the floor to ceiling shelves, and though many are in languages I don’t even have names for, I’m making my way slowly through the collection as best I can.

“Gods, have you ever seen a blade so beautiful?” Nova gushes as we walk through one of the old practice fields behind Fifth Quadrant that’s no longer used. It’s bordered by a thick expanseof trees on two sides, a steep hill dropping off on the right down to a wide stream, and a small pond at the edge of the far end. The three of us have started lounging around the pond in the mornings after the vampires finish their training exercises and other duties, the area quickly becoming “our” spot.

Nova twirls the sword as we walk, slashing it through the air and looking so graceful and deadly that I don’t know whether to be impressed or afraid. Probably both.

“Yes,” Wesley says, “mine.” He grins and taps the hilt of his own Clayburn sword resting at his hip. Da had done beautiful work, taking my sketches and adding his own remarkable touches, to make twin blades for the vampires. Each has the Wolf Coven’s sigil on the pommel, but Nova’s has a pattern of vines along the cross guard, while Wesley’s has ravens in flight. They’re both truly pieces of art and my heart swells with pride at my father’s skill.

Nova scoffs. “Widow Maker can’t hold a candle to Reaper’s Lady.”

I laugh and roll my eyes. “With the exception of the vines versus the ravens, they’reidentical.You are aware of what identical means?—”

“Stop,” Wesley hisses, cutting me off, his body suddenly tense and alert, all joking gone. Cyrus and Viktor are in front of me in an instant, swords drawn and fangs bared, and Wesley and Nova move to put me safely behind them as well. All of them move in a strange, coordinated dance that’s both impressive and terrifying. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ve never seen them react this way, have never seen them look so…scary, like a true threat is near.Revenants?My heart thunders in my chest and my eyes dart around the field, trying to find the danger.

“There,” Cryus says in his low, rough timber, jerking his head towards the tree line in the distance. I squint and a moment later, a small group of hellcats bolt from the forest, sprintingacross the field and disappearing quickly into the thick woods on the other side.

“Gods,” I breathe in awe. I’ve read about hellcats, but I’ve never actually seen one before. They don’t typically venture south of Elshrire, preferring the cooler temperatures and the mountain terrain of the Northlands, so I certainly never encountered them back home. They’re black and sleek, fur shining like oil, and absolutely huge, nearly as large as horses. Dagger-like claws tip their massive paws, and tails with spiked-balls on the end swish behind them as they run. They’re terrifying but beyond beautiful…the smaller ones are even kind of adorable. And, I’ll admit, I have the most ridiculous urge to pet one. Surely something so cute can’t bethatdangerous…right?

“Are the herds usually that small?” I ask after everyone finally relaxes, determining that the danger has passed.

“That was no herd, my Lady, not by a long shot,” Viktor responds, sheathing his sword at his belt. I decide my next order of business is to get swords made for all of my guard. I laugh inwardly imagining da’s indulgent smile when he receives my next request. I can just see him shaking his head.Supplying the whole of the army, now am I?

“That was just a small family. A herd can run forty, even fifty deep, and can kill even an immortal if one was to find themselves caught in the middle of a stampede.”

“Not to worry, my Lady, they don’t usually cross this close to the camp,” Cyrus assures me, his islander accent thick and melodic. I nod and the guard shifts back, allowing me, Nova, and Wesley to continue towards the pond, though they stay a bit closer than before. Though he’d sheathed Widow Maker back at his belt, Wesley’s hand rests on the hilt, obviously on alert as well. It’s easy for me to forget sometimes that he’s muchmore than just my easy-going, mischievous friend. He’s a highly skilled, highly trained, killing machine.

“You know,” Nova says after a few moments, “I’m so glad you don’t make me call youmy Lady.”

“Oh fuck off,” I say. “I’ve asked them not to either, but they won’t listen.”

“What was that,my Lady?” Viktor calls from behind us and I can’t help but laugh.

We finally make our way to the edge of the pond and Wesley flops down into the grass while Nova hops up on a fallen tree. She walks along it like an acrobat, twirling Reaper’s Lady as she moves. I laugh, thinking that Nova might just be in love with the damned sword, and kick off my boots. I make my way tentatively into the edge of the water. It’s chilly, but not so cold that I can’t enjoy soaking my feet.

“So, you’re going on a mission with Alaric?” I ask Nova.

“It’s no big deal,” she says, shrugging a shoulder and trying to act nonchalant.

“Oh come off it,” Wesley says, tossing a stick at her. She dodges it easily, flipping her body backwards across the log like it’s nothing and smirking at Wesley after she lands. “First Lieutenant Kovach hand-picked her.” Wesley smiles, and I love that he isn’t jealous or disgruntled that Nova had been selected and he hadn’t. He’s merely happy for his friend. Wesley really is just a good person, a great man.Gods, why can’t I have feelings for him? It would be so easy, so nice.I sigh inwardly, but then frown.

“Kovach?”

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