Page 110 of A House of Fangs & Deceit

“Because he’s too stubborn to drink from anyone,” I muttered, earning me a glare from Alaric. “It’s true! Everyone else topped off. I don’t know why you’re being so ridiculous about it.”

We’d all taken turns feeding Nyx on our way to the outpost. It’d taken them hours to regain consciousness enough to be coherent after the hit they’d taken. If I closed my eyes, I could still remember the sound of their bones snapping as they collided with the wall.

Alaric had managed to control his mount enough to ride back even at our fast pace, which allowed me to carry Nyx in front of me as we raced to Hybell.

Thanks to the amount of blood we pumped into them at every break, they looked almost as good as new. I’d also forced Vail to drink from my wrist when I realized he still had broken ribs from the hit he’d taken towards the end of our fight with the wraiths.

It’d been awkward as hell, but he couldn’t drink from Nyx in their condition, and neither Cali nor Alaric offered.

But Alaric’s stubborn-ass had refused to drink from any of us. He hadn’t been injured much in the fighting, but clearly, it’d been a while since he’d partaken in any blood because the days of travel to and from the temple had taken a lot out of him.

“I’m fine,” Alaric grumbled as he reached for one of the rolls at the center of the table and stuffed it with a few slices of cheese. “Everyone good to head back today?”

Vail grunted, which I took as a yes. He’d been extra moodyall morning. Maybe he was just realizing that he’d missed an opportunity to get rid of me once and for all. Instead, he’d ripped open a hole in a stone ceiling to save my life.

“Cali left this morning,” I said, twisting the ring around my finger. “She’s going to check on Rynn.”

Rynn hadn’t reached out for the last few days, which was unlike her. She knew we were going to the temple and should have been harassing me for an update. Instead, there was nothing but silence from her.

“I’m sure she’s fine,” Nyx said.

“Of course.” I gave them a smile that I knew didn’t reach my eyes.

“Let’s eat and get going,” Vail finally said. “We should be able to reach one of the outposts halfway back to House Harker by nightfall if we keep a decent pace.”

Alaric grimaced but didn’t argue. We were all more than ready to be home and safe.

Two days later,relief swept through me as the gate of House Harker was opened in front of us. Rangers called out greetings as we passed under them and hurried over to take our mounts from us.

It had taken us a little longer than we thought because of some howler activity on the way back. Thankfully, we hadn’t run into them, but we’d taken shelter at an outpost earlier than we’d anticipated after leaving Hybell.

“I’m going to help get the horses sorted and then collapse into bed,” Nyx announced. “Don’t bother me for the next twenty-four hours unless it’s an emergency.”

The corner of Vail’s lips twitched in the closest thing to a smile I’d seen on his face in the last week. But his expression was hard again when his eyes fell on me. We both stared ateach other with thinly veiled hostility. Veil confused the hell out of me, but despite him saving my life at the temple, I still didn’t come close to trusting him.

I didn’t know why he’d done it, and I was pretty sure he didn’t know why either. He’d already left me to die once, and I had no doubt that he’d do it again.

But even if I could convince Carmilla to get rid of Vail, it would leave House Harker in a weak position, and we couldn’t afford that right now. Veil was an excellent marshal, and all the rangers looked up to him. If we kicked him out of the House, a large number of them would probably leave with him.

We needed Vail. So I’d just have to make sure to watch my back around him.

“Samara?” Kieran called out.

I looked up at the stairs that led to the main house to see Kieran waiting on the landing for me.

My lips broke out into a grin, and I took a step towards him, about to run up the stairs and throw myself into his arms before I noted the strained look on his face and halted.

“What is it, Kier?” I asked as my eyes searched his face, trying to find the answer as to what had upset him.

I got my answer a second later when Prince Draven strolled through the doorway and out into the afternoon sun to stand by Kieran’s side.

I felt Alaric stiffen at my side, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Vail go predatorily still as he took in the enemy who had so easily waltzed into our home. Thoughts rapidly shot through my mind as to why the prince would be here.

We’d killed all the remaining wraiths. There was no one to tell the prince that we knew he was the one betraying us.

It was possible that there was one hiding in the shadows that we missed, but if he knew what had happened, why not attack us on the way back when we were isolated from the rest of House Harker? Maybe he wanted to find out if we had toldanyone else? Or maybe he was here for something completely unrelated, and this was just an unnerving coincidence?

“Prince Draven,” I said smoothly and resumed my walk up the stairs to greet him. “Apologies for our greeting. We’ve been traveling for the past few days to check in on some outposts and reassure them that they’re safe. I’m afraid we’re all a little tired, and your presence here took us by surprise.”

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