Page 62 of A Court of Bones & Sorrow

“Because I will tear House Devereux apart brick by brick,” Samara snarled. “You aremine.”

“I am.” My hands gently wrapped around hers, and I raised her right hand to sit over my heart, not flinching as her claws pierced my thin shirt to sink lightly into the flesh below. “House Devereux doesn’t want me either.” I tried and failed to keep my tone light. “So it’s good that you’re a fan of my tongue and reading comprehension because otherwise, things would not be looking too good for me right now.”

Samara took in a deep breath, and I felt her claws slide free before she pulled her hand away and winced at her bloody fingertips. “Sorry.” She sighed. “I haven’t bothered to tuck the bloodlust completely away since getting back. With Draven here, I’d rather keep it close.” Purple bled back into her eyes as the black threads receded until they were just thin, dark jagged lines, a reminder of the monster always lurking under the surface.

“The fangs haven’t escaped my notice.” I gave her a reassuring grin that I wasn’t frightened of her. Every Moroi treated their bloodlust differently. Some viewed it a weapon to wield. Others would only let it out when they were feeding or fucking. Usually both.

But Samara let her bloodlust out frequently, and there was barely a difference in her personality. This was the first time I’d seen a flash of anything else, and even then, I hadn’t been the least bit scared. If anything, I’d wanted to shove her down on the settee and let those claws rip off my pants while I sat on her face.

I squeezed my thighs together as a pleasant heat started to build. Definitely an idea for later.

When she saw I wasn’t the least bit disturbed by her outburst, Samara licked my blood from her fingers and then moved to rest her head on my lap. I stared at her wide-eyed for a moment before settling back against the cushions and running my fingers through her still-damp hair.

“Why did Drudonia kick you out? You’re brilliant,”Samara said. “They were lucky to have someone like you there.”

“This may shock you, but I’m not exactly good with other people.” I shrugged. Honestly, I didn’t know how Samara and Kieran did it. They were both so good at navigating social niceties. Most people were dumb and not worth my time.

She pursed her lips into a hard, flat line. “You’re just direct is all.”

I snorted. “Well, mydirectnessmanaged to piss off every scholar at Drudonia over the last few years. They couldn’t actually kick me out because, despite my estrangement from my House, Iamstill a Devereux, but when I told them I was coming here, they made it very clear that they would prefer I remain here.”

Samara didn’t say anything for a long moment, and I concentrated on getting some tangles out of her hair.

“Roth,” she said slowly, “have you been obsessing over finding answers because you’re worried that if you don’t, I’ll kick you out?”

My fingers froze on a tangle, and I slid my gaze to Samara’s. One perfectly sculpted eyebrow was raised as she gave me an exasperated look.

“To borrow some of your directness, don’t be an idiot. I adore you, Roth. If all you ever do is sit in my room with me and play with my hair while I read, I’m fine with that. You do not have to earn a place here. You already have it.” She snuggled further into my lap, and suddenly, I felt heat building behind my eyes.

No. Absolutely not. I would not cry.

As if sensing my internal struggle, Samara closed her eyes and gave me a few minutes to get a hold of myself. I finished getting the tangle out and moved on to another, the heat behind my eyes gradually lessening.

“I won’t ever push you about your family,” Samara said,still keeping her eyes closed, “but do you think we need to worry about them allying with Velika? Taivan is one of the only Heirs who didn’t come here earlier this week, not that House Devereux is particularly social.”

Understatement of the year. While most of the Houses were constantly jockeying for better positions, especially in proving their worth to the Sovereign House, Devereux was happy to remain in the shadows. We were on the southern coast, the border of the badlands to our west and the ocean lapping at our doors to the south. Most of the other Houses were situated on or near the main roads for travel. There was no reason to travel to our territory unless you wanted to visit us.

And House Devereux was not welcoming to outsiders.

“That House is loyal to itself and only itself,” I said evenly. “Thessalia and the rest of the Devereux, my parents included, are reclusive, paranoid, and obsessed with enforcing their borders.”

“You talk about them as if you aren’t a part of their House,” she noted.

“I was the youngest of three, and my parents really didn’t know what to do with someone who would rather pick up a book than a sword.”

So they did nothing. I couldn’t stop the bitter thought from surfacing. I wasn’t entirely sure they had even noticed when I’d left for Drudonia and never returned.

“Rynn thought you might have stayed at Drudonia after you finished your studies because your Hou—” Samara quickly corrected herself, “because House Devereux was pushing you to do something you didn’t want, like a marriage or stepping into a higher-ranking position.”

“What?” I frowned. “No, they barely acknowledged me when I briefly returned to collect the rest of my things. Taivan forced me to pack some daggers and other things to bring back to Drudonia,but we barely exchanged a few words. He’s the oldest of us, and I think he just feels obligated to act like a protective brother.”

“Brother . . .” Samara’s eyes flew open, and she gawked at me. “Taivan is your brother!”

“Yes.” I stared down at her in confusion. “I thought you knew that.”

“So Severen and Celestina are your parents?”

“And Taivan and Desmond, my older brothers.” I cocked my head at her wide-eyed expression. “Did you really not know who I was?”

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