Page 104 of A Steeping of Blood
Their reactions were instant, quickly heating the expanse.
Our own country!
I’m not surprised…
Have we not dealt with enough?
But it was Oliver who asked the question they were clearly thinking, for they fell silent when he spoke. “By the Ram?”
Arthie understood that. It was one thing to be angry; it was an acute sort of satisfaction to know where to direct one’s anger. She nodded. “I wish we could return in better circumstances, but I can promise nothing.”
“No better circumstance than that!” someone shouted from farther in the back. Echoes of agreement rang throughout.
“I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment,” someone else called.
“Ever since they dressed us in these tasteless rags, really,” another vampire sniped, and others echoed the sentiment.
Arthie sighed. Vampires were vampires. They’d been trapped in coffins, injected with serums and inoculations, treated as inferior, but of course terrible fashion made the list too.
“After, our friend will get you to a place where you can recoup. Food, shelter, resources. They’ll do whatever you need.”
“Whatever, eh? Hard to believe anyone would do whatever a vampire would need. Where’s that?” Oliver asked.
Matteo grinned. “The Athereum, of course.”
His answer was met with a medley of responses: relieved sighs, excited chatter, awed gasps, and even some grouses and grumbles. Arthie had shared that particular sentiment until not long ago.
Who knew the Athereum would one day be an ally? Who knew Jin would find his parents in Arthie’s motherland? Who knew Arthie would one day have an army of vampires eager for a fight?
34JIN
It was nearing dusk when Jin and the others arrived in Ettenia, the skies hanging gloomily and the clouds rolling in moody hues of gray, shrouding the sun with petulance. It was a stark contrast to the bright and sunny Ceylani shores. Captain Vane’s shouts cut through the din of the crew as they berthed where the inspector had instructed. Jin was vigilant, his heart lodged in his throat.
The docks were quiet, eerily so. What did it mean if the Ram was waiting to ambush them? If Flick had failed in her duties, did that mean she was in danger? That the Ram had found her?
The waves sloshed against the side of the ship, the chill creeping up his skin in warning.Stay away, the waves seemed to whisper. Jin ignored them.
He was halfway down the plank when he saw her.
Flick.
She was by the docks, delicate hands on the rail, the sea breeze tossing her tightly coiled curls. Goodness, he’d been gone long enough for the girl to turn scandalous. Those diabolical trousers were cinched tight to her waist, the top two buttons of her crisp white shirt exposing a slice of her gorgeous skin.
“Friend of yours?” his father asked, taking up the rear.
“She—I—erm.” Jin couldn’t seem to formulate a string of words no matter how he tried. Wicked knives, where was his tongue?
His father tried not to smile. “I see.”
“That’s Felicity Linden,” Matteo replied, poking his head around. “Yes, Lady Linden’s daughter.” Jin was just about to pin him with a glare before he continued, “She’s also the most talented forger in White Roaring, and a crucial part of our crew. Can you hurry? I’m not fond of this thin beam of wood.”
“Is that so?” Jin’s father asked. Jin didn’t want to talk to him just then. He wanted to see her. Hear her voice. Feel her skin.
Kiss her.
But she wasn’t supposed to be here. Arthie had instructed her to meet them at the Athereum, not here at the docks, where she and the ledger would be in danger. How had she even known they were arriving? He was too far to read her expression, but the harsh line of her shoulders was telling enough.
“Not a single Horned Guard,” Arthie said beside him.
