Page 41 of A Steeping of Blood
That piqued Jin’s curiosity. “They can’t?”
“Supposedly,” Matteo admitted with a shrug. “I’ve never tried it myself, but I can see why it’s not recommended. One, there’s no cover from the sun, and I know there’s no sun at night, so that brings me to point two: Swimming has been known to do wonders to heart health, increasing blood flow to arteries and the like. Excellent for humans, not so much for vampires. The better our systems work, the faster we run out of blood and can potentially starve.”
“Which won’t kill you—us,” Jin said. Arthie had resigned herself to never hearing that tone in his voice again. That curiosity, that deep-in-thought interest. She thought it had crashed and burned with Spindrift.
Matteo shrugged. “Well, one might argue that the inability to die is worse than death. Imagine being suspended in a state of being barely alive. To drown endlessly or starve without end. Regardless, don’t get any ideas.”
Arthie’s mother once said that to be Ceylani was to be one with the sea that cupped the island in its jeweled blue palm. Arthie had learned how to swim before she could walk. Could she still be considered a Ceylani if she couldn’t wade the waters beneath the heavy weight of the sun?
“We need to discuss our next course of action,” Arthie said, quieting her unending, spiraling thoughts.
“On the island? I thought we didn’t know what to expect,” Matteo said. “Oh, she’s looking at me like I suggested she ought to start walking on her hands. Jin? Assistance, please.”
“Arthie always has a plan. She doesn’t cross the street without one,” Jin explained, before realizing he had just aligned himself with her and turned his head away again.
She barely stopped her eyes from rolling.
“Forgive me, darling, for I have transgressed,” Matteo said, lowering his head.
“The sun’s getting bright; I’m going below,” Jin said, rubbing at his exposed skin. The burn was a gradual thing, a discomfort that slowly shifted into an itch. It was no different than the living being afflicted with sunburn, only for a vampire, that process was sped up.
Jin paused at the hatch.
“Well?” he asked coldly when neither Matteo nor Arthie moved to join him.
Arthie didn’t know why she was watching Matteo so closely, why she was hoping he would be disappointed to not have time alone with her.
At last, his lips jutted in the slightest pout. Arthie prickled with pleasure.
He said he wanted to tease her? Two could play at that game. She brushed past him, making sure she swept a finger across his middle, dipping to the button looping his trousers in place, underestimating how excruciating it would be for herself, as every part of her ached for more. A strangled sound escaped his throat before she yanked up the hatch and followed Jin below deck.
“I don’t even want to know why you’ve got that grin on,” Jin said tiredly when she stepped through the cabin’s doorway. He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, half bathed in shadow.
Matteo followed her in and sank into the chair that was bolted to the floor, ignoring her. “This place”—he paused and cleared his throat—“forgive me, this place is almost as lavish as my house.”
“Your modesty is unmatched,” Arthie said, unable to hide the gloat from her tone.
“I try,” Matteo said.
“Right, so our plan,” Jin said pointedly.
“What plan? We have a list of unknowns, no?” Matteo asked. “We don’t know where your parents even are.”
“We do,” Arthie said. “Flick and Jin discovered last night that the Ram recently finished construction of a fortress on the island, along with a sanatorium where the vampires are being delivered.”
After a moment, Matteo spoke slowly, as if treading a dangerous line. “And, you might have considered this already, but do we know which side the Siwangs work for?”
“The right one,” Jin snapped. “Ours.”
Matteo didn’t brush off Jin’s anger. No, his voice was gentle when he spoke. “You’re not new to this, Jin. You know anyone can change sides.”
Arthie wondered if he spoke of Laith, or Lady Linden, who was revealed to be the Ram. Arthie remembered he had painted for her too. Whatever his reasons, Arthie was at once struck by how different he was from that first moment she’d stepped through his doors.
“Don’t question my parents to me,” Jin said through gritted teeth, but Arthie recognized the undertone to his words. He had asked himself the same question, and he was already afraid of the answer.
“It doesn’t matter,” Arthie said. “If they’re on our side, they’ll assist us. If they’re on hers, we’ll use force. Regardless, we will not only rip out a crucial cog of her operation, we will end it.”
Jin was still trying to convince himself that they weren’t what his gut was saying they were. “They were recognized by the Eagle long before the Ram came into power. They’re well-known in high circles. Trusted, even.”
