Page 116 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood
She looks up at me questioningly, and I feel we’re on the cusp of something—as if it’s staring us in the face but we just can’t see it. One thing I know: we need to get to it before the impures do.
And kill it,Athriel sneers.
We don’t know what we would be up against.
Then we must find out,Athriel says, and for once, I wholeheartedly agree with him.
“Adina?” Piper’s voice breaks through my onslaught of thoughts.
I look up to find her and the elderly seamstress watching me. How long have they been calling me?
Long enough. If you would stop tormenting yourself over things you cannot control, maybe you would have heard them yourself.
Be quiet.
Athriel’s been far grumpier since we came to the palace and quieter, too, which may actually be a good thing.
I will start singing temple hymns nonstop if you test me.
Don’t you dare,I warn.
A devious laugh fills my head, followed by the loud humming of an old hymn that we were forced to sing back at the orphanage.
Athriel.
Adina,he sings.
“Sorry,” I say, remembering that the two women are waiting for me. I’m pretty sure that this isn’t the first time that they have called me either.
“It’s ok, Lena was just asking what style of dress you like?”
I shake my head as if just remembering what I’m here for. Piper picked me up early this morning and explained that she had been summoned by Karius to take me to get some new dresses. Apparently, a lot of events are coming up, and since I’m the only pureblood he can currently drink from, I must attend them all. I hate being around people as it is, so this is almost guaranteed to be a nightmare, though I can’t deny the fact that I love dressing up. I just hate the fact that we’re always made to do it for the pleasure of vampires. Especially now, when we should be out there searching for Willow and this creature.
“Something unique with embellishments of some kind. I like side slits and cutouts.” The seamstress nods as she scribbles her notes on a piece of parchment, only pausing to sweep the strands of wispy gray hair from her eyes as she does.
“Any particular colors?”
“I like bold ones like crimson, emerald, royal blue…those sorts.”
“They sound lovely,” Piper says from where she is currently walking around the room and stroking her fingers gently across some of the dresses that Lena has on display.
“Did you make all of these?” I ask.
“I did, yes.” A soft smile touches her lips as her blue eyes meet mine. Tori would have loved it here. She always got so excited any time we got a new set of dresses back at the bloodhouse. Gods, I miss her.
“Lena’s the most talented seamstress in the entire court.”
Lena tuts at Piper.
“Don’t mind her, she just likes to flatter me.” She smiles at Piper with a fondness that is so rarely seen between vampire and human. I'm so used to humans pretending to like vampires to stay alive or eyeing them with lust, but something in Lena's eyes feels so genuine that I almost can't drag my gaze away. Piper walks over to her.
“Flattery can still be the truth, though,” she tells her and rubs her hands on her shoulders.
Lena pauses to place a hand over one of Piper’s, and the two smile at each other sweetly, and the entire exchange makes me look away as though I’m intruding on a private moment.
“How long have you worked at the palace?” I finally ask.
She lifts the pen to her lips, her expression thoughtful as she considers my question.
