Page 95 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood
He runs at her while laughing and tries to grab her, but she easily evades him, a soft smile on her face. They move faster, becoming blurs that my eyes still cannot adjust to. Ajax says that one day I’ll learn to control my vision, to slow fast-moving things just enough to see them—but that takes practice. For now, they’re nothing more than a blur of colors flashing around the room, only slowing long enough for me to make out their lean frames.
“You did well,” Piper says from beside me.
“Thanks. Though I got a little help.”
She chuckles at this as she watches them chase each other.
“They look happy,” I say, watching as Ajax and Ivana seem to be having their own private conversation in a language that only the two of them understand.
Piper nods. “They need it.”
I turn to her and raise my brow in question.
“They fought side by side in the war. They lost a lot of friends, so it’s nice to see them smiling. There was a time when I wasn’t sure they ever would.”
Her words churn something inside of me, and I want to tell her that they don’t deserve to cry over their suffering during a war they likely helped to start, but as I stand watching them laughing with each other, they look so…human. Back at the bloodhouse, vampires only ever demanded obedience and would get it in any way they saw fit. I cannot deny that this group seems nothinglike the vampires I’ve previously met. Still, my mind refuses to forget what they really are.
It’s clear that they love each other. They’re a family, but no matter how beautiful that may seem, when it comes down to it, I’m nothing more than a human to them, and if it weren’t for my bond with Karius, I’d already be dead.
Suddenly, the doors to the training room open, and a guard comes into focus, his face stern as his eyes search the space until they land on me.
“The prince has requested your presence.”
After the guard escorted me from the training room, he delivered the prince’s message that he expected me to be bathed and dressed before being brought before him. I almost argued until Ajax said that we were done for the day, anyway. I don’t know who Karius thinks he is to just summon me.
Perhaps he believes himself to be the prince of a kingdom.Athriel jests.
It’s not funny. He gets on my last nerve.
Somehow, this only amuses Athriel.
The stern-faced guard and I walk in complete silence to the unknown location until he finally stops in front of a large door and knocks on it. I run my hands down the soft material of my dress, the dark emerald shimmering against the starlight that leaks through the window at the far end of the corridor we are standing on.
A grumbled ‘come in’from the other side of the door brings me back to the present. The prince’s voice grates on my nerves as he gives the order.
The guard pushes the door open, revealing a room twice the size of my own. My eyes scan the lush sheets and large windowacross the way, and I don’t miss the fact that it is slightly ajar, unlike the one in my room, which remains sealed shut. I cross my arms over my chest and stare at the prince as he lounges in the chair by the window, swirling the amber liquid in his glass before taking a slow sip.
“Inside,” the guard grunts, and I roll my eyes, but I do not move. The guard grabs my arm and shoves me into the room, and the prince’s eyes instantly fall to where he is touching me.
“Careful where you place those hands, Samiel. I would hate for you to lose them,” he warns in a low growl that seems to vibrate throughout the entire room, and although the words are not aimed at me, I sense the threat behind them. One could almost be fooled into thinking that he actually cares whether I get hurt, but we both know that it is only to do with the bond.
The guard grumbles his apologies and quietly shuffles out of the room, closing the door behind him. The prince’s attention finally falls back on me, and he lets out a low whistle, his eyes darkening as they sweep down the length of me.
“I’m not sure who is responsible for picking your outfits, but please remind me to reward them dearly.”
I roll my eyes.
“I’m not a spoiled royal like you.” I scoff. “I’m more than capable of choosing my own clothes.”
His smile widens at my words. “Then I guess it’syouwhom I need to reward.”
I scoff. “I would sooner die.”
My words seem to amuse him as he takes another swig of his drink, humming as the liquid slides down his throat. A throat I wish I could slit.
“You know I can feel your intentions down this bond, little witch, and believe me when I say your body and mind are on two entirely different continents.”
My eyes narrow and my fists curl at my side.
