Page 26 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood
He vexes me,Athriel says.
Me too.
“Sometimes I vex myself.”
My eyes snap to his, and a wicked grin fills his face. A strange emotion fills every inch of me, and I know whatever it is, it belongs to Athriel.
“That’s not possible.”
No, it is not,Athriel says.
Julian steps forward, and I lift my dagger in warning. A soft laugh falls from his lips.
“Much more is possible than you know—you just have to know where to look.” He pauses for a moment, looking down at my dagger. “You do not need that in my presence. I mean you no harm.”
“Forgive me if I don’t believe you.”
He shrugs, turning his back on me as if to make a point. I don’t take my eyes off him as he crosses the room, his steps slow and measured, before he bends to pick up one of the fangs I dropped earlier. When he stands, he has it held between his index finger and thumb. He analyzes it as though he sees something the rest of us don’t.
“Who taught you about the venom?”
I train my face, stopping the surprise from slipping into place. That’s a secret I will take to my grave. I don’t even think the name, just in case he can hear that too.
“Who taughtyou?” I throw back at him.
He beams at this as if impressed by my answer.
“I like you, Adina. You remind me of someone I once knew a very long time ago. I can see why h—”
He cuts himself off, and for the first time, I see his controlled expression slip for just a second. “I can see why things turned out the way they did.”
“One more riddle and you’ll join the rest of them,” I say, pointing to the bodies on the floor.
“You only think it a riddle because you choose not to see it for what it truly is. Why don’t you start asking the important questions?”
I watch him in silence, my head pounding now that the adrenaline is wearing off.
“Why did you help us?”
This time, his smile reveals a set of perfectly straight white teeth.
“Because I have a job for you.”
I snort.
“Yeah, I don’t think so. I never asked you to help me. We would have been fine without you.”
“Lies do not become you, slayer.”
“I told you not to call me that.”
Our eyes lock in a silent challenge. Finally, he looks away, his features alight with amusement. My gaze locks on the door as I rack my brain for an escape, but every path means getting past his people—and I just watched them butcher a room full of vampires without breaking a sweat. We wouldn’t stand a chance. I finally relent.
“What is the job?”
His mouth twists as though he is proud I made the right decision, but little does he know I’m simply buying time.
“I wish for you to use your gift to kill the Crown Prince.”
