Page 43 of A Vow of Shadow and Blood
“Mypointis that the people in there just about get by, and if they suspect who you are for even a second, they will sound the alarm quicker than you can say vampire.”
“Why would they do that?” Tori asks.
“Gods, you are so sheltered,” he says. “When a pureblood escapes a bloodhouse, the vampires lose coin, so they will pay a pretty hefty reward to get you back. So, trust me when I say, there isn’t a soul inside that place that would hesitate to sell you out.” He points to the tavern.
“Nice.” I scoff.
“When people are offered the kind of coin that could feed their entire family for a week, there’s not much they wouldn’t do.”
I hate that his words fill me with shame.
“And keep those things covered.” He spits as he gestures to the crests on our wrists. For once, I just nod.
We follow Finn through the wooden door of the tavern and are instantly assaulted by loud chatter and clouds of smoke. I wave my hand through the air, clearing away the thick fog.
“Put your hand down, you’re literally screamingI don’t belong here,” Finn warns.
“What the hell is that stuff?” I splutter.
“It’s just cigar smoke. Come on.”
He weaves through the bustling crowd, and as I follow, my gaze snags on a woman straddling a man, her tongue so far down his throat I’m amazed they can still breathe.
Your species is truly a marvel to watch.
Do you have to have an opinion on everything?
What else would you have me do? You tell me not to just kill, so I am watching and learning. Perhaps I will find something I like.
I laugh.
You are incapable of liking things. You’ve moaned from the day your voice crept its way into my head.
It’s all about perspective. I quite find myself the voice of reason.
“You can’t do that in here.”
My attention falls on Finn, his eyes serious as he watches me.
“What?”
His voice falls to a whisper as he leans into me.
“I don’t know where the hell you go when you do that, but I know that wherever it is, it isn’t natural.” He pauses to look around the room. “If these guys sniff out anything that looks strange, then this night will take a turn for the worse quicker than you can say lost gods.”
Let them try,Athriel warns.
I want to agree with him and argue, but instead I bite my tongue. He may annoy me, but this is his world, and he knows the rules. I need this plan to go smoothly so that I can get Willow back, and if that means having to follow Finn’s direction for one day, then I can do that. Besides, I hate to admit it, but he’s right—I have no idea how to fit in here. At least in the bloodhouse I had a purpose, whether it was providing blood or scrubbing floors. I don’t quite know what to do when the only expectation is to blend in.
“Sit,” he tells both of us as we reach a table. I hesitate for a second, but then follow the command. “I’m going to get us some drinks.”
He heads toward a large bar heaving with people.
“They look…happy,” Tori points out as we both look around the room. My eyes land on a group of rowdy people all sitting on wooden stools, gathered around a table. One of them slams a card down on its surface as they all roar in laughter, exchanging coins.
I look to my left and find two women deep in conversation, one holding the other’s hand across the table. One smiles before lifting a hand in the direction of a rotund woman wearing an apron.
“What can I get ya?” she asks them.
