Page 108 of Embers in the Snow

“Have you ever met another… like you?”

“No. There are records of vampires, but not in Rahava. Across the mountains, perhaps. In lands beyond the borders of our maps. If they ever existed in the empire, father would have found out a way of driving them out or destroying them long ago. He wouldn’t allow someone like me to exist alongside him.”

“And yet, you live.”

“Because I have shown myself to be quite sane on the surface, and he’s confident I won’t go against him. The very fact that I’ve sworn to protect my people is evidence enough that I’m no threat to him. Besides… hestillwants me to become emperor. I’m the son he’s invested all his time and energy in. He didn’t plan for Ansar to become emperor, which is stupid, really, because firstborn heirs are always at risk of assassination.”

“Your younger brother is going to succeed him now?” Skepticism must’ve entered my voice, because Corvan chuckles. I’ve heard the rumors. That Ansar Duthriss is a flamboyant character; a womanizer, the type that openly flaunts his power.

“Half-brother, I correct. Hewasimmature, but I’m sure he’s grown since I last saw him. The Knights’ Academy would have sorted him out.”

“You don’t sound entirely convinced.”

“When my father is gone, the Rahavan Court will regulate itself. I’ve no appetite for it. I never did. And if Ansar oversteps or becomes corrupt, Iwillpull him back into line.” Corvan goes still, holding up a hand. He cocks his head to one side. “Finley. Wait here. I’ll be back very soon. I need to go and check on something.”

And just like that, he becomes a blur and disappears, leaving a rush of cold wind in his wake.

One moment, we’re talking about the deep secrets of the Rahavan Empire. The next, I’m standing alone in the wintry forest, surrounded by trees and silence, with disquiet brewing in my heart.

Disquiet quickly gives way to a gaping chasm.

What if this is all a ploy, and he just planned to leave me here? What if he isn’t coming back?

Deep inside me is a great fear of being abandoned by this man, and I despise myself for it.

If he left me, I’d find a way to survive.

But he isn’t going to do that. I force the dark voices in my head to shut the hell up. I’mnotin my father’s castle anymore.

This isCorvan. He looks like a beautiful monster, but he’s got more honor in his little finger than my father and Dorava combined.

33

CORVAN

Ikeep one ear attuned to Finley as I dart between the trees, heading for a familiar place—a small clearing where I’ve placed a lycan trap.

She’s safe for now, but the moment I hear anything untoward, I’ll be back by her side.

A foul stench fills my nose, making me wish for a dose of Ciel’s astringent antiseptic. I know that smell—putrescence and decay. It’s the same smell that comes when a rotting corpse has been sitting under the hot sun for days on end.

It makes me want to retch.

Dread courses through me. Even if there’s a dead body nearby, it shouldn’t smell this bad in the middle of winter.

There’s no lycan-stench here. Just foulness.

I reach the trap; a large iron cage that would accommodate a dozen men. That’s what it might have been used for in another time, but I’ve had these specifically made to entrap the magical wolven beasts that come down from the mountains.

At first, they were quite effective. I trapped and killed dozens simply by hanging a few dead hares inside the traps.

But the lycan appear to have become wise to my tricks.

Now, it matters not, because there are no lycan inside the cage.

There’s only a man.

At least, whatusedto be a man.

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