bChapter /bb46 /b

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But I can’t stop looking at her. She’s small and graceful, the bluish–gray dress she wears looks like it could swallow her at any moment, and yet she manages to present herself as someone to be respected. Her features are a mix of softness and hardness. The arch of her upper lip is soft and pinkish, while her cheekbones are sharp as ss. Her eyes are the clearest blue I’ve ever seen.

“Has anyone ever told you you’re very transparent?” she says, interrupting my scrutiny. “I can see all the curiosity in your face.”

“Would anyone really be surprised that I have questions?”

“You humans really do live in ignorance. At least now.”

“What do you mean?”

She sighs, brushing a rebellious lock from her cheek.

“You probably already know the Dravens were in charge of the Treaties with humans. Back then, all creatures roamed freely and gave in to their most primal urges. Hunger, sex, among others. Humans were being wiped out at an rming rate, and no matter how much you wanted to, you couldn’t ignore our existence.” She nibbles on her lower lip. “I suppose now you feel safe enough to forget, to live in ignorance. You think vampires are the worst thing that inhabits Drystia, but I have my doubts.”

“Are you dangerous?”

My question draws a lopsided smile from her lips, revealing teeth white as pearls.

“For you, of course.”

As she speaks, a log cracks in the firece, making me flinch slightly. I try to calm myself by pulling at a loose thread from my cloak.

“What is it like?” I ask again. She frowns, clearly not understanding what I mean. I clear my throat and reformte, “Being a banshee. I’ve

read a few things…”

Until now, I hadn’t noticed she’s holding a small–bristled silver–handledb. She must see the surprise on my face because she grips it tighter, as if it were her most precious possession. Without breaking eye contactb, /bshe begins tob her hair.

“We are messengers of death. Women cursed long ago whose curse is passed down from generation to generation.”

“Are you immortal?”

“We can die, but our lifespan is many times that of a human’s. Our leader, for example, has lived several centuries.”

“And you all have magic?”

“Magic isn’t our gift. We were blessed with the scream.”

“But you…”

The sound of ba /bknock cuts off the rest of my sentence. Her eyes dart toward the door, and she doesn’t waste a second getting up, bsmoothing /bher dress, and running to open it.

b“/bbThat /bmust be dinner.”

She pulls the door open, its hinges groaning loudly. The cold creeps inside, making my skin prickle. I pull my cloak btighter /bbaround /bbme/b, craning my neck to try and see over her shoulder.

b1/3 /b

13:26 Mon, b4 /bbAug /bA

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m a guest, aren’t I?”

DU

b420 /b

That voice sounds familiar, I don’t have time to dive into my memories to match the face to it. Slipping past Evanora’s still figure at the door, a tall, broad–shouldered man with golden hair enters the cabin.

Eleazar.

“You’re a guest in the camp, not in my cabin,” Evanora replies, holding the door open.

“I felt Cassian Draven nearby. I couldn’t note.”

Both their eyesnd on me. My body wants to shrink under their gaze, but I don’t. I keep my back straight, stiff as a brooms.ck. I don’t let myself hunch or look down. Their eyes examine me, as if expecting to find Cassian hiding behind my shoulders.

“He’s not here,” Evanora informs.

“You stink of him,” he spits.

I feel insulted.

“I’m his feeder,” I lift my chin. “Of course I smell like him, but as you can see, he’s not here, so get out.”

“You’re telling me to get out?” he says, amused.

“Yes, I am. Problem?” I raise a brow. “I think Evanora made it quite clear you’re not wee in her cabin, so leave. None of us like your

presence.”

He narrows his eyes, ring. I don’t back down. I keep my head high, my eyes locked on his just like his on mine. I sense the exact moment his fists clench, his nostrils re, barely containing his rage–then he turns and storms out the way he came. Evanora, who’s been watching silently, wastes no time shutting the door behind him. She turns to me, a new gleam in her eye.

“That was a pleasant surprise,” she says. “Though he’lle back for you. Vampires don’t take kindly to wounded pride.”

“Believe me,

I’m aware.”

She lets out a brief giggle. Soon there’s another knock at the door, and this time it really is our food. We take it in silence, exchanging small nces at each other. When the candles go out, I receive the clear order to go to sleep, and so I do–or at least I try, because I feel like an intruder in this ce. No matter how much I want to, I can’t fall asleep.

“Well well… someone can’t sleep.”

His voice sounds like a soft purr in my head.

“I’m not ba /bcat, I don’t purr.”

Shit.

“You’ve kept that little head of yours closed to me for ba /bgood while, anything interesting that made you shut me out?b” /b

No.

“Liar… I smelled Eleazar, anything to share?”

Absolutely not.

b2/3 /b

13:26 Mon, 4 Aug . A

“Fine then, I’ll leave you to your sleeping hours.”

I wish I could sleep, I think, not intending for him to hear.

“I can help with that, if you let me.”

How?

“I can make you sleep and dream pleasant things if that’s what you want.”

I fall silent, thinking nothing at all, and I fall asleep.

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I dream of ces I’ve never visited nor seen anywhere. Cliffs overlooking seas of greenish waters, underwater caves wher and I see animals and creatures I’ve never imagined. I travel to mountain ranges,kes, meadows, deserts. Beautiful ces where flowers tickle me as I pass, masses of hot water where the liquid boils, snow–covered beds. I go on a full journey while dreaming, and when I open my eyes again and realize I’m still in the cabin, I feel a small pang of disappointment in my chest.

ts forth

AD