bChapter /bb54 /b

I grope my way to the curtains and pull them back to let in light. I immediately shut the door–1 don’t want anyone to see me when my bmind /bis this confused. I have a strange idea, I run to my nightstand where I find an unlit candle and a few matches. I light one and bring the me to the wick. I watch the me hopefully, wishing to see a tiny fiery body curled in it.

Ank doesn’t appear, and that makes me feel deeply alone here. Even though Naida and rissa soone to check on me, I don’t feel

Did I like that kiss? Did I give in too quickly? Should I have resisted more? Does that kiss mean anything?

“You have to tell us everything you saw,” my handmaidens ask.

I tell them about our encounter with one of the kraugs from the Twisted Forest, what the banshee camp looked liv

witch Naja, and my dance with Eleazar.

“You danced with him?”

“That’s what I said.”

“Cassian won’t like that,” rissa mutters.

“He won’t find out,” I say. “And if he does, I don’t care. He doesn’t get to decide who I can or can’t dance with.”

“You do realize he’s your enemy?”

“You do realize Cassian is my enemy too?” I reply.

arance of the

The conversation ends there. They offer to help me change and wash up, but I ask to be alone. The real reason is I don’t want them to see the bite mark–and more specifically, where it is. They insist on preparing the bath, and once everything is to their liking, they leave me alone.

I peel off the dirty dress and look at my naked body in the full–length mirror in the corner of the bathroom. It doesn’t take long to spot the mark that’s already turned purplish on the inside of my thigh.

I touch the two punctures with my fingertips and feel my body shrink from the wave of memories. Memories I wish weren’t so vividly etched in my mind. I turn away from my reflection and step fully into the hot water, which quickly bes murky.

I return to those memories, grazing my lips as I recall that blood–tasting kiss that, despite it all, was incredibly soft.

I tell myself this is just because it’s the first time I’ve experienced any kind of intimacy with a man. It would’ve been the same with anyone else. It has nothing to do with Cassian.

I wash and get out of the bath after a good while. I slip on the nightgown and am focused on detangling the knots in my hair when there’s ba /bknock at the door. My heart skips a beat at the thought it might be him. Instead, a head with braided white hair appears.

“Mind if I sleep with you?” i blink, confused. “I don’t trust them.”

Evanora looks at me with ba /bface so soft it’s almost childlike. I bcan’t /bsay bno /bto her wordsb, /bso I gesture for her bto /bbe /bbin/b.

“It’s bnot /blike my presence would stop them from enteringb, /bbut if bit /bmakes you feel better, byou /bcan stay.”

“I hope your blood is tastier than mine and gives me a bslight /badvantage.”

bI /bblook /bat her, bunsure /bif she’s joking bor /bnot–she must bnotice/bb, /bbecause bshe /bbbursts /bbinto /bbughter/b. bShe’s /bbno /bblonger /bbwearing /bbthat /bbstrange /bbmask /bbthat /bbonce /bcovered her bface/b, and I can see the markings baround /bher blips /bbagain/bb. /b

b1/3 /b

bwas /bbjoking/bb, /bbra/bb./b” bShe /bbcloses /bthe door and sits on the bed. “I’d never stand idly by while they hurt ba /bwoman.”

“Good to know.”

Theck of enthusiasm in my volce gives me away. Evanora crosses her legs on the bed and watches me with a cat–like expression.

“What exactly happened when you went to the pool?” she asks. Y

eemed off

ever since.”

“You don’t know me well enough to tell, do you?” I say defensively.

“You’re right, but I’m not stupid. And remember I told you all your questions show on your face?” She raises an eyebrow. “Well, now you’ve got guilt and regret scribbled all over it. Look, I’m not great at being someone’s confidante, but if you need to confess your sins–I’m here?

Thest part she says with a mischievous smile. I study her

carefully while my fingers continue the task of untann

yet hair.

“I hate them, Evanora. I hate those damned things,” I say with a sigh. “They’ve stolen my whole damn life.”

“I get it. I hate them too.”

“And I think I hate myself now too.” Evanora stays silent, waiting for me to exin. “He kissed me when we went to the pool, and I did nothing. I’m afraid I even enjoyed it–absolutely everything that happened there.”

“Everything that happened there?”

“He bit me.”

“I don’t know where to begin.” She gets up and grabs my hand, pulling me with her. “ra, a vampire’s bite can feel good–if he wants it to. So don’t feel bad for enjoying it. That’s probably exactly what he was aiming for.”

“I don’t know…”

“Maybe what you should worry about is that–him wanting you to enjoy it.”

“Why?”

She looks at me like I’ve grown a second head. Her grip tightens slightly before she lets out a small noise from her throat.

“You know his reputation, ra. We all do,” she says. “Cassian is a horrible creature. Do you really think he cares if his midnight snack has a good time while he drains her dry? The answer is no.”

“Then why…b?/bb” /b

“He likes you,” she says, horrified. Then repeats it. “He likes you.”

This time I’m the one who looks at her like she’s grown a horn out of her forehead, and after a moment I burst intoughter.

“You’re insane. Cassian hates humans as much if not more–than we hate vampires.”

“I hope you’re right, ra. Because if not, I fear you’ll fall to him–like everything else he desires. Of all the possible fates for you, I think being

wanted by him is the worst.”

“You’re worrying over nothing.”

b“/bI hope iso/i. You know he’s insatiable, and when he’s done bwith /byoub, /bbra/bb… /bhe’ll leave bnothing /bbehind. bNot /bbeven /bbyour /bbpoor /bbheart/bb./bb” /b

b2/3 /b