(verb)

een of sweat coated my skin, leaving me tre

would provide a quick death, but apparent

rsaken balcony. Miles away from my family home, where my

. I had so many regrets. Most about my failings as a sister and

ded behind me, like

llard mere inches away. Staring at m

e smell of my blood? Had it d

clear that he never wa

d if he were here, maybe I could save mys

ning to you?" t

reality, but I swore I heard

showed any c

cold hand and tilted my head to the side, examining

I managed to grit out, and

a witch. I was just a girl who was bleeding in front of a vampire. Thinking about the blood a

and extracted a dagger from the holster strapped to his chest. Long, ski

came to rest ben

cut it off, which wouldn't work. It would only make the pain w

es went

y as I could, and I pai

he vampire prince's grip on my shoulder kept me upright. His hand still

he last thing I'd ever see. The la

izziness and the pain. Sera believ

onvince him to take me

rained to say around the pain in my throa

d as I asked. Lifting the blade to his parted lips, he dragged it across his tongue,

s attention never d

left behind, causing another wave of dizziness. He fitted his arm a

, my heartbeat san

remain present through the pain and the

d. How I was relying on this cre

er. I waited for what ‎he might say, barely able to breathe as red ‎tea

" he said ‎in a raspy growl. "This ne

gether that magi

as suspicious of me?

as that he sou

't dare

nued. His voice was dark, and his expression irr

ans got tangled up in magick, even ‎though it was thei

wing this was my last chan

en him. No. It pushed him

o a creature. The shadows around his eyes darkened, and his incisors

nster aw

escape his grip, but Bastien's hold on me ‎was abs

you?" he

‎the balcony was thrown open, and the High ‎Prin

rbin, and ‎he was rumored to be the m

as alone with

he was in his

lack and shadowed, and

. Weak from the pain and sick with fear. I scraped my palms catchin

een myself and the two brothers, who looked

om a girl without a contract? In the middle of your sanguination ball?

my blood. Vampires were

pped back. Turning to glare at me with mur

itched, but I didn't think

I was sent from the Proctor Family as a spy, I'd be thankful the collar

"The proof is in front of me. Her blood is on your lips, and th

ied, I would too. And thi

it," Bastien refuted. "I tasted her blo

led the outrage of the nobility by announcing that you have chosen her as your

lieving me of the worst of the pai

g right. I pressed my lips t

Bastien glared at me, where I

ms wide as if in invitation. "Go ahead and extract your justice. I'll gl

wilted. He'd rather d

t poked at hurt more than the

ould be born without magick and if a murderous vam

long anywhere

his fangs, and a serious look replaced his more threatening one. "I need you in the West, expandin

e side of Bastien's cheek

Prince Bastien retorted. The courage of his conviction sent a wave of adrenaline through me. "As I already sa

the nerve of this ‎se

e could throw it away over something this trivial. But my l

e vampires, unsure

is short black curls and deeply tanned skin, and Bas

ies and courtly appearan

ric nature, they were captivatin

im that held my attention. Something I couldn't

view, and made his way over to where I was cowering on th

ppet," Mari

s long, spindly fingers before clasping his hand. He helped me to my

he High Prince would make a just decision. But the barbs of the

life, then I will make sure the girl you are rejecting is well cared for. In your castle. As is her ri

rom a vampi

Bastien interjected, steppi

klace of hers is magickal and

o draped ‎a protective arm around my

ght do. With his ‎lips and his t

killer. And I had no m

ght a magickal necklace to bleed for you, then all the better

king softly and low. "We love a willing and dedicated sanguine partne

ire thought me soft and sweet, like a ripe grape, r

ould learn. Of the things I could ‎whisper to my family. And of

ful to serve them as our overlords. It made them careless, which was exact

ed a chill to ra

iana's light cascaded over his features. How could the moon godde

ingly handsome that it stole my breath. T

riking his cane on the ground. "You can

in, and briefly, I hoped Marius wo

alive to discover the whereabouts of the demonic relics. In fact, if he d

hind throbbed with pain. I could only im

h I narrowly escaped is fresh in my mind. Bastien tracked the ‎move

st. A reminder of the moment he'd pulled me close. Of t

to save me. He'd co

before his hand fell from my fac

aiting in the ballroom, then fine. I'll cut off your head. But the girl will live in your

my lips pressed together. Marius was just as manipulative as

d through his golden hair, mus

hrugged. "If you're dead,

battles. I need territory. And you are the only one who can give it to me." H

ugh the trees. The torches hanging

e. I hoped he opted for death. It would

something inside me balked at

. Still as

relaxed, and his shoulders slumped

would tha

blade,