in the doorway, holding a writhing

nto my throat at

nooping around," the

the dimly lit room, and an ang

her

ran at the woman, intent on doing as much damage as I could, but was held back by

fast, C

ess. He plucked the weapon out of my grip, setting

ien explained against my

k her again. Especially when I'm no

nd I certainly wasn't going to promise not

er head and was dressed in breeches and a shirt like a man migh

the red welt on her cheek, I could tell by looking a

ed. Again, the purr of his voice again

use, right now, the only thing I cou

ars burning in my eyes as the woman yanked Seraphina c

quirked in a frown. "Does my everything have a n

ight line. "If only there we

ng soft and sweet. Docile, even, to earn their trust. That was the point of the mi

talia said, giving a sharp tug on

o get Bastien's assistant to let my sister go. "Her

ead to one side. "A Donadieu?

was wincing as she d

the Sanguination ball without giving our plot away, I had ‎to forge one. And t

capital, near enough to our village. The orphans housed at the convent were those of dead

female vampire said

rls." She shifted her

utdone yourself this tim

ed no more strays

t. It seemed ‎like something impo

astien's hand flattened against my stomach, holding m

I wiggled, trying to put space betw

" he wa

ouching heated des

pire was tall enough that the top of my ‎head barely reached his shoulder, and the only thing

take no for an answe

g when I trie

emed to care a lot about him, and he about her. If they were more about each ‎other, it was useful to m

at the thought of them together. Someth

the red ‎welt on her cheek. "Looks li

t reckless. Something worse could've happened to her, and I would've never forgiven myself. Mama told us to be poli

se my ‎sister. She only wanted to ensure I

was planning to do with her. If she'd be taken prisoner o

ortunity to put space between us, daring to take a step c

ismissive han

a, let h

k Dia

" she said, ‎releasing her

me tight. I smoothed my hand over the back of her head, hoping she wasn't

he only person ‎in our coven w

I'd do absolutel

fine. Just a little

rse for

d Bastien walk around us to stand be

cing every inch of her to make sure she hadn't been harmed. Sera

. Tears were sparkling in he

nst all odds, I'd been taken into Bastien's service. I'd endure a thousan

last, Sera would be safe, and she could live

he light of the sun, just like they always did when she was casting a spell, and the tingle of ma

k home in one piece, and this time, she'd be traveling alone. The full moon w

k in a room full of vampires. Even if her back

like we used to do when we were girl

h fine dresses," Natalia said to Bastien in the

ce them, and I took S

f us. Thankfully, we ha

ll for any girl wishing to attend your Sanguination." I ran my h

tions, we were able

, a member of the human aristocracy, donated dresses each month to girls. With

like they weren't sure wh

attendance toni

e to confirm that these dres

ad. "That won't be necessary. I have no desire to remain any longer at Chateau Corbin, questioning no

ful look at my sister, he tossed it to her. Sera caught the leather pouch in

ur mouths

ra asked, clos

me to my sister. His hard, chis

s earnings. She will want for nothing at my castle, and that purse will provide you with enough

all fortune was the least he could do after sending so many into battle. It didn't prove a

of me extended to her, and he wanted to keep us both under watch. It would've been nice to have her at my sid

Sera would accompany me on this mission. Mama would be grateful for the extra coin as ‎

s for th

, I was going

y arms. Hugging her tightly. I hadn't spent more than

. It's see you soo

lia to lead her out of the room, turning to wave

ing to keep the ‎sob threatening

He simply waltzed to the door, picked up his cane, a

xpelled an annoyed breath