Page 104 of To Vanquish Darkness

Florent knelt beside her, his eyes scanning her face. "Not yet. The bond won’t transfer until she’s gone."

The other man froze mid-pace, his eyes narrowing as he turned his head to the right. He inhaled deeply, his nostrils flaring. Florent stilled next to Rachel. He frowned, his eyes darting around the dark treeline.

“He’s here.” Florent pushed up, pulling his hand from behind her head.

She didn’t see them go, but she felt it. She was alone. She dragged her fingers over the soft clover as her eyelids fluttered.

So quiet.

So cold.

Then there was nothing but black.

50

1836 COUNTRYSIDE TO MORDELLES, FRANCE

Amalie rushed down the dark stairs, her satchel bouncing against her hip. The chilled autumn air bit at her skin as she stepped into the garden, clutching the sword. Theo stood next to the wall and Oren paced, his head bowed. Maurielle whispered to Bethany, Matilde, and Ghislaine who stood with their backs to the stone wall.

Theo came to life when he spotted her, and she ran to him, resting the blade of the sword against her palm to make it easier to carry.

"Is that what I think it is?" His voice was low, the shadows around him already moving toward him like waves in the sea. Amalie nodded. "How?" Theo reached out a hand, and Amalie's heart skipped a beat. She imagined him gripping the hilt, holding it up in the moonlight, then burying it in his own chest.You can vanquish me yourself.

Her head began to throb as she pulled it closer to her body. "We need to find Ren. Now."

“How did you get this?”

Amalie set her jaw. “Does it matter?”

“Yes.” Theo’s voice was sharp.

Amalie opened her mouth, then closed it again. It was a simple answer, but she struggled to give it. “Don’t make me say it.”

Theo’s placid expression cracked, tension coiling beneath his skin. The veins along his throat pulsed, and the darkness of the night seemed to pour into him. The shadows around them flickered.

“She was here?”

Amalie shook her head. “No. She sent a messenger.” She wanted to tell him about Marx. About how he’d been at the castle, how he’d found her in the stairwell and on the roof.

Theo held out a hand, and Amalie took a step back. She shook her head. “I have to find him, Theo.”

He took a step toward her. “Give me the sword. Please.”

Her eyes flashed. “I’m going to find?—”

“We should stay together.” Theo moved, and she instinctively thrust out her knee, but he pushed back, taking her arm with him and launching her off balance. “Not as simple when my hands aren’t bound.”

Her blood boiled as she regained her footing, her eyes shooting daggers at him. “Why would you defend him? He killed my mother.”

Theo’s jaw tensed. “We don’t have proof, but he did betray my trust. I promise he’ll pay?—”

She struggled against him. “Pay how, Theo? He took a life?—”

“Amalie, stop.” Theo’s arm trembled as he held her back. “I’m not defending him. I’m trying to protect you.”

She laughed. “You think you’re protecting me? You think you know what’s best for me?”

Theo’s eyes locked onto hers. “I know?—”

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