Page 39 of To Vanquish Darkness

Amalie drew a deep breath. Each of their influences felt different. Paul was smooth like melted chocolate. Etienne more vibrant, like a sour cherry or crisp apple. And Ren . . . she couldn’t sense him well. Or perhaps he was more purposeful in how he used the gifts of his curse.

Regardless, it only took seconds for her to push back the fog. Was she getting better at it, or did Theo affect her more than others? The idea sent a shiver through her.

"I've always wondered how Theo's lovers would describe him. I can't say I've ever had the pleasure of speaking to one of them in person." Ren sauntered closer. "How did he come upon you? He's been traveling so much, I was surprised he'd found a willing companion. Especially one so lovely."

Amalie stepped back, pressing her palms against the stone wall. "I was walking one evening.”

“Where?”

“Rennes,” she lied. “He was sitting on a bench in the courtyard. We struck up a conversation."

Paul chuckled. "A conversation with Theo? Must have been short-lived."

"Yes, please. Tell us what you spoke about." Ren's voice was smooth as melted butter, but there was an edge to it. It made Amalie's skin prickle. Could he have been the one to kill her mother? Could it have been Paul or Etienne? Why would they have left the rest of her family alone?

Amalie swallowed, her throat dry. She scrambled for inspiration to answer Ren’s question and landed on her last conversation with Olivie. "We spoke of politics."

Ren's eyes widened, and a moment later he burst into laughter along with Paul and Etienne. "Politics?"

It was a reach, but she couldn't very well tell them the truth. That she'd been hunting him. That she knew who and what they were, and that she despised them.

She forced a smile, playing the part of the enamored damsel. "His ideas are revolutionary." Amalie moved toward the open archway, noting how low the sun was in the sky outside the window. She’d thought it was only midafternoon, but she’d calculated wrong. It was nearly twilight. She needed to leave. To get back to the safety of her room.

Ren sighed, leaning against the armchair and playing with Marie’s hair. She nuzzled into him like a cat.

Paul yawned, and as he lifted his hand to cover his mouth, Amalie’s eyes narrowed. He wore a ring. One she’d seen before—one she’d taken off of Theo’s hand as he lay dead on the stone. Did they all wear one?

Amalie couldn’t get a good look without drawing too much attention to herself.

"And what happened after that? Did he ask you back here to continue your discussion?” Paul asked, dropping his arm.

Etienne laughed. “Whatever he said must’ve worked. Didn’t you hear her? He was an attentive lover.”

“Who is an attentive lover?” Theo’s voice sent a shock shooting down Amalie’s spine. Her head snapped to her right.

Theo stood in the archway. He wore clean black trousers, a crisp white shirt, and a vest that fit him like a glove. And he was glowering at her.

Ren walked toward him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “Amalie was just regaling us with tales of your love making.”Marie and Sarah, still seated in front of her, leaned toward Theo as if hoping for the briefest scent of him.

“No, I—” Amalie’s mouth snapped shut as Theo raised an eyebrow. She spun to face the window, searching for anything to burn that expression from her mind’s eye.Thank the gods he was at least fully dressed.

Theo cleared his throat. “I thought I’d find you in your room.”

Ren tsked. “Leaving Master Vallon waiting after his long journey. What a naughty girl.”

Marie and Sarah giggled, and Penelope sighed. “I’d never keep Ramon waiting.”

Amalie wanted to smack her.

"Did you enjoy the books?" Theo asked, and Amalie drew a deep breath before allowing herself to turn back.

She met his eyes. "I did. Thank you." Before she’d fallen asleep, she’d studied without breaking. She’d consumed the deep myth of Le Sombre and his relegation to live interminably in darkness after refusing a marriage to Leviathan. The eldest daughter of the sun god. She’d turned page after page detailing Le Sombre’s curse and the plague of vampires on humanity. It all held more weight than it had when she’d heard the stories as a child, but it hadn’t gotten her any closer to finding the sword.

Ren gave a lazy smile. “We’ve heard you’re interested in politics, Theo. Please, tell us what you shared with this lovely young woman that was so intriguing she followed you here.”

Theo’s lips twitched, then he leaned against the wall and scratched the stubble on his chin. The action was so human, Amalie almost forgot the truth of what he was. Then the soothing blanket of his glamour enveloped her, and she stiffened.

It almost hurt to look at him. The sharp angles of his face, the gloss of his hair.

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