Page 41 of To Vanquish Darkness

Amalie’s eyes narrowed. Everything? Did that mean he had been there at the beginning? Had all of them?

“I personally think the human histories are pure comedy.” Etienne stretched his arms over the back of the chair. “The way they think they can kill us with pieces of silver or stakes of ash.”

Amalie stiffened, and Ren locked onto the movement.

“Oh, don’t tell me you believed that was true?” He purred, dropping his eyes to the pockets of her trousers. “Theo, did you tell her she could bring a stake to protect herself?”

Theo shrugged. “I didn’t check her pockets.”

Ren’s eyes gleamed. “And yet you still let him have his way with you? Or was that for research as well?”

“Ren. Enough,” Theo growled.

Ren laughed. “I’m sorry, you’ll have to forgive me. After living for centuries, I latch on too quickly to shiny objects. But I have to say, this conundrum you’ve brought to our attention is sparkling indeed.” He planted his hands on his hips and looked between Theo and Etienne. “What do you say we have a bit of fun in the courtyard tonight?”

“What are you proposing?” Etienne kicked a leg over the arm of the chair.

A slow grin spread over Ren’s face. “It won’t do for Amalie to perpetuate antiquated and dangerous beliefs. Let’s give her some hands-on research.”

17

1824 BLOIS, FRANCE

Rachel grasped the stone wall in front of her, so dizzy she thought she might hurl her dinner into the glittering night sky.

“Breathe.” Florent rubbed a hand over her back.

She did as he said, forcing air into her lungs and squeezing her eyes shut. “You can fly,” she gasped,

“No.” Florent’s chuckle was low. “I can move quickly. There’s a difference.”

Rachel opened her eyes, still pressing the pads of her fingers into the rock. “I’ve never been up this high.”

“Only because your brother keeps you so busy, you have no time to explore.”

Rachel scanned the treetops and rolling countryside. “Where is Oren’s estate?”

Florent pointed to the south. “There. After the bend in the Loire.”

Rachel nodded. There were candles burning behind many of the windows. “What is this place?” She turned and scanned the roof beyond the turret she stood on, and her eyes widened with realization, the red tiles. Black shutters. “This is Place Deaumont.”

Florent nodded. “It’s my home.”

“But it’s abandoned. Monsier Deaumont refuses to sell?—”

“Monsier Deaumont has lived beyond our borders for two years past. He will not miss it.”

Rachel frowned, her heart beginning to skip in her chest. How was this possible? How had he taken her safely to the ground and covered this much distance in the blink of an eye?

As panic built in her chest, another sensation crept over her like morning mist. Peace. Calm. He’d never harmed her. He’d never done anything untoward. She should give him an opportunity to explain, shouldn’t she? “Florent?—”

“You have questions. I will answer them. But first, let me bring you inside so you don’t catch a chill.”

Rachel nodded, giving the home where Amalie and Bethany were still fast asleep in their beds one last look before following him into the dark stairwell.

18

1836 NORTHERN NORMANDY, FRANCE

---