Page 43 of To Vanquish Darkness

“A woman with arms like this does not sit inside at a desk.” Ren’s hands were suddenly on her, and Amalie’s entire body went rigid.

“Ren,” Theo growled.

Ren dropped his hands and grinned. “Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean to overstep.” He turned to Amalie. “Did Theo tell you that bringing you here meant he’d staked a claim? I assume you understand all about our hierarchies.”

Amalie nodded, though Theo had barely alluded to this the night before.

“Once a human steps foot on this island, they belong to the vampire who brought them.” Ren ran a hand through his hair. “Forever.”

Amalie flinched. She thought of the humans in the study. “Do you ever let them go? If they’re . . . not a good fit?” She wanted to believe that was possible. That Marie, Sarah, and Penelope could one day walk down the steps and back onto the sand flats at low tide.

A female vampire sitting on the wall behind Ren sighed. “Oh, they always become a good fit. In the end.”

Amalie nodded once, trying not to let the hatred in her soul bleed out through her expression.

“But I didn’t answer your question, did I?” Ren looked down at the pile of weapons. “I think it would be best if you did thekilling. Just so you know we didn’t use any tricks. Plus, I’ve never seen what happens to a human when they’re violent up close.”

Amalie had mentally prepared for this. She’d decided to start with the easiest, least violent option. Exposing Theo to sunlight.

She stalked forward. “Can we move him over there.”Be docile. Uncertain. She pointed to the swath of sunlight warming the stones to their left.

Theo nodded once and stepped forward, then hesitated as his boots neared the light. Amalie put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him forward, not giving herself time to consider it. The sooner this was finished, the better.

But as Theo’s face hit the light, nothing happened. He drew a deep breath, closing his eyes a moment, then turned to face her.

“I don’t understand.”

Ren clapped his hands together. “Ah, I should’ve stopped you sooner, but I wanted to see if you’d actually do it.” He stepped forward, standing close enough the cloth of his shirt brushed hers. “None of us understand. The sun would roast any of us alive—burn our flesh—but Theo has never had that problem. Well, notnever.Only after Helena?—”

“Would you like me to tell your life story? We could start with the vial.” Theo snapped. Something dark flashed through Ren’s eyes.

Helena.Had Amalie seen that name before? Yes. She was sure of it. But where? And what had the book said?

Theo turned to Amalie with a smile. “Did you hear that? I’m one of a kind.”

Ren forced the smug look back onto his face, then stepped back. “Here. I believe this was what you were after.” Before Amalie could process the movement, Ren grabbed Etienne by the collar and hauled him into the sunshine.

She stumbled back, knocking Theo to the side. She was not prepared for the smell. Or the sounds that tore from Etienne’sthroat. Her entire body went rigid as the muscles of his back grew taught under Ren’s hand, still fisted in his shirt.

She coughed at the acrid smell of charred meat laced with the distinct smell of sulfur as Etienne’s skin began to blister and crack. It wasn't only the flesh on his hands and arms. Since his entire torso faced the setting sun, every inch of him above the waist sizzled and split, revealing raw muscle and sinew underneath.

Amalie's breath came in wheezing gasps as she whirled around, covering her ears to keep the guttural screams from piercing her to the core. When she could endure it no longer, she lunged forward and grabbed Etienne by the arm, yanking him back into shadow and out of Ren’s grip.

He stumbled and fell, landing on the stone and staring up at the sky from a face stripped of flesh. His chest gaped, revealing bones and organs burnt beyond recognition. Like she'd pulled him directly from the coals in her hearth.

He was dead. He had to be. Half his body was eaten away, and the other half lay lifeless. There was no breath in his lungs, no thump of his heart.

“Some friend you are.” Amalie wiped at the tears streaking down her cheeks, only then noticing that she was on her knees next to Etienne's body, her chest cinched so tight, she thought it might crack. Killing in one shot to the heart was one thing, but making someone suffer—even a vampire—left bile sloshing in her throat.

Etienne’s cries still echoed in her ears as celebratory hoots and laughs sounding all around her, and Amalie’s head snapped up. Paul, wearing a shirt today, was doubled over, his shoulders shaking. Clémentine was gaping, a broad smile stretched across her perfect face. And Ren, he was the worst of them all. Howling at the thin crescent slice of the nearly transparent moon like afool. And Theo. He stood there, his hands still bound, watching her.

Why had he been able to withstand the sunlight?Since when?

"What is wrong with you?" Amalie pushed up from the ground. Had they no shame? While she wasn’t going to cry over one less vampire in the world, Theo had said vampires were loyal. Now here they were dancing over their friend’s grave.

Ren sighed, clutching his stomach. “It probably seems cruel to your human eyes.”

“Yes. It does.” Amalie glared at him.

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