Page 72 of To Vanquish Darkness

Ren sat and leaned against the door, his body fully blocking the strip of light at the bottom. “We didn’t harm humans then.”

Amalie’s pulse thrummed in her throat. “How did you survive?”

“You heard what was said in the kitchen?”

“Yes.”

“Have you heard of the guardians?”

“No.”Had she answered too quickly?She swallowed hard, her fingers pinched around the cover of the book.

“Well, it’s more than you need to understand. But we lived in harmony once. Their blood sated us without the need for death.”

Amalie ran her fingers over the tender skin of her underarm. “Sounds idyllic.”

“It would’ve been. Had they not gone into hiding.”

Amalie’s pulse quickened. “Why would they do that? If your relationships were so perfect, why would they leave?”

Ren tapped his fingers on the stone. “That’s probably a better question for Theo.”

It felt like bait, and yet she couldn’t help herself. She took it. “Why?”

“He was one of the vampires who enslaved them.”

A pit opened up in her stomach. Enslaved? That couldn’t be true. Theo said he protected guardians. He’d rushed from the castle to find one who was in danger.

Amalie drew a deep breath. “But you didn’t?”

“Of course not. That’s savagery. It’s no surprise Theo left the second he got word. He’s been obsessed with finding the guardians ever since.”

Obsessed.Amalie set down the book.

Was it possible? She considered all her points of data from this alternative explanation. He wanted power. He wanted control.

Amalie bit the inside of her cheek. No. It didn’t make any sense. If Theo wanted guardians, he knew where her entire family was. He could’ve taken them at any time. “They said a Guardian was changed. But how? I thought when vampires choose to use their venom, they lose power?—”

“They don’t always choose.” Ren’s voice was sharp, and Amalie sucked in a breath. “But yes. They lose strength. Power.”

Amalie waited, not sure what to say next. She’d obviously hit a nerve. It wasn’t surprising that vampires took losing their abilities seriously.

“I think I will sleep after all.” Ren’s shadow lifted from the underside of the door. “Theo shouldn’t be too long. Unless he gets held up with the man’s family.”

“Family?” She’d asked Theo if he knew who the guardian was. He said no. “You know who was changed?”

Ren paused outside her door. “He lives outside of the city. Has a farm. Allard is the surname, I believe?”

30

1836 NORTHERN NORMANDY, FRANCE

Amalie scrambled back, clutching the edge of the windowsill to keep from crumpling into a pile on the floor.Allard?No. It couldn't be possible. He’d heard wrong, repeated an incorrect name. The world seemed to shrink and expand in a never-ending cycle, and she squeezed her eyes closed against the spinning walls.

People said that time slowed and your life flashed before your eyes in the moments preceding death, but she didn’t expect it to happen by proxy. Images flashed through her mind. Her uncle's laughter as he tossed her in the air when she was young. His strong arms catching her again and again. Sitting by the fire while he told stories of battles fought long ago. Of heroes in France who risked everything for those they loved.

She couldn’t imagine it. Him. Transformed into one of these monsters. Somehow she’d believed that it wouldn’t be possible to turn a guardian, but that belief was based on nothing. Theo had never said as much. She’d assumed, and it seemed her assumption was proven false.

What kind of power would a guardian have if they were cursed? Her blood and body healed and replenished. She could withstand glamours. But vampires could do all of that, too. Whatkind of gift was guardian blood if it didn’t give her anything to fight with?

---