Page 105 of To Vanquish Darkness

“You call yourself a protector, but you still think likethem.” The words came unbidden, her hurt coating every thought in herhead, making it impossible to think clearly. She wasn’t angry at Theo. It wasn’t his fault, and yet she couldn’t stop the onslaught.

Theo sucked in a breath. “I have no choice but to survive.”

“Neither do I.” She twisted, throwing out her free arm, and Theo seemed to evaporate and condense as he avoided contact.

“This isn’t survival, Amalie. You’re hunting. You’re becoming the very thing you hate.”

Amalie’s chest heaved, his words like a slap. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“I wouldn’t understand?” Theo’s breath came in quick bursts. “I’ve watched you die—watched you murderedtwice. I held you in my arms. I saw the faces of those who sought to control you. Sought toownyou.”

He forced her arm up, the sword glinting in the light of the moon. “This is not a gift, Amalie. This is a flaxen cord.”

Amalie’s arm dropped a fraction, and then he was there. Pressed up against her. “I know where this leads.” His eyes searched hers. “I’ve seen it. I won’t let you do this.”

Amalie’s chest tightened, her lungs refusing to fill. He was too close. Heat radiated from his body, and she shivered at the brush of his clothing against her skin. “I’m not asking for your permission.”

His nose brushed her cheek. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”

His scent enveloped her, sending her head spinning. “I want justice.”

“It’s a cheap reward,” he snapped. “Trust me.”

Amalie held his gaze until she saw something retreat, a door closing behind his eyes. Theo cleared his throat and turned back to Oren, Maurielle, and the girls.

Bethany gaped at them, and Amalie dropped her eyes.

"We need to leave." Oren ushered his girls toward the gate.

"Yes, keep them safe." Amalie’s voice shook. "Theo can?—”

“I’m going with you.”

She paused, her eyes lifting. Before she could protest, Theo turned to Oren.

“I’ll meet you there. After.”

Amalie swallowed hard. "Ren is with the Pourfendeurs. I can speak to them.” Her cheeks flushed, hearing how feeble the words sounded in her own ears. She had no desire to speak to the Pourfendeurs. She wanted the truth.She wanted Ren dead.

"Show me the rings." Amalie motioned to Theo's right pocket, the deep well of anger and grief beginning to simmer within her. If Ren had been the one to kill her mother, if he'd lied to her and then tried to cover it up?

A cold, dark calm settled over her like a veil as she ran a finger over the crossguard. Theo did as she asked, pulling out the ring she'd found in her mother's box, then showing her the ring he wore on his own finger.

Amalie's blood began to hum. "Check the back. The signature." Theo frowned and twisted the ring, holding them up to the light. "It should be a small number pressed into the back of the metal."

Theo drew a breath. "Thirteen."

"On both of them?"

He nodded.

"You had them made by the same silversmith." She spoke faster, already striding toward the far gate.

"Years ago, yes. The old man’s probably gone by now."

Amalie glanced over her shoulder. "Which is exactly my point." Actually, it had been Marx’s point. She shivered, thinking of him lounging in her bedroom chair. How did he always know where she was? How did he always know exactly what to say?She will find you, Amalie. Her bond is slower to form, but when our mark appears, hers is quick to follow.

She felt as if her head was underwater by the time they reached the gate. Bonded. Theo could feel her. Helena could feel her. Why had one of their friends wanted her blood? Had she chosen this bond, or was the blood-red swirl on her arm proof that she’d rejected it?

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