Page 78 of Slaying the Vampire Conqueror

“It’s impossible not to notice everything, with you.”

I wasn’t sure what I expected from him. But it was not that.

I took a sip of the tea because I didn’t know what else to do. It was a little bitter and a little sweet, and just the right amount of hot.

It was, I had to admit, nice.

“A brother,” Atrius said. “Yes?”

Weaver, how did he know?

“He looks like you,” he said, answering my unasked question. “And he called you that name. Vivi.”

The corner of my mouth twitched with a sad smile. Odd to hear Atrius say it, his accent rolling over those two sharp syllables.

“That was my name before the Arachessen,” I said. “Long time ago.”

“It suits you.”

“I didn’t—I didn’t know he was alive.”

The words slipped out without my permission. Maybe I meant them more for myself than for Atrius.

It’s not your fault he ended up this way.

You didn’t know he was alive.

Atrius picked up another mug, but he didn’t drink from it, just held it in his lap. “I’ve heard,” he said, “that the Arachessen take their recruits as young children.”

“I was… older than most. They almost didn’t take me because of it. Ten.”

“That is still very young for humans,” he murmured. “Isn’t it?”

I swallowed. “Yes.”

The last day—days? Had it been days?—had been a blur. For the first time since the attack—since finding Naro—I allowed myself to think back to it. Funny how two days ago, the idea of seeing Tarkan deadwas so exhilarating. In reality, I’d barely glanced at his body. And I’d paid no attention at all to the rest of Atrius’s takeover. Totally abandoned the role I was supposed to play.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been present?—”

Atrius just raised his hand.

“You knew Tarkan,” he said.

It wasn’t a question. Atrius, I’d come to realize, did not ask questions. He made demands or statements. In between, he’d quietly gather information.

Sometimes too much of it.

I hesitated with the tea halfway to my lips. Then took a sip.

The more I showed him, the more he would trust me. I told myself this and ignored the tiny part of myself who found an odd comfort in sharing these things with him.

“I grew up in Vasai,” I said. “I never met Tarkan personally. But… I was a child during the Pythora Wars. I saw him make his takeover.”

I thought back to our attack. To the moment Atrius had Tarkan’s throat, and he still hesitated, giving me that shot.

“You were going to let me be the one to kill him,” I said. “Why?”

His eyes slipped to the fire. “I could see that you wanted it. And you deserved it.”

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