Page 105 of The Stars are Dying

“You seem to have your hands full already,” Drystan said, drawing our attention to Rose, who was fighting both Draven and Enver.

“Damn, Thorns,” Zath muttered. “I told her it wasn’t worth it.”

“I’ll be fine,” I said through my bashing teeth.

I didn’t want to be left with the prince, but more so, I didn’t want Rose to be alone. Especially not as three of the Golden Guard began to close in, ready to intervene. Zath’s jaw worked with irritation, but his fist flexed on his sword as he watched Rose as if he were holding back from the urge to go to her.

“We need to get you warm fast,” Drystan said, coaxing me to move.

I nodded but couldn’t look at him in my shame at being a damsel in distress. I passed Enver groaning on the ground just as Zath hooked an arm around Rose to prevent her next lunge at Draven. I didn’t turn around to see their inevitable blowup over it.

“It’s humans like those who ease my guilt at the inferiority of their species,” Drystan said boredly.

My legs were on the verge of locking still from the frozen bath of water I’d fallen into, which I assumed was a trough for horses, but I still cast him distasteful eyes he didn’t meet. “We’re not all like them,” I grumbled. “Most aren’t.”

“Your defense is adorable, though hardly convincing.”

“Of course you see nothing but a meal.”

Drystan flashed me a wide grin. “Is that what you really think?”

“It’s not what I think—it’s what everyone knows.”

“Are you offering?”

I stalled, shrugging out of the arm he had around my shoulders. At my look of outrage, his laughter grated on my nerves.

“Relax. Fuck. Human blood isn’t like amealto us—not something so bland and routine.” He kept walking, and I was so eager to be back at the castle that I followed him reluctantly.

“Then stop feeding on them.”

“I didn’t say unnecessary. We do need blood to survive, and animals can suffice. But human blood is far more desirable. Taken by force it can be painful, but if they’re willing it’s pleasurable for them. They cycle new blood. It’s harmless.”

“They savage without care.”

“Just as humans dominate without care?”

I realized what he meant immediately. To think of all vampires like that was hypocritical when I’d argued not all humans were like Draven and Enver.Devious bastards.

“Fine. You’re right.”

“Was that hard for you to admit?”

“No.”

I scowled, though admittedly I was glad my conversation with Drystan wasn’t tense and frightening given who he was.

As we walked in silence toward the castle gates, I couldn’t stop replaying the memory of the lake with a new rush of urgency to question the clue.

When we got to my rooms, it almost seemed like Drystan was about to follow me inside. I blanched at the thought. I wouldn’t be able to shed any layers in front of him or I’d expose my tattoos.

“Thank you, but I’ll be fine from here.”

As I faced him, the ringing alarm of Nyte’s warning not to trust the prince replayed in my head, but it collided with a desire to believe I could.

I was so damn confused and exhausted.

“I should make sure you get warm enough—”

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