Page 36 of The Night Prince

Every word Vulre said was like a blow to Declan’s heart.He felt like he was being staked to the ground.Bleeding out.

It’s true.I’m nothing.Even the Awakening has passed me by…

Again, nonsense concepts to him, but hefeltthe grief of them.He was weighed down by them like anchors tied to his ankles in the ocean.

“It was a mistake to accept you!All you do is bring danger to this place!”Vulre shouted.

His head shot up.“D-danger?”

And, for a moment, Vulre froze as if what he’d said was a mistake.Vulre rarely made mistakes, Declan knew that much.But the elf’s volcanic hatred of him had perhaps opened his lips too much.

“One who cannot protect themselves is a burden on all others who can!We must put ourselves at risk to keep you alive!And you–you will never be a Blood Knight to one of the great families! So your upkeep will drain our coffers dry!”Vulre spat, but while those things might be true in this bastard’s mind, thatwasn’twhat he had meant.Declan was sure of that.

“Whatdangerdo I bring?”Declan demanded to know.

“I told you–”

“I know when you lie,” Declan interrupted, his eyes narrowing at the elf.

Vulre jerked back as if Declan had physically struck him.“Howdareyou speak to me like that,jadir!”

Jadir… orphan… bastard… of no blood… bloodless.That’s what it means.The greatest insult one can use against another,his mind whispered.

“I speak to you in the way you deserve,” Declan glowered at him.

Vulre again was stunned as if physically struck by Declan’s words.And he knew he was insulting the elf at the same level Vulre had insulted him.Vulre was the Master.He was jadir.But he did not care.He would not give honor where it wasn’t due.

Even if it killed him.

Declan felt a wild desire for Vulre to strike him down.He was jadir. That’s what he would always be.Better to die on the point of Vulre’s blade than disappoint and be a burden to Lady Ashryn.Yet another part of himseethed.

I will not die.I will kill him.And we will see who is bloodless,that part of him that was dark and cold whispered.Let go.

Leg go?He frowned.Of what?

His inner voice did not answer.

“You will be turned out!”Vulre shouted.“I will tell Lady Ashryn you ran away.Ungrateful wretch that you are!”

“No!” The thought of Lady Ashryn thinking he hadlefther, scorning her generosity and kindness, felt like acid on his soul.

“You think you can beat me, jadir?”Vulre taunted as he lightly spun his sword in one hand.“Even if I do not use any magic against you, you will die at the end of my blade in a moment.”

No magic… I have no magic… Even if I can defeat him with my sword, he will use his power against me and I will be done,Declan knew.

Let go,the voice in his head urged yet again.

Of what?He asked back once more.

“You have no family!You have no name!You are a sputtering spark in the darkness!And when I snuff you out, no one will even notice!”Vulre laughed.

No family…For a moment, Declan remembered a woman, bleeding out, against some cabinets and… and there was another woman before that.But he couldn’t quite see her.Couldn’t quite…

No name…He could not for the life of him remember his name.

I am jadir.

I am nothing.

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