Page 4 of A Court of Bones & Sorrow

For a second, Draven’s expression faltered, and somethingakin to sadness flashed across his face before he slipped on his charming and carefree mask once more.

“Understood.”

“Good.” I nodded. “I’ll see you for supper then.”

“Wonderful.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. And I couldn’t help but wonder how often he lied with his easy grins. “Enjoy yourrest.”

Chapter Two

Samara

I’d barely madeit to the hallway when Vail appeared at my side like a wraith. He didn’t touch me or speak a word, just walked by my side as I made my way to the library, where I had no doubt the others were gathered. Since we’d made it out of the temple, Vail had been careful to keep some distance between us. This was the closest we’d been in the last three days.

A phantom pain flared along my shoulders where he’d clawed through my skin while I’d been lost in my bloodlust. Without meaning to, my gaze drifted to his neck and the throbbing pulse it contained. He’d saved my life by allowing me to feed from him, and I still remembered how his blood tasted.

Wild. Dark. Intoxicating.

My fangs slid a little further out of my gums. Normally, I kept them tucked away, hidden from sight unless I was feeding. It was considered a sign of weakness if you allowed your fangs to be out at all times. The Moroi were monsters but tried very hard to pretend we weren’t.

I was getting tired of pretending.

A few people slowed and tried to catch my eye as I walkedat a brisk pace down hallways and up multiple sets of winding stairwells, but whatever they saw in my face caused them to snap their mouths shut and quickly walk away. Vail’s menacing presence by my side likely had something to do with it as well. Whatever they wanted, I’d need to deal with later, since discussing the Prince Draven situation with the others was my top priority.

The dark wood doors of the library were closed as we approached, and no sound came from inside, which meant they had the silencing spell activated. I opened one of the doors and slipped in, Vail following and closing the door behind us before leaning against it with his arms crossed.

Roth and Alaric were seated at a table, books and scrolls stretched out in front of them. Roth’s hazel eyes lifted from the page for a moment as they looked me over, then they returned to reading. “Don’t come near my books until you’ve bathed.”

“I would never, Roth,” I said aghast while holding a hand to my chest.

Their gaze lifted once more, the burnt orange lines that wound their way through the hazel darkening into a smolder. “Good girl.” Once again, their eyes lowered to the page, but based on the way their lips curled slightly, I knew they’d heard my heart skip a beat.

My eyes slid to Alaric, who was staring at me with an indecipherable look and a clenched jaw that usually meant he was pissed. The list of things he could be upset about was long, and I had no doubt he held me responsible for most of them, but he’d just have to stew in his shitty mood for a little longer. I only had one priority right now.

Kieran was paused mid-step from where he had likely been pacing back and forth—and probably driving Roth insane—in front of the table. His blond hair was tousled as he stood there, like he’d been roughly running his hands through it. I hated the uncertainty in his eyes, waiting for me to say something.

So I closed the distance between us and cupped his face in my hands. “I don’t care. About any of it. You are mine, Kier.” Then I kissed him. He just stood there for a second, frozen in place before gripping me to him. His tongue slipped between my lips and grazed over a fang, causing sweet, coppery blood to light up my taste buds.

Just as he swallowed my groan, someone cleared their throat, and we reluctantly pulled apart but didn’t completely release each other. Instead, I let Kieran spin me around so my back rested against his chest as he wrapped his arms around me. Then I inhaled his scent and enjoyed the last lingering drops of his blood.

Vail’s eyes glittered at me from across the room, his gaze locked onto my mouth and the fangs hidden behind my lips. His throat bobbed once before he looked away.

“What did the prince say to you?” Alaric asked, drawing my attention away from Vail. “Do you think he knows it was us in the temple?”

“Unclear. I don’t think so, but I acknowledge the timing of his arrival is suspicious. He could be in the same boat as us. Maybe he only knows that something happened to the wraiths and a Moroi is responsible. Or maybe he knows it was us but doesn’t know that we know he is the traitor.” I blew out a heavy breath, a headache already forming at all the possibilities. “This whole marriage proposal could be a cover for him to spend time here, figuring out what we know and who we might have told.” Kieran’s arms tightened around my waist, and I pressed further against him.

“You already married one fool,” Roth drawled, not taking their eyes off the page, “I’d prefer you didn’t repeat that mistake.”

From Roth, that was practically a declaration of love with chocolates.

Alaric glanced at them for a long moment before shakinghis head and returning his attention to me. “Did you tell him no?”

“Not exactly,” I hedged. “We need to figure out what he knows and why he’s really here. If I flat-out reject the proposal, he’s not going to just go away. We’d be forcing his hand to take more drastic measures, assuming he knows it was us at the temple. I’ll play along for now to buy us time to figure out our next move.”

The muscle below Alaric’s left eye ticked as he looked over my shoulder to Kieran. “And you’re fine with that? Letting herplaywith the prince?”

Kieran stiffened, and the chains I’d been keeping around my temper broke. “First, nobodyletsme do anything.” I pointed a finger at him in warning. “Stay the fuck out of my relationship with Kieran. Second, you’re more than welcome to walk your pretty ass down the hallway and bat your eyelashes at the prince. You’d make a beautiful consort,” I crooned mockingly.

The turquoise coloring of Alaric’s eyes bled into a seafoam green until they were practically glowing like blue fire. It made his already gorgeous eyes absolutely breathtaking. I smirked at him, and his fingers clenched around the book he’d been reading.

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