Page 40 of A Court of Bones & Sorrow

“Okay, not ideal, but I can work with this.” I chewed on the inside of my lip as I absently stared off to the side. Vail clearly wasn’t happy, considering the tension radiating off him, but this could be to our advantage. I’d reaffirm that Vail and I were sleeping together next time I spoke with Draven. On the plus side, if Vail and I had to look into anything, we could use this fake relationship as a cover.

Vail remained silent as I thought through all of this. His eyes were mostly silver, so something had triggered his bloodlust, but I didn’t think it was solely because of this turn of events. “Did something else happen?” I scanned his face, looking for clues but discovering nothing besides the frustration and general anger I seemed to always find in his eyes. “You seem a little intense. Even more so than usual.”

The silver receded until only thin tendrils of it wound amidst the dark grey. “There is something off about the prince. I don’t know what . . . but he is more than he seems.”

“I know,” I said quietly. “Even though I’ve known Draven for most of my life, this past week has made me realize that I actually know and understand very little about him. The prince is full of secrets.”

“You sure we shouldn’t kill him?”

I honestly couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. Knowing Vail . . . not joking.

“Not right now.” If I was looking at this from a purely logical standpoint, Draven being dead could solve some problems. Even thinking that caused something inside my chest to tighten, but if the Moroi Prince truly was the villain in all of this . . . could I really put the future of our people at risk because Kieran and I had feelings for him?

No, I couldn’t. It would break something inside me, but if Draven truly was choosing to harm other Moroi of his own accord . . . then I’d bury a dagger in his heart myself.

Draven’s words from our dinner earlier in the week floated through my mind.“The only thing I’ve ever known are nightmares.”There was more to this than I was seeing. “Until we understand his role in all this . . . we don’t harm the prince.”

Vail studied me for a long moment. “You like him.”

“It’s complicated.” Sensing an argument, I started to walk away. It may have been late in the morning, but I hadn’t had any tea yet, so Vail would just have to wait to tear into me.

My escape was short-lived though because Vail gripped my arm and moved me back roughly. I hissed as he shoved me up against the wall, boxing me in with his large body.

“Do I need to remind you that he brought guards with him that night at the temple? That he offered them up to that Fae bastard like they were nothing?” Vail kept his voice low, but it vibrated with rage. “Or of the Moroi, includingchildren, who have been slaughtered in the outposts by wraiths?”

“My memory is just fine,” I said icily.

Vail leaned in closer until his face was only inches from mine. “Then think with something besides your greedy fucking cunt for once.”

“Fuck. You.” I shoved my hands against his chest, letting my nails lengthen and harden until they were claws that sliced through his leather and into his flesh. “I am beyond sick of your shit, Vail. You hate me. Then you don’t hate me. Then you’re back to hating me again. Make up your damn mind! Also you don’t have a problem with any of your rangers sleeping around, and you have a fuck buddy in almost every outpost. So why exactly are you so concerned aboutmy fucking cunt?” I let my last few words turn into more of a throaty purr at the end, solely because I knew it would slip under his skin and enrage him even more.

In a blink, Vail ripped my hands away from his chest and pinned them above my head. The position forced his body to press against mine, and I could barely shift my head back enough to glare up at him. The scent of his blood filled the air, and if my fingers were within reach, I would have licked the blood off them. I’d been delirious at the temple, but I still remembered how delicious his blood had been.

I could be pissed off at him and want his blood at the same time. Nothing messed up about that at all.

“Keep it up, Samara”—Vail’s eyes dropped to the throbbing pulse on my neck—“and I’ll dump your body and the prince’s in that fucking cave for the monsters to dine on.”

Despite the harsh words, it wasn’t hostility I saw in Vail’s eyes. It wasn’t just hunger for blood either—although that was definitely there. It was desire. Hot burning desire.

Holy fuck.

“Vail.” I smirked at him when his gaze snapped to mymouth and the way my lips had curved. “If you want a taste, all you have to do is ask. Although, if someone walks by and catches us, the rumor about you fucking the Harker Heir will spread like wildfire, which I suppose will help our cover story.”

A sharp exhale flew out of my lungs as Vail shoved himself off me and backtracked until he was several feet away. I casually raised my fingers to my lips and licked the blood off, then I let out a deep chuckle when silver flared in his eyes before they hardened. “Honestly, Vail, you make it too easy.”

He took a step towards me, fingers curling into fists before spinning and stalking down the alleyway. Even when he was pissed, he moved quietly. I waited until he was gone before sagging against the wall. “Well, that was a little terrifying,” I muttered.

I knew it was a bad idea to antagonize Vail. Although, I was mostly sure he wouldn’t actually kill me. He’d had his chance to get rid of me several times at this point and hadn’t seized it, or had seized it and then changed his mind in the case of the kùsu attack. He could be such a fucking prick sometimes, and like Alaric, his barbed insults always hit home.

It hurt. I should have been used to it after all these years of being at the receiving end of his vitriol, but I just couldn’t bring myself to hate Vail the way he hated me most of the time.

The scent of his blood was still in the air, and I couldn’t stop myself from inhaling deeply. He seemed to want another taste of me as badly as I wanted his delicious blood splashing across my tongue again.

I started to walk out of the alleyway, thinking more about the desire I’d seen burning in his eyes. When had that started? There was no way he’d ever act on it, but still—I halted abruptly. Did I…wanthim to act on it? I thought about how it had felt when he’d had me pinned against the wall and a heat unfurled from my center.

No. I shook my head and kept walking. Why was I doing this to myself? I already had Kieran and Roth… and sort of Alaric, if he ever figured his bullshit out.

I was still contemplating this turn of events when I entered the main training courtyard minutes later. There was a narrow passage on the other side with a dead end that was often used for target practice. It was perfect for what I had in mind, I just needed to grab some daggers first.

---