Chapter 3 Blood and Steel
"How generous."
"It is more than most get from me." I staggered back as he let go of my wrist, massaging the spot where his fingers had been. "These rooms will be your residence.
You will not leave without my permission. You will provide blood when I require it. In return, you will not be executed for the crime of your heritage. This is not negotiable."
"So I am a prisoner."
"You are alive. Most half\-bloods are not so fortunate." He walked to the door and pulled it open. "There are clothes in the wardrobe. A bathing room through that door. Food will be brought in the morning. Do not try to run. The bond will not let you get far, and I am not in the mood to chase you down tonight."
He left without another glance back.
With a gentle click, the door shut behind him, leaving me alone in the quiet.
As he left, a wave of emptiness and resentment surged. Standing in the center of his chambers—now my prison—the connection between us tightened and pulled, demanding I follow. Its intrusive intimacy clashed painfully with my desire to push it away.
My hand came up to my throat, where his fangs had pierced my skin. The wound was already closed. Healed. Like it had never happened.
Except for the bond that tied me to the king who murdered my family.
Overwhelmed, I fell to the floor at last. All the grief and exhaustion I’d tried to hold back flooded me. Alone, I let the tears fall, unable to resist them any longer.
I was on the floor when I woke up.
Curled up like a pitiful puppy against his bed, I had slept at an angle that made my neck hurt. The early light painted everything in scarlet and grey, streaming through the windows. The fire was out, and the room felt colder than before—maybe it was just me.
In my chest, the link hummed.
Quiet but present, like a second heartbeat not quite mine.
Kael was close. Not in these rooms, but somewhere in the palace. He had the same effect on me as someone staring at the back of your neck. My skin prickled. I was in a state of constant alertness.
I quickly regretted pushing myself up. My body felt too delicate. Each touch of cloth made me uneasy. The air's flavor was sharper. I smelled things I shouldn't have.
Blood somewhere far away. Stone and dust and old magic soaked into the palace walls. The blood of a vampire awakens within me.
When I staggered to the bathroom he had mentioned, I discovered it was more a little piece of luxury carved out of stone than a room.
A huge copper tub. Running water that came out hot when I turned the taps, which should not have been possible but apparently was when you were king. Soaps that smelled like cedar and something darker I could not name.
I stripped off my servant's clothes and stepped into the water. Watched the dirt and dried blood wash away. My throat, where he had bitten me, was smooth. No mark. No scar. Like it never happened, except for the bond that proved otherwise.
I should have had bruises. Should have been covered in them after Cassian threw me, and Kael grabbed me. But my skin was clear.
Healing faster now.
Just like when I was younger, waking up after accidents to find myself whole again.
I remained in the bath until the water cooled. Delay confronting the next challenge for as long as possible. Eventually, though, I had to leave, dry off with towels that were softer than anything I had ever possessed, and face the wardrobe he had indicated.
Women's clothing filled it.
That stopped me cold.
These were not servant clothes. These were gowns. Beautiful ones in deep colors. Emerald green. Sapphire blue. Blood red. All my size or close enough. Like someone had known I would end up here and prepared.
My hands shook as I pulled out the simplest thing I could find. A black dress with long sleeves and a high neck that covered everything. It fit perfectly. Of course it did.
I looked at myself in the wall-mounted mirror and barely recognized the girl staring back. Clean for the first time in days. Dressed like nobility. Eyes too bright. Violet, not red, but brighter than they should be.
I jumped when there was a knock on the door.
"Enter," I said, as I didn't know what else to say.
A tray was brought in by a servant. Not Marcus. A younger person. A girl, maybe sixteen-year-old with brown hair and frightened eyes that refused to face mine. Without saying anything, she placed the tray on the table by the windows and moved back toward the entrance.
"Wait," I replied.
She froze.
"What is your name?"
"I am not supposed to talk to you, miss." Her voice was hardly audible above a whisper.
"Who said that?"
"Everyone. They say you are dangerous. Cursed, that you have introduced evil magic into the palace and corrupted the king." It was evident on her face when she finally turned to face me. Fear. disgust. "They say you should have been killed in the throne room."
"They are probably right."
She blinked. Had not expected me to agree.
"You can go," I told her.
She ran.
I went over to the tray and opened the lid. food. I hadn't seen that much food in months. bread that is fresh. Cheese. Meat and fruit. I had been ignoring my hunger since last night, and it twisted my gut.
I tore into the bread like a beast while eating, standing. It was more delicious than anything I could recall. Everything had improved flavor. more acute. More.
The door opened once more while I was halfway through.
My whole body stiffened when Kael entered. Despite my brain's cries to retreat, the bond between us ignited as it recognized its other half and pulled at me to go closer.
In daylight, he had a distinct appearance. Still risky. Still ruthless. But more like a man who has made the decision to turn into a monster.
"You are awake."
Brilliant observation. I bit back the sarcastic response, trying to climb out of my throat. "Yes."
"Good." He moved to the table and poured himself a drink from a different decanter than the one he had used last night. "We have things to discuss."
"Like how you murdered my entire family?"
His jaw tightened. "I told you last night. House Shadowborn sided with the rebellion. I did what was necessary to secure my rule."
"They were children. You said there were children."
"There were." He took a drink. Did not look away from me. "War is not clean, little half-blood. If you leave even one child alive, they grow up wanting revenge. Better to end the bloodline completely than let it fester."
Rage burned up my throat. "So you killed babies."
"I killed threats to my throne." He set the glass down hard. "Do not look at me like I am some monster. Every king in history has done worse. I simply do not pretend otherwise."
"You are right." I laughed, and it came out sharp and broken. "You are not a monster. Monsters do not choose to be what they are. You did."