Page 106 of Dhampira

“With what proof?” Lorcan cut in. “Even if we had evidence, the wolves don’t negotiate. They’re ruled by animal instincts, with short tempers and poor reasoning skills. They don’t trust easily, and they would rather savage a problem than listen to solutions for solving it.”

I lifted my chin, something inside me hardening. Resolve, maybe. I was outnumbered, but I couldn’t allow myself to be overwhelmed, not if I wanted to take my father’s crown—and his head.

“Then we find a way to make them listen,” I said. “We need allies if we’re going to overthrow Rasimir. The witches have an army. I don’t see another lying around.” I looked at Vander. “We’re vampires. That means we’re good at stealing. Why not steal this? The Resistance fights Rasimir. If we can split their forces, and get an army for ourselves, that’s half the battle won without ever lifting a sword.”

He looked at Lorcan, and hope fluttered in my chest. They wanted me to lead. Well, I was doing that. Vander was a soldier. He probably approved of my plan, which sounded pretty good if I had to say—

“It’s suicide,” he said, turning back to me.

The hope deflated, frustration quickly replacing it. “So is doing nothing. At least this way we’re taking action instead of just reacting to whatever Rasimir throws at us.”

“Sometimes, reaction is the safest strategy.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “You said waiting for my opponent to tire is a passive move.”

He frowned. Then his lips thinned, and stubbornness descended over his features.

I folded my arms. “You don’t remember saying that?” I jerked my head toward the grass where we’d sparred. “It was about thirty minutes ago.”

“I remember,” he rumbled. His shoulders lifted as he sighed. “We’ll think about it, Corinthe. All right?”

That didn’t sound promising. I turned to Lorcan with arguments on my lips.

“We can’t bury the witch on elven ground,” he said, walking away before I could speak. I snapped my mouth shut, anger kindling in my chest as he crossed the grass and retrieved Dark Dream. Sword in hand, he stopped a few steps away and stared down at the blade. Slowly it transformed into a shovel.

Vander slanted me a look. “It’s best if we separate anyway. We don’t know who’s watching the forest, and we shouldn’t risk any of Rasimir’s guards seeing the three of us stroll back to the castle together. Let Rasimir continue thinking Lorcan and I can’t tolerate each other’s company for a second longer than necessary. I’ll move the witch outside the Everless, set a ward, and take care of the body. You return to the Drakhold with Lorcan.”

My stomach tightened at the prospect of a long walk alone with Lorcan. He hadn’t so much as glanced at Vander since pulling on his clothes, as if he could erase what had happened between them by simply refusing to acknowledge it. And Vander seemed content to oblige him.

I couldn’t let them get away with it. Vander had called me queen. I was no such thing, but I couldn’t be a meek observer, either. Not when the wedding loomed and the covens kept sending witches to kill me. Vander and Lorcan were my only allies. I needed them to tell me the truth, no matter how personal. They were both big on pretending.

But I couldn’t pretend when it came to this. Vander liked women, but Lorcan obviously didn’t share that attraction. I wouldn’t come between them. And as good as it felt to be wanted, I wouldn’t let Vander sway my actions by manipulating my desire.

In his own way, Rasimir had warned me to be cautious. Are they trustworthy, I wonder? Or will they use you for their own designs?

Vander stepped around me just as Lorcan lifted his head. Neither man spoke as Lorcan offered Vander the shovel.

“Wait,” I said. Two sets of eyes—silver and black—fixed on me. Before my courage could flee, I dragged in a deep breath. “You have to hide from my father. You don’t have to hide from me. You care deeply for each other, and I’m glad for it. Vander and I obviously had…” I swallowed. “Well, we had an encounter, but it can’t happen again. I know Lorcan doesn’t care for women.”

Vander frowned. “Corinthe—”

“No, let me finish.”

Vander sucked in a sharp breath. He went rigid as he seemed to strain for a sound only he could hear. “Someone is too close to the Everless.”

My heart skipped a beat as I cast a wild look around. “Again?”

“Come on,” Vander said, taking my arm and hurrying me toward the statue. “Quickly.”

“Is it another witch?” I asked as Lorcan fell into step on my other side. “I thought no one could find this place.”

Vander’s expression was grim. “They can’t. And they shouldn’t be able to get this close. The doorway repels those without elven blood. But sometimes people get lucky and stumble onto the threshold.”

“Or Rasimir found a new way to spy,” Lorcan said, his face just as grim.

Vander stopped me at the statue’s base and gripped my shoulders. “The second I release the ward, I want you to go with Lorcan. I’ll take a different route back to the Drakhold. If Rasimir has knights tracking us, it’s better if we force them to split up.”

“All right,” I said.