Page 44 of Dhampira

And then kiss him.

My stomach released a loud, angry rumble. Delphine went to the table where I’d left the water pitcher. She returned with a cup, which she pressed into my hands. “You should drink all of it, Your Highness. Everyone wants you to do well today.”

I eyed her over the rim as I gulped, the water hitting my empty stomach with a sloshing sound. Fresh nerves fluttered through me as I searched for the hidden meaning between her words. Everyone wanted me to do well? What if I didn’t?

I lowered the cup, my stomach grumbling ominously around the water. Maybe it was a good thing Delphine couldn’t be forthright. Maybe I didn’t want to know what would happen if I failed my “training.” But success seemed impossible. Rasimir wanted me to drain immortals and harvest their gifts. He wanted to know if he was wasting time on me.

Delphine moved to the armoire and began rifling through dresses. “You won’t need a habit today,” she said without turning around. “Maybe something…Ah yes, here we go.” She pivoted, holding a dark purple gown against her body.

At least it wasn’t black. Although maybe I hadn’t earned Rasimir’s colors yet. I dismissed the thought as I met Delphine’s stare. I couldn’t read her mind, so I’d find my own meaning in the unspoken. The purple dress wasn’t a mark of inferiority.

It was an act of defiance.

“It’s perfect,” I said.

The hint of a smile gleamed in Delphine’s eyes. “I’ll ready your bath.”

A half hour later, resolve was a drumbeat in my chest as I faced the vanity mirror with Delphine behind me. I was still hungry, but I was clean. The gown fit as seamlessly as the others, and Delphine had once again worked magic with my hair.

“May I?” she murmured, raising her hands as she met my gaze in the mirror.

I faced her. “Please.”

She smoothed her thumbs under my eyes and then ran her palms down my face. When I turned back to my reflection, my skin glowed. Over my shoulder, Delphine’s eyelids swelled and darkened to pink before returning to pale, smooth ivory.

“You’re certain that doesn’t hurt you?” I asked.

She rested a hand on my shoulder. “I’m certain.” Stepping back abruptly, she jerked her head toward the door. “The prince is coming.”

Seconds later, two sharp raps sounded at the door.

I looked at Delphine. But as anxiety tried to rise, I stiffened my spine. I didn’t have much power in Nocta. I didn’t have any, really. But I couldn’t sit back and keep letting things happen to me. Rasimir had tasked Lorcan with teaching me. If he had information to give, I was going to take it—and figure out how to use it. Once I did, I could leave Nocta, find my mother, and finally get some answers.

“Thanks,” I told Delphine. Then I crossed the chamber and opened the door.

Lorcan wore all black, the color broken only by the rich gleam of red at his hip. A single dragonstone adorned the pommel of his sword, the crimson glow like a heartbeat above the braided leather grip. His dark eyes were normal once more as he swept his gaze down my dress. I forced myself to stand still, and I raised a brow when he finished his inspection.

“Are you ready?” I asked.

His expression didn’t change, but the twitch of muscle in his cheek let me know I’d surprised him. At the very least, I’d hit a nerve.

Without waiting for an answer, I brushed past him and headed down the corridor.

Moments later, I struggled to keep up with Lorcan as we crossed the Drakhold’s courtyard. My breath puffed in the air, and goose bumps rose on my skin. The sky was a predawn violet, although a crescent moon still lingered. Lorcan’s boots left dewy outlines on the stone. The statues stared sightlessly into the distance. A mermaid appeared to leap from the water around her pedestal, her tail fin rising above a stone wave. Her arms were outstretched as if she reached for something.

Lorcan didn’t slow when we reached the forest. The grass was flattened where the vampire courtiers had pitched their tents. I forced my attention away from it. And it was a good thing, because Lorcan seemed determined to cross the entire length of the forest as quickly as possible.

Shadows fell over us as we moved deeper into the woods, our boots crunching leaves and pine needles. My gown caught on the jagged end of a stump, and I stopped to jerk it free before it ripped. When I recovered, Lorcan was more than a dozen paces ahead, his back straight and his hair knotted at his nape. He vaulted effortlessly over a log and kept going.

Ass.

For a second, I considered turning around. He couldn’t teach me if he left me behind. The dragonstone in his pommel swelled and waned, the beacon of red light growing smaller.

Muffling a curse, I hurried after him. By the time I caught up, sweat trickled down my back. The sweet scent of Nocta was heavy in my lungs, but the air didn’t sparkle. Maybe Vander was right, and I’d grown used to its magic.

One hand on his sword hilt, Lorcan continued his unforgiving pace. We walked side by side, our shoulders brushing. The dragonstone’s light flared above his fingers. Abruptly, his voice flooded my head.

Don’t look at me. It gives us away.