Page 69 of Dhampira

“But not ‘oaf’?” Lorcan asked on the other. “Noted.”

Vander stepped toward him. “Shall this mindless oaf put you over his shoulder again, Your Highness?”

“Try it. I have my wits about me now.”

“Right. All five of them.”

Lorcan’s voice went silky. “Did you have to count on your fingers to come up with that?”

Vander squared his shoulders, a determined glint in his eyes as he started forward. “That’s it—”

“Stop,” I said, lifting my hands. Silence fell as both men stilled, obviously waiting for me to speak. Dread opened wide jaws around me as I turned to Lorcan. “If I want to challenge Rasimir, I need to gain more power. But the only way to do that is to steal it. If I’m really this mythical dhampir capable of holding on to magic, I’ll have to drain people to take their gifts. Vander is right. I don’t want to kill.”

Lorcan’s stare didn’t waver. “Not even if doing so will save thousands? What about tens of thousands?”

“Killing is always wrong.”

“As it was when you killed the farmer last night?”

Sorrow and anger flared with equal force. “That was different. Rasimir would have killed Duncan anyway.”

Lorcan’s fangs showed between his lips as he dropped his voice to a hiss. “I assure you, he’ll do the same to everyone you ever dreamed of caring about. Will you stop him? Or will you stand aside and let him build an empire on bones and innocent blood?”

Anger pumped hot in my veins. “I never said I’d stand aside.”

“I’m glad to hear it. But you might have to get your hands dirty if you plan to become a queen.”

The title threatened to rock me onto my heels. I tried to cover my disquiet by planting my hands on my hips. “And what is the plan, Your Highness?”

Lorcan stepped closer, and his eyes glinted like Vander’s a moment before as he matched my tone. “Simple, Princess. You listen and learn.”

The previous night’s tension roared back. My feet carried me forward. Now only inches separated us, and irritation spiked when I had to tip my chin back to meet his dark stare. “And you’re the teacher?”

“That’s right.”

“We should return,” Vander said, his voice cutting through the charge in the air. When Lorcan and I looked at him, he gestured to the sunlight slanting over the ruins. “It grows late. Rasimir will expect a report before the ball tonight.”

Alarm bells clanged in my head. “Ball?”

Lorcan’s mouth tightened. “To celebrate our betrothal. If you can’t stomach the thought of killing, perhaps you’ll find solace in music and dancing.” He turned and strode toward the statue.

Anger burned away my sorrow as I watched him go. What was his problem? He was seemingly furious because I had reservations about slaughtering people and stealing their magic? Or, as he called it, getting my hands dirty?

“Come on,” Vander said quietly. “The last thing we want is Rasimir sending knights to fetch us.”

“Can they find this place?” I asked, darting a look around.

“They can’t enter,” Vander said. “The Everless is only accessible to the elves and those they’ve allowed into their realm. But this is a doorway. Someone can wait on the other side. Zid vedara is the ‘don’t notice me’ ward. It blunts sound and makes people forget what they’ve seen and heard. I placed it before we entered. If someone draws near, they’ll feel a sense of dread and move on. But even if the ward fails, I’ll sense any outsiders.”

“How?”

“I have a foot in both worlds.” He looked toward the statue, his silver eyes distant. “I lived in Veradorn for a long time. Part of me always will.” He turned back to me, and he offered a small smile. “But most of me is in Nocta now. I’ll know if someone gets too close.”

He led me to the statue, where Lorcan waited in stony silence.

I observed him for a moment, not caring if he thought me rude for staring. “How’s your shoulder?” I asked finally.

His jaw tensed. If I’d had to guess, he ground his molars together. “Perfect.”