Page 69 of Vasmora

A bitter laugh flew out of her, and the charnelyths hissed. “Was it escape for you?”

“Did you intend that I wouldn’t return?”

She turned away. “Why did you save me? You could’ve made a run for that tunnel.”

“Because sometimes I’m foolish.”

“As am I. Wasn’t exactly wise to fuck with the most powerful general in all of Solassios.” Another long pause followed. “I didn’t want to do as she asked, though. Please know that. When she had me change Dravien to Zevander.”

I hated his name on her tongue. Hated that she imagined all she needed to say was that she hadn’t wanted to participate and I’d miraculously forgive her for what she’d done. To Dravien. To me. The fresh rush of anger had me questioning my morals again, and I stared back at that tunnel. “Loyce … she said that Zevander’s blood might still carry his essence. Is that true?”

“Blood is life. It is the warmth that separates us from death. Yes, I believe a piece of Zevander lives in his blood. But the body that suffers pain is not his. I promise you this.”

Hot, angry tears wavered in my eyes. “I’ve known cruelty my whole life, but never so much as watching her, hearing her glean joy from his pain. She claims to have loved him.”

“It isn’t love she feels, but the exhilaration of his defiance. He challenged her authority without apology and, in doing so, fueled her obsession. Her need to conquer him.” Melantha sighed. “But he never submitted. He died, and she is left unfulfilled. A hunt with no spoils. Bereft. Were you not his mate, she might feel the same toward you. You are an echo of his defiance.”

“Why did you betray her? Seems you had a very comfortable arrangement with her.”

A bitter huff escaped her. “Only while I serve a purpose. She has to kill me.” A long silence followed. “I helped her kidnap Prince Dorjan.”

“Kidnap? Why would you do such a thing?”

“It’s true what I said. The Umbravale will fall. King Jeret possesses the mortucrux. A panacea, of sorts. The deal was, I turn over the Prince, and he gives me the mortucrux that I have sought nearly all of my life.”

“He betrayed you,” I spat.

“I should’ve expected as much.”

“You helped me because you knew Zevander would follow after me. Would leave the prince unguarded.” Teeth clenched, I held back the tears burning in my eyes, imagining what might’ve been if he’d stayed. If he’d never come for me. “And for what? You thought it would cure you? Rid you of this affliction to consume blood? Or did you selfishly imagine it’d keep you from becoming one of the infected when the Umbravale falls?”

“No. Not for me.”

“Then, why would you do something so foolish?”

“I …” She hesitated, as if doing so might condemn her more than what she’d already confessed. “For my brother. For years, he searched for a way to restore dead veins. To provide enough vivicantem to feed all Aethyrians. But he became ill himself as a result. Physically and mentally.”

My mouth parted for an argument that wasn’t there. I wanted to hate her, but I was just as much at fault for Zevander’s death as she was, in that case. Not going back to Mortasia would’ve meant the death of my father and sister. Either way, it seemed I was destined to lose someone I loved.

“And here we are,” I said, somberly. “Seems the gods favor neither of us.”

“So it seems.”

Voices emerged in the distance, and I swung my attention toward the caves.

Also seeming to notice the sound, the charnelyths craned their necks that way, too.

Melantha let out a mirthless laugh. “She can’t hear the sounds of my suffering, so she sent her men to investigate.”

“Can they kill them? The charnelyths?” How absurd that I was more concerned with the soldiers coming for us than the vicious serpents.

“The charnelyths are immune to some blood magic, but these are the general’s beloved pets. She doesn’t want them harmed. My guess is she sent those who might be better equipped to evade them.”

The noise faded, and one of the charnelyths slid closer to the cave.

“When they leave the lair to go after them, I’m going to investigate the tunnel. See if it’s worth the effort.”

Melantha blew out a shaky breath and nodded. “I suspect there’s a reason the queen built her nest there.”