At the very least, it’s easier to breathe this evening than it was last night in Tymon’s mansion. I feel somewhat removed from the events over the past few days being in the northern reaches of the Olhavian Peaks. Like we’re untouchable in this valley, though I know that’s a falsehood.Have to stay on my guard.
With my thoughts about external factors dwindling, I begin to focus on my internal relationships with my mates and everyone else.What will happen to my mother and the Chained Sisters? They staked their safety on Skar’s protection. Now that he’s illegitimate, will they be in more danger?
The thought worries me. And then, of course, there is Skar himself. His intransigence with his half-brother Lukain. I lovethem both, but only one of them is infuriating me right now. There’s Vallan, who spent this entire evening resting and healing after his arrow wounds. There’s Palacia, who may or may not have been alluding something to me last night in the cave. Judging by her physical reaction, I’m leaning toward aheavyallusion.
Sighing, I sit back in my bed. I’m not tired yet, the night is quite young, and . . .
What’s that?I hear voices. Murmurs through the walls.
Ever the reckless and curious idiot, I get up from my bed and glide into the hall. I bring my swords, though I quickly learn I don’t need them.
In the chamber next to mine, the door is cracked. Two men are huddled over a small writing table that sits next to the single bed. I push the door open slowly and it creaks, bringing their eyes over to me.
Garroway smiles, sitting back in his chair. Lukain leans forward at the table, his head in his hand like he’s deep in thought.
I quirk a brow as I walk in and shut the door behind me. “Am I interrupting something?”
Garro runs a hand over his smooth head and motions me over with a nudge of his chin. “Of course not, lass. Figured I don’t know your newest mate well enough. Thought I’d speak to him dhampir to dhampir.”
“Grayskin to grayskin,” Lukain mumbles. He’s clearly in a dourer mood than my cheery bloodthrall.
I throw Garroway a quick smile before moving to a window. It’s stuffy in this small room, which coaxes me to crack the window to let in the cool mountain breeze. I plop down on the edge of the bed next to them, closest to Lukain. “That’s kind of you, Garro. Don’t let me disturb you. If you want privacy, I can leave—”
“No,” Lukain grunts. Looking ashamed, he clears his throat. “Please. Anything your mate says, you can hear.”
“All right.” I place my hands in my lap. I feel awkward, like I’m in an academy session and the tutor hasn’t started his lecture yet. “What were you chatting about?”
Garroway leans forward across from me and Lukain. “I was trying to show Master Lukain his power. That he’s not as weak and defenseless as he believes.”
I raise my brow again. I like the sound of that.Confidence boosting. Just what Lukain needs. For it to come from Garro, that’s even better, since they can relate with both of them being half-bloods and all.
Lukain’s hands rest on the table, palms down. Surprisingly to him, but not to me, Garro reaches out and puts an endearing palm on Lukain’s knuckles. We stare at the touching hands. “Like I was saying, Master Lukain, you may be weaker physically than a pureblood vampire, but our kind is stronger in other ways.”
“I’m not seeing it.” Lukain’s voice is gruff, unsure where this is going.
I’m not sure either. I’d like to hear Garroway’s opinion on things. With Skar and Vall on the higher rungs of the ladder, he’s always played the part of “cub” or “lower-tier” mate, which makes me feel guilty. I love him just as much as the others, I’ve known him longer than Vall and Skar, and Truehearts know he’s the nicest of the trio.Maybe he and Lukain can become . . . friends? Can dhampirhavefriends?
“We’re stronger emotionally. Even mentally.”
Lukain chuckles, pulling his hand away from Garro’s.
Garroway doesn’t smile. He folds his hands on the tabletop. “Hear me out. The bloodbond between vampire and thrall is incredibly powerful. It’s all-consuming. Just look at Vallan Stellos, how Barnabac Craxon commanded him to Castle Galfeldin the Military Ward for months on end. The Damned only knows what that vile cretin did to our largest ally, and that’s my point. Vallan wascompelledto appear before Barnabac, his master, when called. So much so I worried he had betrayed us.”
“You’re saying you haven’t felt the same call from, say, Skartovius Ashfen?Yourmaster?” Lukain asks.
It’s a fair question. Those two were incredibly close before I arrived and screwed it all up for them by giving them a taste of my Loreblood and weakening their bond.
Garro shakes his head. “Not with the same severity. Because Master Skar did notturnme. No one did.” He spreads his wiry arms out wide. “I was born this way. Like you.” His pale red eyes focus on Lukain’s handsome face. “Vampires areslavesto their masters because of their bloodbond.”
“And we dhampirs are not, you’re saying.”
“You know we’re not.” Garroway clears his throat and looks out the window. He seems distant. With his profile posture, the cut of his sharp chin and angular face makes him incredibly attractive.
“I loved Skartovius Ashfen before I was thralled to him,” Garroway admits. He turns to us, eyes gleaming. “Master Skar rescued me from a harsh life, you see. A terrible life. He killed my abusive father, because that’s what he does. He kills fathers.”
I cough sharply. Even Lukain smirks. “Something else we have in common,” he mutters.
I chirp, “Spirits and deities, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn he killedmyfather, too!”