I took a half-step back. Everything went quiet, all the world faded into darkness around me, all but that candle and Vander with blood glistening on his mouth. The points of his elongated canines pressed into his bottom lip.
I shook my head in disbelief. This couldn’t be real. It wasn’t possible. I’d lived with this man for just short of a year. He survived in daylight. He—he could not be one ofthem...
He took another gulp. “Fuck, I waited too long again.”
The woman rolled her eyes. “Because you’re stubborn. It’s going to get you in trouble one day.”
Every nerve in my body burned. I sifted through my thoughts for clues I’d missed. I put a hand over my queasy stomach. I felt like this was a nightmare, but it wasn’t. I was very much standing here, and Vander was very much a vampire.
My mind was numb. I was dazed as I turned. I didn’t know where I was going or what I would do, but I couldn’t stay. I started at Beast standing a few feet behind me. He was staring at Vander, eyes wide, jaw slack. His expression must mirror my own; horror, shock, unease.
“No fucking way,” he whispered.
The floorboard creaked under my boot. I gulped and glanced back to see Vander turn and our gazes collided. Time seemed to slow. His tongue glided painfully slow across his scarlet-stained lips. Something in the silence between us altered. My shock turned to primal fear.Vampire vampire vampire.
Vander set the blood-filled glass on the desk and took a step toward me.
My chest squeezed harder.
My pulse rapped.
All I heard was my own heart thrumming in my ears.
“Aesira,” Vander gasped, eyes flashing wide. “Wait.”
Beast went for the exit and I followed. I didn’t know if I was going with him to tell the Commanders, or if I was going to try to stop him. Tears blurred my vision, slid down my face. A sob caught in my throat. Beast left all the doors open in his wake. I finally caught him, and he turned to me.
“Did you know?” he demanded.
“No,” I choked out.
“We have to tell the Commanders. He is a spy. Who knows what he’s told them? The League of Assassins is compromised.”
I nodded and put my knife back in its holster. He seemed satisfied with that and continued. I didn’t consider how strange it was that he’d gone from trying to kill me to running at my side. I guess a vampire was worse than an impure loth peasant.
The library’s double doors were in sight. I didn’t hear Vander behind us, although he must be close. I was surprised he hadn’t overtaken us. He had the ability to kill us with terrifying ease. It would probably be over in the blink of an eye. I doubted I’d even feel it. Would he hold me as I faded away, or would he drink from me?
His face haunted my mind. How could I have missed it? I realized with acuteness that I hadn’t wanted to see. The damn bird at his aunt’s shop kept saying vampire, not about me but him. Vander had all but told me that bitter winter night. His secret about the night his sister died. Dishonor... He wished he could tell me...
I needed answers.
With a leg sweep, I knocked Beast’s feet out from under him. He crashed onto his hands just before the library’s exit doors. My kick to his face was swift. I picked up a metal vase from the desk and cracked him on the head. He groaned and went limp, sprawled out face down on the floor. I sobbed as I tied his hands and feet behind his back.
What was I doing? Why was I doing this? My chest felt like it was caving in on itself. I dragged Beast behind the desk and stood over him, shoving my hands into my hair, scraping my nails over my scalp. “What am I doing?” I whispered to myself over and over. He was going to wake up, eventually.
“Aesira.” I stilled at that deep honey voice and slowly turned my head to find Vander standing a few feet from me. He was devastated and beautiful, like a cut wilting flower.
“Stay away from me,” I cried, chin trembling. I took my sword,hissister’s sword from its scabbard and pointed it at him.
“Please listen to me, just for a moment.”
“You’re a vampire?” I gasped. A scream of agony waited at the back of my throat.
I saw it. I saw him drink the blood, but I still needed him to say it. There could be another reason... But no, his teeth, his vampire teeth, were perfect for piercing flesh. “Tell me it isn’t true. Tell me what I saw wasn’t real.” I wanted to take back the last few minutes. I wanted to be in my room under the blanket with a book, like I should be.
His hands trembled, and his throat bobbed. I’d never seen him afraid. “I would be lying if I said that. I don’t want to lie to you about what I am anymore.” His voice wavered.
I angrily swiped the tears from my cheeks. “Are you working with them? Is that where you’ve been sneaking off to?”
