Page 18 of The Bonds of Indigo

He says he’s looking for someone, but that could just be a story. A distraction. A lie.

More likely, he’s a hunter of my people. Probably hired by the same Hexborn that cursed me… It’s the only thing that makes sense for why he even knows I’m here.

Still… regardless of all of that, the prospect of feeling Vendra even for a moment makes me want to give into the request without a fight.

“Did you hear me, Witch?!” the warden shouts.

I swallow and nod. “I did.”

“And?!”

I’m acutely aware of where everyone stands.

My sense of proximity sharpens—sound and scent folding around me—because my eyes stay closed. They always do when anyone’s near. It’s safer that way.

But it’s that damn Vampire’s presence that suffocates me. I hadn’t been lying about that. It’s like he’s taking up the whole room, my entire world, pressing down on me until my throat tightens and air becomes something I have to fight for.

“I want to go outside first.”

Jozier laughs, and so does Anders, the second guard that’s typically on my watch.

Warden Sook tuts. “No, you’ll write it down and once our… friend leaves⁠—”

“We aren’t friends.” Gods, he may as well be Vaeloris incarnate with his voice. It’s deep, husky, and when he groans it’s like a damn bear warning to stay away from its food.

I try to turn my head, but Sook’s grip clamps down hard.

“I swear to my God, I’ll tell him.”

His hand tightens, and I grind my teeth to keep from reacting.

“I’m not negotiating with a fucking prisoner. Chain it back to the wall and let it sit. Butcher, you’ll have to come back.”

Fumbling with my bound hands, I shift them just enough for the rough metal to bite into my wrist. Warm liquid seeps free. The sharp inhale from the Vampire tells me he’s noticed.

“I vow by my own blood, I’ll tell him once I’m allowed outside.”

“That shit means nothing here⁠—”

“She’s bleeding.” Butcher cuts in, calm but curious. “What does she mean, ‘I vow by my own blood’?”

Sook grumbles something under his breath before replying. “It means she risks a self-imposed hex on her entire bloodline if she breaks the vow.”

It doesn’t matter. They’re all fucking dead. However, they don’t need to know that.

It irks me how much he knows about my kind. The Hexborn from Sidence that put the wards around my cell gave them all a history lesson while they tortured me on my arrival.

Sure, whatever, criminal. I deserved it.

“Then take her outside,” the Vampire states.

“No, it’s a trick,” Jozier says quickly. “We can’t take her outside⁠—”

“You will. I will get what I came for, or like I said, I’ll keep coming back and I promise you don’t want that.”

Gods, just to be outside once… please…

Sook releases my face with a hard thrust, sending my chest straight to the table. I’m barely capable of stopping my body from leaning forward and face planting into the cold metal.