Page 13 of Vervain

“Yes,” he says without looking back as we make our way across the open hall towards the door on the other side. “One long night.”

I walk faster, trying to keep pace with his long strides. “Is there a reason I cannot go with the blond man with the expensive voice and flashy clothing?”

Serun breathes a laugh. “Reyes. My brother’s name is Reyes, kamai.”

So, they are all siblings.

Warm light spills from the entryway ahead, washing over my body as we pass through. He takes me down another corridor lined with nondescript doors. There is nothing different about them for me to be able to get my bearings or map a way out of here.

Sudden doubt crawls over my body like a thousand ants panicking at the coming rain. Do I want to escape right now? Reyes is looking for Cole. So…I suppose I have to play along. When I have my brother, we will leave. We will finally be able to go home.

Serun’s shadow twitches down his back and spills across the limestone. It’s not as wet in here compared to where we came from. Warmer, too. Torches burn by every door, drinking away all shadows save the ones Serun wears.

Red and white banners loop across the ceiling and cling to the walls in a curved pattern. Side tables bear fake plants. None desire to lean into my presence the way plants did in Cherry Bloom village.

“Here, kamai.” Serun stands by the door nearest the end of the hallway that turns left. “You will spend the day in here.”

With a flicker of a look at him, I say, “I doubt I will sleep in a castle filled with nightwalkers.”

His eyes crinkle, amused, and he rests his hand on the door handle. “Feeders use this room. A human sanctuary. Nightwalkers cannot enter unless they have an invitation.”

I lift my brow and stare pensively at him. “Nightwalkers need invitations to enter feeder rooms?”

“Yes.”

“Then how come you could enter the private room?”

“I don’t know.” He shrugs. “Nightwalkers can enter most industrial places—but there is something about houses or apartment rooms that poses a problem if there is a heartbeat inside.”

“That makes little sense…”

“Magik need only be learned. It doesn’t have to make sense.” Serun turns the handle, then taps the wood, revealing a reasonably sized room beyond, with an open bathroom behind an oak divider.

After I step inside, I face Serun and say, “I do not give you permission to enter. Now, show me you aren’t speaking with your liar’s tongue.”

“Very well, consort.” He casually enters the room. My shoulder jerks back and the tingling sensation of magik prickles my fingertips.

Liar—

Serun grunts. The shadows encasing him collapse as he drops to one knee. Blood slips down his cheeks from the corners of his eyes, and with a locked jaw and grimace, he struggles to rise. Blotches of crimson seep through his shirt, and I panic at what I can only describe as age writhing across his skin.

My magik stills, and I take a step towards him. “That’s enough!”

Shadows swarm around him, and he reappears outside the room. Blood drips against the limestone floor, and he wipes the corner of his mouth with the back of his arm. His skin turns to marble once more, and the blood flow ceases. “May we talk now?”

“Are you…okay?”

He chuckles deeply. “Depends. Are you more comfortable sleeping now that you know I cannot enter without your permission?”

“Not really. No.” Peeking back the way we came, then at him, I say, “Do we have time to talk? The sun will rise soon, and I am sure you want to clean yourself up.”

He cracks his neck. “It won’t take long.”

Blinking slowly, I step out of the room and lean against the wall beside him. “Then talk.”

Serun looks away, his arms tensing, thickening with veins. Shadows now lick up his shoulders like flames on dry wood. It’s as if he wants to shut me out and hide from the world. “I bit you because I didn’t want to say goodbye on the rooftop. I’m…curious about you.”

My brow twitches, and I taste metal. My magik flurries in the air with rage over the reason being so simple. Serun trapped me in this marriage because he didn’t want to say goodbye.