Page 217 of The Crown’s Temptation

"I've been breathing for years and I'm dreadful at that too."

"It takes away memory."

"It'll be taking things I was happy to lose."

He studies her. "You don't believe that."

"No." She smiles. "But I'd rather lose pieces of myself than lose to Orsin."

Bloodhaven disappoints her immediately.

She expected fire. Instead it feels like warm breath, red haze curling over her skin while humans scream and feeders feed and witches stand at the edges counting. It all seems terribly organized for damnation.

She drinks because that's why she came. The girl trembles and keeps apologizing between screams, which Nox finds interesting. Some people apologize even while they're being devoured.

Then she notices him.

He's at the edge of the haze with his back to the wall, and he's been watching her the entire time she fed. Watching like it's a thing worth doing. His hands are still. Everyone else in the room is busy with a mouth or a throat and he's simply looking, and looking, and the looking has weight to it.

She's been in Morrath two years. She's never once been looked at like that.

She sets the girl on the floor, alive, because it costs her nothing, and crosses the room.

"You've been watching."

"I have."

"See anything you liked?"

"Yes."

Not what she expected. She reconsiders him, and finds he's let her catch him, and enjoys being caught.

"You could have joined."

"I don't."

"Ever?"

"That isn't what I'm here for."

"What are you here for, then?"

He almost smiles. "You'll want to be more specific."

Nox laughs.

"What are you?" she asks.

"Rathmor."

She waits for more. There isn't any.

"That's a family, not an answer."

"It's usually enough."

"For whom?"