Page 77 of Blood Curse

I looked at the solid oak door. “I’ll break whatever keeps me from the dagger.”

Lenora swore. “So the locks buy time.”

“That’s all.”

My right hand reached for her pocket.

Lenora caught my wrist with both hands. “Stellan.”

“Move.”

“Can you stop yourself?”

“Not for long.”

“Can you go back?”

“I can’t turn around.”

My arm kept moving. Lenora braced one foot against the wall and held on. She was strong for a human. I was a vampire under a royal command.

We both knew how it would end.

“Let go before I hurt you,” I said.

“You won’t.”

“The Crown will.”

My wrist twisted in her grip. She lost one hand. The movement pulled her towards me, and her shoulder struck my chest.

She released me.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“Be sorry later.” She backed away from the door. “The key is chained inside the pocket.”

My fingers found the small iron ring. I pulled. The stitches tore before the chain snapped, but the key came free.

Lenora caught my sleeve. “Tell me what slows it.”

“Anything that doesn’t require me to stop.”

“Can you choose which half?”

“I don’t know.”

“Try.”

I put the key into the lock.

Turning it took three attempts. My hand wanted speed. I forced my fingers to miss the slot, then pushed the key too shallow. Each mistake bought a second.

“Good,” Lenora said. “Again.”

The third attempt worked.

I opened the armoury.