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“To preserve his blood as long as possible. But if that’s the case, why turn him at all?”
“Because as he aged, his beauty would fade. Thorne couldn’t have that. He’s incredibly vain. All his playthings, once they outlive their usefulness, are disposed of. All but Haven. Haven is his weakness. So win him over. Win him over, and we have a leg over Thorne. We’ll be one step closer to breaking him.”
Cy twitched. “Thorne told me…he would help me escape if I spied on Haven.”
“He’s lying,” Dahlia responded without hesitation. “You must not trust Thorne Bathory. He holds in his hands all the keys to dismembering this movement, ripping out its spine and leaving it for dead. Promise me. Give nothing to him. You don’t need Thorne Bathory’s assistance to escape from here, Cypress. The Veritas will come for you and the others. But you must be patient. Promise me you won’t trust him.” Her eyes bore into him, begging his compliance.
After a moment, Cy nodded, swallowing hard. “I’ll do what I can. But if you betray me, I’ll find you and kill you. I’ll make it slow.ThatI can promise you.”
“Trust no one, Cypress,” Dahlia said. “Trust no one, and you may well survive this.” Gesturing to the dagger he still held, she said, “And you may want to hide that. I don’t think Haven or his guard dog would think highly of an armed slave.”
Then she turned to go. A strange warmth spread in Cy’s chest. Warmth that felt suspiciously like hope. How was this possible? That words from the mouth of a vampyre could make him feel more hopeful than he had in years?
He had direction now. For the first time in the months since he’d arrived at Alnwyck Castle, he had hope.
After hiding the dagger beneath the mattress, Cy settled down to await Haven’s arrival. He twitched with anticipation, Dahlia’s blood flowing through his veins, stronger and more potent than adrenaline. He could kill any vampyre he wanted to in this state; he knew it. But like Dahlia said, he needed to remain vigilant. Now was not the time for action.
But soon. Soon, that time would come.
CHApTER THiRTEEn
Cypress
An hour passed.Maybe two. Cy shook with anticipation and adrenaline as he waited for Haven’s return. Dahlia’s blood flowed through his veins, filling him with new life, fresh power. In this state, he could likely fight his way out of New Avalon, find weapons, arm himself, be free. But the vampyre had urged him for patience. So he would do as commanded.
Eventually, the sound of boots hitting the stone floors outside the room made his stomach clench in anticipation. But as the door opened, the face that greeted him was not the one he’d expected. His heart began to beat at an unnatural pace.
“Hello, pet.” Thorne Bathory stood before him, regarding him with cool, callous eyes. “You have some items to report to me?”
Cy swallowed. He could kill him. Right now. With the blood flowing through him and the dagger he’d hidden away, he could do it. He could try. But remembering Dahlia’s words, he shook his head.
“No?” Thorne approached, narrowing his eyes.
“Nothing to report,” Cy whispered, unable to meet his gaze.
Thorne was in front of him, slipping a hand under his chin to raise his face. “Look at me, pet. I know you’re lying. You’ve seen something. I want to know what.”
Cy cringed, the urge to fight becoming almost unbearable. He needed to steel himself, needed to remain distant and aloof. “Haven...Haven came back to his quarters last night acting...strangely. Unlike himself.”
Thorne nodded. “Ambrosia will do that to a vampyre.”
“What happened to him?”
Red eyes narrowed. “You grow bold to ask questions. Answer mine, and perhaps I’ll answer some of yours. Was he alone when he returned?”
“Just Sirene.”
“For how long? I know Gaius came to see him. What did he say?”
Cy bit his lip. If Thorne knew this much, what good would lying do? Perhaps he could just stay silent, not implicate himself or Haven.
“I’ve told you this before, pet. Haven is my progeny. My child. I only want to protect him. Even if it’s from himself. Gaius is a liar. He will hurt Haven. You don’t want that, do you?”
Cy cringed, his hands balling into fists.Do not trust Thorne Bathory.Dahlia’s words resounded in his head. Was it not Thorne himself that caused Haven to hurt? No, Cy wouldn’t respond, wouldn’t tell Thorne anything.
At Cy’s silence, Thorne’s face went desperately cold, his brow hardening in stone. Cy’s breath caught as the hand under his chin tightened into a hard fist. He struggled to get away, but Thorne’s grip only tightened. Even in spite of Dahlia’s blood, he was strong. Stronger than he looked. “Answer me, pet.”
“You’ve been offering Haven to the other vampyres, haven’t you?” Cy spat, knowing he courted danger. “You’re the one who’s hurting him!”
