After our conversation, I try to distract myself. I check the correspondence but find only letters from useless bpeople/bb! /bcouldn’t care less about–including that bastard Eleazar. He suggests a meeting between the three bmain /bbPure /bfamilies and the rebellious Diluted ones. Bored with so much drivel, I decide to pour myself a drink while I think. bI /bsummon one of the feeders, and a blonde girl with a heart–shaped face appears, knowing perfectly what I expect of her. She bmakes /bthe bcut /bherself to pour her blood into my cup. I would never sink my fangs into her, no matter how seductively she bats her bshes/b, hoping I’ll do it.

The other night I was a fool–I almost broke one of my own rules. That’s not like me. I’ve never even considered bbiting /bbone /bof them.

That beast seems determined to make me reconsider everything.

The feeder backs away without turning her back to me and disappears shortly after filling my cup. I bring it to my lips, savoring the thick liquid. It’s not remarkable–just like the blood of any other. Tasty, but not special. I rx as I bdrink/bb, /bband /bmy thoughts drift back to ra. Drystan’s words surprised me. It’s true–despite fearing me, she hasn’t shed a single tear. Amazing,ing from someone so weak.

I nk my mind with the intention of jumping between the consciousness of the people in the castle. I look for her maidens, whose minds are wide open to me. The eldest, rissa, seems genuinely worried about the girl’s health. Naidab, /bon the other hand, has someone else on her mind–someone I know well. I hop from one to another, easing my boredom by viting their privacy.

Until I stumble upon a mind I had no intention of entering today.

“Cassian, Cassian, Cassian…”

She calls me like a siren’s song.

That little girl says I disgust her and that she hates me, unaware that her mind never stops calling out for me.

“Cassian, Cassian, Cassian…”

Her cry bes more demanding, and tired of hearing it, I get up from my chair with a screech as I drag it. I m the cup down, spilling some of its contents. My guards are startled to see me walking down her hallway–it’s notmon for me to venture into the feeders‘ wing. I always try to keep my distance,

“Open the door,” I order one of them.

He obeys quickly. Inside, the firece warms the room. Everything is in order, only a few books stacked suggest she actually lives here. Otherwise, it remains as I remember it when it was empty.

he desk

On the bed that dominates most of the room lies ra, the sheets pushed aside. She’s wearing only her bnightgown/bb; /bher feverish body has soaked it with sweat. My nostrils re when I notice her curves–I think I can almost see the color bof /bbher /bnipples. I quickly look away. No matter what she thinks, I wouldn’t ogle her body in this state.

Not that I wouldn’t, if the situation were different.

“For Lilith’s sake, Cassian, what nonsense are you thinking?” bI /bscold myself out bloud/b.

Chapter b32 /b

I blook /bbat /bbher /bagainb, /bthis time focusing only on her face. I’m sure if I bpushed /bjust a little harder binto /bbher /bbmind/b, I could see what she’s dreaming. Because I believe what I heard is part of her dreams.

b“/bCassian, Cassian, Cassian…”

Damn it.

I clench my fists, unable to look away. Her neck is damp with sweat, and I feel the urge to run my nose along bit/bb, /bbinhaling /bher scent again. It’s sweet–like wild berries.

That scent…

The restraint makes me bite my lower lip with the edge of my fangs. I snort, disgusted with myself.

What is it about this damn girl, this human I bought filthy and with the hem of her dress torn? I storm out, furious at reacting this way. My guards flinch as I leave, and one even peeks inside.

Perhaps he thinks that feverish creature has died by my hand.

“My lord.”

Narkissa, with her hands sped before herp, waits at the start of the castle wing that most are forbidden to cross.

“What do you want, Narkissa?”

“Just to see you.”

“Not the time.”

My words hurt her, and her face shows it.

“What’s going on?”

Narkissa knows full well she shouldn’t take such liberties with me. Just because I let her lips touch part of my body doesn’t mean I’ll let her into life.

my

“Nothing that concerns you,” I reply, resuming my path to my quarters.

“It’s that human again, isn’t it?”

“I have thirteen humans. Which one are you referring to?” I say as if I truly didn’t know which one she’s worried about.

I’ll never understand the female sex. They get jealous of those who are the least threat. That human bco /b

her in beauty–she’s a sack of rot. With each passing second, her body decays.

“The one with the rubiesi,/ii” /ishe replies with contempt. “That human.”

“What about her?”

“She’s a nuisance.”

“On that we agree.”

ever outshine

?

“And yet she’s still here.”

“Yes, she is.” I feel her footsteps behind me and stop abruptly before she can follow me into my quarters. No one enters them besides Drystan. “Summon the doctor. ra is ill again.”

Her eyes widen so much they look about to pop from their sockets. I’m very aware myment will infuriate her. I find great satisfaction in bothering those who cling to me like ticks. It’s just another way of causing them pain.

“Since when do we take such trouble for a human? When they fall ill, they simply die.”

“We?” I narrow my eyes. “Since when do we make decisions together, Narkissa?”

She shuts her mouth instantly.

“That’s what I thought,” I continue. “Thank you for calling the doctor. Have a pleasant day.”

I enter my quarters, shutting the heavy double doors in her face. A smile I don’t quite know how to describe creeps across my face, but it quickly vanishes when I faintly hear Drystan’sughter.

Our acute hearing has let him catch everything, and he seems to beughing heartily.

“I knew you’d give in,” he seems to whisper.

The little temperance I ever had vanishes in an instant, as does one of the decorative statues in the small salon before my

bedroom.

That frail human must die.

And yet Drystan, the maidens, even the little smander that lives in the library–they all seem fond of her.

But not me.

I want her to wither, to cease to exist, ito /istop disturbing me.

To die.

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