Page 80 of The Vampire's Lament
Why were things always so complicated?
Mercy was my biggest flaw in this life, yet I considered it again.
At your own detriment!
“He tried to kill me,” he spoke.
I sat straighter in surprise. “Who did? Him?” I gestured at the body.
“Yeah. He thought I’d come here on your behalf. Took some swings at me until he saw my crystal blade.” Now he sat up straighter. “He called it the Knife of Fractured Rapture. Have you heard of it?”
Interesting. “No. Did he offer an explanation?
“Unfortunately, you showed up.”
“I see.” Curse it. I’d been too headstrong.
He smacked his lips again. “Something else to investigate.”
“I will ask around.”
“Awesome. I’ll see if Caer knows anything.”
More silence, a seven-minute stretch of it this time.
I counted every second.
“Can we go now?” he asked.
“Where?”
“Back to the island?”
If only. “That wouldn’t be a good idea.”
“Oh. Yeah. It’s almost sunrise.”
“The windows keep the power of the sun at bay, just like here,” I countered. “But we’re too alone out there.”
A wonderful thing if not for the risk of Aidan showing up.
Paris released a trembling breath as the executioners continued to bellow and stomp around us.
“The noise bothers you,” I said. What a ridiculous thing to say. Obviously, it did. And there was nothing I could do about it. The sounds were meant to please my people and myself. To signal victory in every corner of the palace, to offer satisfaction over the slow demise of our enemies.
My dimmed anger gave way to sympathy. I couldn’t stand to hear his pained, shallow breathing.
“Let me think about this,” I said. “After all, you’re here and an executioner. Maybe we can gather more allies.”
He brightened, his shiny aura blinding for a few seconds.
“Really?” he said, facing me.
Goodness, his smile disarmed me.
What was happening to me?
I reached out for him, my fingers about to land on his cheek.
