Dark Promise (Darkhaven Saga #3) - Danielle Rose Page 0,7

oath?” I ask. My voice quivers, betraying my hesitation.

“I understand this is unfamiliar to you, but this is something vampires do.” She gives me a Cheshire cat smile. It’s wide, large, and emotionless.

Completely creeped out, I look down at my hands. “Jasik’s never mentioned blood promises before,” I say, thinking back to all the times he explained how different the vampire lifestyle will be for me. Surprisingly to both of us, vampires and witches aren’t that different. Discovering the witches have been lying to me about a lot of things for a very long time was a difficult cross to bear. Yet, I’ve forgiven all the atrocities they’ve committed against me, against us.

But I’m finding it hard to trust Amicia now. I remind myself that she’s been more of a mother to me than my own blood. She’s kept me safe, offered me refuge, given me food… And I doubt her now?

I nod, trying to convince myself I’m doing the right thing. “Okay. I’ll do it.”

Amicia smiles again, but this time, her eyes slant in a mischievous stare. I swallow hard as she reaches for my hand. “Wise decision, my child.”

The moments that follow rush in an uncomfortable haze. I’m completely aware of everything I’m doing, but I don’t feel as though the actions are my own. It’s like I’m floating above my body, watching as something else controls my movements. Whatever this thing is, it’s the one who’s obeying Amicia’s orders, and it’s using my body to do it.

“Hold your hand like this,” Amicia says. She places her hand before me, palm facing the ceiling. I mimic her action. “This shouldn’t hurt.”

Her fingernails are painted black, and she digs a pointed tip into my flesh until a deep crimson liquid pools in my hand. I wince as she burrows deeper, the pain stinging through my hand and radiating up my arm. I gnaw on my lower lip until I draw blood. I suck down several droplets before my skin can heal.

When she withdraws, her nail is coated in my blood. No longer black, it drips off her finger and splashes into the puddle that’s formed in my palm.

She assaults her own palm in much the same way before grabbing on to me. Our palms pressed tightly together, we interlock fingers, and she speaks.

“Give me your blood oath, Ava,” Amicia orders.

“I—I promise… I promise I won’t go after the witch by myself,” I say, stumbling over my words. What exactly does one say when making a blood oath?

Amicia’s mouth presses into a firm line, but she relents. I guess I did it correctly after all.

“Very good,” she says.

She pulls her hand free of my grip and licks her palm clean. Nauseated by her actions, I just stare at mine. The wound has healed, but the blood remains. Clenching my hand, I smear it with my fingers, only succeeding in making a mess. I wipe my hand on my jeans, but even with a clean hand, I can still feel her blood there. I still feel the moment her fingernail tore through my flesh, and I feel her blood coursing through my veins. It makes me uneasy and downright dirty. Somehow, I know I’ve just betrayed my sire.

“I don’t understand.”

“We can’t help you,” I repeat.

The witches have surrounded us, but thankfully, the other hunters are behind me. No longer hiding behind the solid front door, they stand at my sides, forming an impenetrable line should the witches attempt to force their way inside. Of course, they wouldn’t do that. There’s nothing for them here.

Jasik is next to me, and he grabs on to my hand, linking his fingers with mine. I swallow a knot in my throat and relish in his strength. He makes me more courageous and self-assured.

Suddenly, I realize I’m not nervous because of the witches. They’ll be upset with my decision, but they will accept it. The witches will leave, and the vampires will return to the manor, to their sire.

My throat is tight and raspy because of the dark promise Amicia forced me to make. Jasik’s skin is resting against my palm—the very same one that swore a blood oath to another vampire. My stomach curls in response. If I tense, Jasik pretends not to notice.

“You would condemn your friend?” Liv’s mother asks me. She looks at me like she’s finally seeing the monster she believes I’ve become.

Standing straighter and with a firm voice, I say, “Liv is not my friend anymore.”

“And I suppose we are no