A Violet Fire (Vampires in Avignon #1) - Kelsey Quick Page 0,55

above. Everything I ever believed about Zein since arriving at Nightingale has been stripped down in a matter of minutes, and it’s taking all of his steps to his desk to regain my composure.

“The truth? All political. Abethos had recently claimed that territory, I had no authority to take you, even. I only did so because you would have died if I left you there, orphaned and awaiting your final assailant.”

“Why do you care what happens to me?” I repeat bluntly as he grabs a scroll canister from his desk and pops the silver top.

“Is it always about you?” he returns swiftly, and embarrassment floods my face. “I do things for no other reason than whim sometimes. The years get boring without a little spontaneity and I have to admit, thus far, I am rather amused with you.”

Anger straightens my posture. I wish I could get one good welt on his pretty face, but I’m pretty sure that would land Savvy in the fallen pit.

“Don’t get all offended,” he sneers. “What I mean is… the company of a free-thinking human is refreshing. I don’t much like to be worshipped by humans.”

I cough a laugh. “And why is that?”

“Because we are not gods, for one. But Saya breeds them that way so I don’t have much of a choice.”

My breath hitches for a second. Is Zein who I thought he was? This Zein seems so much different from the one at the Distribution.

I sigh and force down the feeling those words evoke—kind of upset and kind of not—lost in my own thoughts. Against my will, a small smile draws across my face. Nearly everything I thought about Zein was wrong. Nearly. He’s still a narcissistic ass, but he seems to actually care somewhat for honor and dignity—having been the one to try and salvage Avignon. He’s also surprisingly calm, and strangely… forgiving. Did I picture him to be something he never was?

“Well, thank you for answering my questions,” I murmur.

He nods once as his eyes glass the contents of the scroll.

While there’s more I want to ask, I decide to call it good for the day.

“I think I will be going... my lord.” God, that still feels so gross to say.

Standing is a split-second chore until my body recalls the skill of balancing. How will I ever make it to the other side of the castle?

“Wavorly,” Zein calls out right as my fingertips grasp the handles of the huge wooden doors.

He analyzes me before finishing his thought.

“Rest well. I will be summoning you often.”

chapter 11

I don’t know if it’s because I’m a special case or if the organization of the castle is especially lacking, but when I exit Zein’s quarters, all that’s left are the guards standing outside the doors. Narref is nowhere to be seen, nor Gemini, nor Ceti. An escort is supposed to be here to take me back to the seraglio.

“Uh… excuse me,” I say hushedly to one of the idle guards. “Do I go back on my own, or...?”

Both of their beady eyeballs swivel to me, devouring me with careless gazes for a moment before they revert to as they were before, as if I said nothing at all.

Maybe they aren’t supposed to interact with the humans, since things could easily get ugly if Zein ever has the need to question if his supply has been touched by anyone other than him—the equivalent of a hired hand stealing precious sugar from a Sunday market’s storerooms.

My limbs still feel as if they are out of alignment, every part of me hollow like a vampire’s heart. Nothing feels real except when I focus on what’s straight ahead. I should eat something of more substance when I get back, but I haven’t racked up enough prestige or “currency” to do so outside of normal meal times.

I walk down the hall, expecting some angry vampire to jump out at any moment and ask me what the hell I’m doing all alone, but to my pleasant surprise—nothing. Even descending the ivory stairwell of bone, crossing through the grand hall and down the corridors, all the way down to the seraglio’s chambers—nothing. Only passerby servants here or there who offer an extra glance or two. It takes me too long to realize I could probably map an escape route now while I’m free of watch…I halt in my tracks.

As I make up my mind to turn around, a flicker of violet catches my eye. I flip my head back and there it is.