A Violet Fire (Vampires in Avignon #1) - Kelsey Quick Page 0,71

act on it with anyone would lead us to a premature death. It was enticing and rebellious to think of pairing up with the boys back then. But...

Is Zein attempting to cross that line?

When I don’t reply he carries on.

“I will spare you your service tonight, and every night to follow.”

My eyebrows furrow. I’m about to question whether I heard him correctly when he clarifies.

“I know that everything you do here is against your will. I forced a life upon you that every other unit would be grateful for, but unlike them, you aren’t a product of Cain. I can’t expect you to want to serve me.” He says it all while staring at the bed across the room, seemingly unsure if he should be saying it. I take this as a sentiment of self-sacrifice, something the imperious lord Zein probably isn’t used to doing. In this moment, I genuinely admire him.

“Should you need anything, you can come for me at any time. But I will not send for you.”

He shoots the rest of the potent absinthe and swallows it cleanly as if it has the kickback of water.

“Thank you,” I say, lost in the unfathomable turn of events, my heart swelling.

An unusual quiet befalls the room until he decisively closes the conversation. “Go back to the seraglio and wear that chain proudly. It has never been bestowed upon any human in my supply before.”

Never before?

I nod, stand, and make my exit numbly.

I skim over the shining, untouched chain around my neck. While I should be rejoicing at another step closer to freedom, all I can picture is Anaya’s angry face, maybe even Katarii’s. And even those images are swallowed by Zein’s strange confessions. While slipping the chain around my neck, I make certain to tuck it into my dress and hide the traces with the tales of my ribbon. I don’t care what Zein says, no one needs to see or know about this. I don’t want to deal with the repercussions. For now, I’ll pretend nothing has changed, even though my relationship with Zein has… completely. And for some reason, I don’t hate it.

chapter 13

The night draws to a close and dawn’s brink is imminent. That’s what I assume anyway, after counting my way through the early hours of curfew. What I wouldn’t do for a window. The sun is a blessing that I once took for granted. It provides warmth, happiness, and a sense of being watched over, cared for. Since my arrival beneath the darkness of Cain, I usually only associate one thing with the sun: vampires are weakened by its rays. Under a cloudless sky, I could make good headway toward Abethos. I could maybe even make it before sundown if I never stopped running. My breathing hitches as I dare to even think it, grasping the chain at my chest.

The Laisse is a constant in my mind; cool against my skin, it’s a reminder of everything I don’t understand about Zein, about vampires, about what is really my reality. Nothing makes sense. Why is Zein going to such lengths to be nice to me? Why are all the vampires here somehow different from the rest? I keep my thoughts focused, practicing Essence Dissonance before deciding.

Today, I will find my escape route… and with a convenience such as the Laisse, it will be a lot easier, so long as none of the other supply units find out about it.

Savvy snores on my left, and Glera’s body twitches with dream-filled sleep on my right. As soon as I’m certain that the other girls are in similar states, I stand, and use every stealthy bone in my body to shuffle through the silent hall. The stony floors are prime candidates for soundless skulking, but a metal, spiral staircase? That’s a different story.

I take in the daunting structure and gulp down a growing nausea. It’s going to make noise, the only question is who will it wake up, and what will they assume? My eyes flit around without sense, resting finally on Anaya’s perfect, sleeping form. Even dead to the universe, she’s beautiful—if only she wasn’t a brainwashed product bred for a vampire’s disposal.

She’s the one I would need to worry about the most, but any girl is a problem with how much rumors play a part in this underground world. I take a deep breath and force down my heart. Maybe if I climb it just right, the noise will be a non-issue. Slowly. I take the