Page 41 of A Vow of Shadows

The light disappeared from the woman’s face as deep creases formed between her brows. “I don’t know. I can’t remember.”

“That’s alright, Eunice. Don’t fret.” Katrin turned a beseeching gaze my way, but once again, all I could do was shrug.

Her eyes roamed the room, then snapped back to mine with a renewed gleam. “Actually, Claude sent us to retrieve you.”

“He did?”

Katrin’s head bobbed up and down. “He sure did. He’s been waiting for you.”

“Why didn’t you say so?” Eunice bounded for the door, a new spring in her step. “Oh, but I must look affright!”

Katrin clasped the old woman’s hand and pulled her in close. “You look beautiful.”

Chapter 28

Katrin

All through the journey to The Between, Eunice regaled me with stories of her life. She told me of her life as a farmer’s daughter, the day she met Claude, when they ran away to the city to be wed and start a life of their own.

Her tales enthralled me to the point of longing.

Thiswas what I wanted.Thiswas what I was fighting for—the chance to live a long and glorious life of my own making, unburdened by some gloomy fate that threatened to bottle me up at my peak ripeness.

The door to the carriage flew open, and I jumped, unaware that we had stopped. Evander had left his hood down, his windswept hair drawing my eye in a way that reminded me I’d called him nice to look at only minutes before.

My cheeks heated. Eunice smirked and gave me a knowing look. In return, I pursed my lips and widened my eyes, willing her to keep quiet. She smiled bigger and mimed buttoning her mouth shut.

Evander watched this all without a word. One look at his smug expression and I knew he was aware of everything that went unsaid.

“Eunice, this is your stop.” He beckoned her forward with a gloved hand.

Eunice looked at me with watery eyes. “You’re not coming, Kat?”

One look at Evander’s stern expression told me his opinion on the matter. I shook my head and smiled at Eunice. “It’s not my time.”

“Just as well.” Eunice shrugged. “Someone has to keep this fellow in line.”

She ducked out the door, pulling Evander in tow. I smiled, clutching my hands in front of my chest as they disappeared into the mists.

When their forms blended into the trees, I fell back against the cushioned bench.

The journey to the living world had been much shorter than I remembered, or perhaps it was that I was filled with excitement rather than trepidation.

The manor had become a prison of my own making. Though I was accustomed to the confinement and solitude, accompanying the Ferrier soothed the part of me that yearned to experience everything. Finally, I was doingsomething. Though I never dreamed I’d be aiding the recently departed, I couldn’t deny the overwhelming sense of rightness that warmed me from the inside out.

I wrapped my arms around my middle like I could contain the feeling and that was how Evander found me.

“What are you smiling about?”

His voice jolted me back to reality. I traced the shape of my lips with my fingers, surprised to find I was indeed smiling. “It was a good night, don’t you think?”

He hummed a noncommittal noise and I rolled my eyes.

“I never noticed your teeth are black as well.”

I clamped my hands over my mouth, eyes widening in horror before I caught the twinkle of mirth in his gaze. “Shut your mouth,” I said, swatting his arm as heat rose to my cheeks.

He chuckled and my insides warmed for another reason. “Vain, Miss Fil’Owen?”