Page 52 of A Vow of Shadows
Sam handed me a glass of amber liquid that I took gratefully, swallowing it back in one swig.
“You still think she’s waiting for you on the other side?”
The question hit me like a blow, and I choked as the burning liquor threatened to make a reappearance. My gaze flicked to Katrin before narrowing on Sam.
“Of course I do.” That hope was the pillar of my desire for freedom.
Sam tilted his head, brows raising toward his hair line. “All I’m saying is Livia lived an entire life after you saved her. What makes you think she’s still pining for you in the Afterworld?”
“She lived a full and happy life exactly as I wanted, and now, she awaits our reunion in The Beyond,” I seethed. “If the way were not barred to me, I would be there with her already.”
“And where does the girl factor in?” He gestured to Katrin’s prone form behind him.
“She’s a means to an end.” The words tasted sour, but they were true. They had to be. Livia waited for me and Katrin would get me there.
Sam tossed back his drink like water to a dying man. “Then she’s available? I already told you, Van, I can’t say no to a pretty face like that.”
“She is absolutely not available!” I exploded out of my chair, knocking it onto the floor with a crash. In two strides, I was in his face, one hand pressing into his chest. “You’ll keep your tricky fingers to yourself, you hear me?”
From across the room, Katrin stirred, whimpering softly. I winced and lowered my voice. “She deserves better than either of us.”
It wasn’t what I meant to say, but I couldn’t deny the truth of it.
Sam grinned and lifted his glass. “I’ll drink to that.”
Chapter 36
Katrin
Iwoke to the sound of clinking glasses and boisterous laughter. The pain in my leg had lightened to a dull throb, but my head was pounding. I debated sinking back into oblivion before anyone could notice I was awake, but whatever surface I was lying on left something to be desired.
My limbs were stiff, and I failed to suppress a moan as I roused.
Chair legs scraped the floor, followed by the pounding of quick footsteps, and then Evander was before me. The unguarded emotions flickering across his face rendered me speechless. Curiosity. Anger. Concern. Each one made me more certain I’d crossed into some alternative reality. This version of Evander was nothing like mine—like the one I knew.
Perhaps the bite had killed me and this was the Afterworld. It seemed unlikely, but nothing in my life was ever as it appeared to be.
I opened my mouth, debating which question needed answering first but hesitated as Evander’s eyes flicked to something beyond my shoulder. When he looked back at me,his features had returned to their usual position of bored indifference.
“How are you feeling, Miss Fil’Owen?” he asked, tip-toeing around all that lay unspoken between us.
I would not be so evasive. “Back to formalities now, are we?”
His head tilted to one side. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Again, his gaze flicked beyond me. I turned and caught a glimpse of the man I’d seen from the carriage. He held a cigar in one hand and a glass of amber liquid in the other. Lounging casually against the fireplace mantel, he did not attempt to hide his blatant observation of us.
I leaned closer to Evander, lowering my voice to that of a whisper. “You called me Kat.”
“That never happened,” Evander’s voice matched mine for quietness, but I didn’t miss the note of teasing.
“Liar.” A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.
“You were gravely injured. It’s obvious you were hallucinating.”
His mention of my wound drew my attention to my bandage-wrapped leg. His gaze followed mine, and he frowned.
“Does it hurt?” he asked earnestly.