idn't

e, probably watching the city with those ice-blue eyes, probably thinking ab

oo comfortable, far too much like luxury she didn't deserve-and st

half-vampire in a worl

g when she should hav

g blood at assassins i

e anything. She was here now, bound by magic and debt t

way all dhampirs could. Vampires felt the sun as a threat, a weakness. Dhampirs felt i

sleep around noon and

apartment had rooms. There was a closet, currently empty except for her courier uniform hanging lonely and out o

the door ma

t. What if it was Daemon? What if he'd decided to q

l of clothing. She couldn't have been more than eighteen, with

clothes on the bed. "He said to tell you they shoul

aid, studying her.

urprised to be as

here? In t

he clothes nervously. "It's not bad work, if you follow the rules. Lord

Sera thought. A warning

he rules?"

about vampire business. Don't forget what you are." She paused. "And don't trust the pretty words. Vampires are

leak way to

s at six if you want it. Human staff eats in the kitchens, but Lord Ashford

Sera could ask

es that looked like they cost more than her yearly salary as a courier. All in dark colors. Black, deep b

d a midnight blue blouse-and changed, catchi

tood out against her brown skin, a visible brand marking her as bound. She pulled the sleeve

empty rooms, probably for other servants or guests. The guards stationed at the stairwell doors didn't stop

ou're restricted to residential floor

er with nice accomm

d, like Marcus had said. She stared at it for a long moment

thank god. Are you okay? Where are you?

o calls? Probably. She'd have to be careful. "I'm at the Tower. It

how l

era heard Ivy's sharp intake of b

dits, Sera. That'

rry about money for a while." Sera twisted the phone cor

yth

Sera's voice dropped lower. "And if anyone comes asking about me-anyone vampire-you don't

her end, then: "Y

her eyes. "I'll call when I can, but it m

hispered. "Come

ll

efore her voi

htstand. Sera felt it like a shift in the air pressure,

ame at exac

cable in his Northern Court uniform. "Lord

eat dinner," S

ss business over meals. Makes humans more comforta

ublic areas of the Tower had been impressive but cold. This was... different. Still elegant, still expensive, but there were personal

d in. It fel

somehow mor

nty but was set for two. Daemon sat at the head, reading something on a tablet. He looke

, gesturing to her new

conversation easy but far enough that she didn't feel cor

d sleep," Daemon sa

did

rom here. It's been elevated all day

live in his tower, told your entire life has change

chair. "Most humans tell me what they think I want to h

I might learn

nother almost-smi

lled amazing and reminded her she hadn't eaten since yesterday-and a wine glass in front of Daemon. The liquid wa

left witho

aid. "You need

ook a bite and tried not to moan. It was delicious. Professionally prepare

n asked, sipp

ine," S

tiful to something almost warm. Almost human. "You're a terrible lia

mpire h

ood," Sera adm

ant, you'll manage my schedule, screen my correspondence, accompany me to meetings and social e

secretary wit

ous. "I won't lie to you, Sera. This position puts you in danger. Those who tried to kill me last night will try agai

ice in walking into

t yourself. Self-defense, situational awareness, how to spot threats. Or I can assign guards to

privacy, no chance to hide anything. Training meant time alone with Daemon,

ded. "I'd rather lea

will work with you. He's my second, and the best fighter in the Northe

do I s

g earlier. "Meeting notes from the last Council session. Familiarize yourself with the players, the

territorial disputes, blood trade agreements-it was like re

ething?" she said

sk. I may

last night? You said something about f

y, but it's a peace many vampires resent. They remember the time before, when we

you d

Daemon swirled the blood in his glass. "War is chaos.

very pra

r mother wasn't pragmatic. She was idealistic. She beli

d against her plate.

dn't figure it out? You have her eyes. Her bone structure. The way you tilt your head wh

r ribs. He knew. He'd known since this morning, maybe since last ni

ce shaking, "why didn't you say

His voice was soft, almost gentle, which made it worse. "Because I m

scraping against the floor. "

there was nowhere to go. "The law says humans and vampires cannot procreate. The punishment for

cracked. "She loved my fathe

ot because the law was wrong-the law exists for a reason-but because I didn't question it.

voice. Bitterness. Self-loa

erstand," Se

that? She asked me to spare her. Not for her sake-she knew she was dead. But for

caught. "Wha

ng to vampire justice." Daemon's jaw tightened. "She looked at me with those same eyes you ha

t except for Sera'

bedience to unjust laws created, I started questioning. Started changing things, slowly. The Blood Accord reforms

g because you murdered my mother?" Sera's voice wa

But when you saved my life last night, when the blood debt bound us together, I saw it as a chance. A chance to

r protection," Se

ys. If you truly want me dead, you could kill me right now. The magic

he table and held it o

him. At the impossible

e, but vampires could die. Stab the heart, cut off the head, burn the body-these were t

eached for

een them. She felt his presence in her mind, cold and ancient and infinitely wear

that, she felt

ut it made him real in a way she hadn't expected. Made him s

n't defending himself. Wasn't moving to stop her. He was just watch

u," she sa

kno

rgive you for

w that

on the table. "And it might start the war you're trying to preve

ace. Relief, maybe. Or disappointment

u," he sa

era wrapped her arms around herself. "I'll serve out the blood debt because I have to. I'll do the job because I need to

ampire vitality. "For what it's worth, I'll protect you while you're bound to me. Not because I

bout her like

ood glass. "She was brilliant. Passionate. She saw the world not as

ted what you were

reed. "She made

s blood. The revelation hung between them like a third presence-acknowledged but

will be long-you're meeting Lucian in the evening, and then w

ked up. "You're taking me t

the Council got used to seeing a human at my side." Daemon's

urse

aid as Sera headed for the

her hand on

pire, half human. Your mother's forbidden child. An

execute me." It w

protect your secret. No one else knows. Not Marcus, not Lucian, not the

ce him. "Why would you p

ed because of an unjust law. I won't make the same mistake twice. You're not an abomination, Sera. You

nt dry. "You think the

id grimly. "And I think things are going to get much worse before they get b

t thought, disappearing into

the hallway, h

ead of killing her, he was protecting her. Was using her.

ng. She could feel it in the air, in the tension that permeated the Tower, in the way guards patr

ed was ready to explode. And Sera

. Then she went to the window and looked out at Nocturna sprawling below, thinking abo

gently, and she could feel Daemon somewh

it through power and politics. And Sera? Sera was caught between them, between human and va

t her phone a

asked me to come back. I don't think I can. But

that?" I

the connection to Daemon humming through her veins

ght be able t

contin