Cassian Draven has collapsed at my feet. I’m not even surprised—after killing several dozen men by himself. There are so many dismembered, unrecognizable bodies here that one could form a small platoon. I look at him, waiting for him to open his eyes and say it was a joke. He doesn’t. I nudge his body with the tip of my boot. No reaction.
Something in my head tells me what I need to do, but my reason begs me not to. This is my moment to run—I could disappear into the forest and try to escape.
Don’t be an i***t, Elara. He’ll find you. You’re bleeding, and he’s a vampire.
Besides, where would I go?
I’m far from home, and on foot the journey would be much harder. I have no resources, and my family would probably be killed if I returned to them. So I sigh in defeat and look for a dagger. I
