“Promise me no more death,” Zen said. “No more killing, of any kind, and not just my friends.”
“And if I am defied?”
“Forgive.”
“What of Aerie and their hatred of people like you? Of dark elves—”
“Forgive. Let them live with their hatred, and we can stay here.”
“You would forgive that easily, after the boy you mentioned they killed? You said he wasn’t even a darkling or a dark elf, just an elf in the wrong city.”
It stung to be reminded of Jax, but it stung to be reminded of all the death Zen had seen. “Maybe we can change their minds if you show mercy. Your beasts could feed on animals. Your vampires too—”
“Drinking the blood of animals makes a vampire ill, and we cannot feed from the dead.”
“Then…you, your brides, your spawn, surely there are people willing to offer their blood w
