Meredith.
Arriving at the main living room, I sank into the long sofa and exhaled as if my body had been carrying stones all day.
Not long after, a servant brought in a silver tray with a small assortment of pastries and candied fruits.
I dismissed her quickly, then let the sweetness melt against my tongue, chasing away the tightness in my chest.
But the silence lingered, and along with it were my thoughts.
"Valmora," I called inwardly. "How many vampires did you kill when you were Serena's wolf?"
Her laugh was low and amused, like smoke curling around a flame. "I can't count them all, Meredith. The number would bore you."
I rolled the stem of a grape between my fingers, thinking. Then the question came without warning. "Why do you hate them so much?"
Her tone sharpened, no longer playful. "Because they are ticking time bombs, you can dress them in silk, make them swear oaths, lock them in cages… it doesn't matter. They explode. Always."
