The next three days faded into exhaustion. Lyanna hardly slept, and ate, caught in the impossible task of caring for fifty three traumatized humans in a castle full of vampires.
The castle vampires also didn't make it easier. Though some showed compassion, like Victor who quietly provided funds for supplies, Adrian who organized guards to make humans feel safe, and Helena who offered medical treatment to survivors who fell ill from shock and exhaustion.
But other vampires resented the presence of humans. Lyanna was fighting two battles simultaneously. She needed to reassure the traumatized humans that vampires wouldn't hurt them while managing vampires who saw humans beneath them.
Emma refused to eat for two days, convinced the food was poisoned. Lyanna sat with her for hours, taking bites from every dish, explaining over and over that vampires wanted them healthy, not dead.
"Why?" Emma whispered. "Why do they care if we live or die?"
