Slaying the Vampire Conqueror (Crowns of Nyaxia)

Nyaxia smiled sweetly. It reminded me chillingly of the smile I had seen in Atrius’s vision—the smile that doubled as a death promise. “I long ago tired of the White Pantheon’s petty threats, Acaeja,” she said. “If Atroxus or his ilk want to come for me, let them come. I will fight harder than my husband did. I have none of his compassion.”

Yes, it was difficult to get the attention of a god. But this? This was enough. In fact, it was enough to get the attention of two.

After thinking it over for a few more hours, the main conclusion we came to was that we were screwed.

“Death is what happens when you stand still,” I said. “Don’t stand still. Not for anything.”

I sat up straighter. “What an ominous silence,” I said. “Mm,” Atrius replied, unhelpfully.

“Because you make me ravenous.”

“Sylina,” Atrius was saying to me. “Stay right here. Stay right here.” And then, closer to my ear, “Vivi. Stay right here.”

“It’s impossible not to notice everything, with you.”

When Atrius saw me in this, he outright snorted. Like an amused horse. “What?” I’d said. “Not appealing to you?” “Humans are so strange,” he muttered.