Slaying the Vampire Conqueror

by Carissa Broadbent

And yet—how could I not have recognized him? How could I not have recognized my brother? You have no brother, the Sightmother reminded me. Sylina has no brother.

But I wasn’t a child anymore. I wasn’t powerless.

Naro pinned me down, his chestnut hair falling over his face. I snarled, “Get off me!” “I can’t.” He shook his head, his face hardening, despite the wrinkle of confusion over his brow. “You can’t. You⁠—” I do not have a brother.

Atrius turned. His face was cold and unmoving. He raised the axe as my brother—my stupid, foolish brother—ran straight for him. You do not have a brother, a voice reminded me. And yet, I screamed, “No!”

was supposed to be hiding myself from Atrius—not showing him things that no one was supposed to see.

Now… I had to admit, it seemed like it would take a truly incredible assassin to end Atrius. This thought floated through my mind before I remembered that I was supposed to be this assassin.

My grip on my surroundings snapped into place. I jumped to my feet. A slyvik. A slyvik that had Atrius.