"Marris tried to hold the line, but we were boxed in. We fought. I got stabbed and clawed. It was all chaos. There was a flash—some kind of spell or artifact—I don't know. I was thrown back into the wall. I must've blacked out after that." She paused, then added with a bitter smile, "I guess I was lucky I hit my head early."
"And the vampires? You're saying they just . . . left you?" he asked, skeptical.
Selis glanced away, swallowing hard. "Maybe they thought I was already dead. Or maybe they were called off. I don't know. All I know is that I woke up surrounded by corpses, and now I'm here."
Lucian stared at her like he could hear every heartbeat of her lie.
She met his gaze, holding it for just a second too long.
"Interesting luck for a newbie," he muttered.
Selis gave a weak chuckle. "That's what they call me, lucky."
Lucian didn't respond. He simply stood and turned his back to her.
