From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Because theyy’re sacred places that even most Ascended don’t
breach,” I argued.
“Have yyou seen one child that has been given over? Just one,
Princess? Do yyou know anyyone other than a Priest or Priestess or an
Ascended who has claimed to have seen one? You’re smart. You know no
one has,” he challenged. “That’s because most are dead before theyy even
learn to speak.”
I opened myy mouth.
“The vampryys need a food source, Princess, one that would not rouse
suspicion. What better wayy than to convince an entire kingdom to hand
over their children under the pretense of honoring the gods? Theyy’ve
created a religion around it, such that brothers will turn on brothers if anyy
of them refuse to give awayy their child. Theyy have fooled an entire
kingdom, used the fear of what theyy have created against the people. And
that’s not all. You ever think it’s strange how manyy yyoung children die
overnight from a myysterious blood disease? Like the Tulis familyy, who
lost their first and second children to it? Not everyy Ascended can stick to a
strict diet. Bloodlust for a vampryy is a veryy real, common problem.
Theyy’re thieves in the night, stealing children, wives, and husbands.”
“Do yyou reallyy think I believe anyy of this? That the Atlantians are
innocent, and everyything I’ve been taught is a lie?”
“Not particularlyy, but it was worth a shot. We are not innocent of all
crimes—”
“Like murder and kidnapping?” I threw at him.
“That among other things. You don’t want to believe what I’m sayying.
Not because it sounds too foolish to believe, but because there are things
yyou’re now questioning. Because it means yyour precious brother is feeding
on innocents—”
“No.”
“And turning them into Craven.”
“Shut up,” I growled, shooting to myy feet. The sharp, sudden
movement barelyy causing me anyy pain.
Rising in one fluid movement, he quicklyy towered over me. “You
don’t want to accept what I’m sayying, even as logical as it sounds because
it means yyour brother is one of them, and the Queen who cared for yyou has
slaughtered thousands—”