Page 10 of The Midnight Arrow
“There is an Allavari who lives in the village,” I said quietly. Swallowing down my hatred and bitterness, I said, “His name is Veras.”
Lorik laughed, but there was an edge to it. “You think that useless piece of flesh managed to shoot me with a poisoned arrow?”
I frowned. “If he heard you speaking about him like that, he surely would. He’s a dangerous male. You should be more careful with your tongue.”
“I welcome him to try,” Lorik rumbled. “It would give me a reason to tear him limb from limb.”
I nearly shuddered at the bloodlust in his voice…and yet…
“You like it when I’m bloodthirsty, little witch?” he teased, his voice morphing into velvety softness. “YouhateVeras. Would you like me to give you his still-beating heart? Perhaps that can be my repayment to you. For saving my life, I will give you his. I will give you one favor, Marion, and it can be whatever you want. I vow I will grant it.”
I couldn’t tell him just how much I was tempted to say yes—because there was an instinct in me that told me Lorikmeant it. That this male was much, much more dangerous than Veras could ever hope to be, even with his henchmen carrying out his bidding and his manipulative pull within the village.
“Don’t,” I said quietly. “I am a healer, not an accomplice.”
“Even after what he did to your sister?”
I couldn’t contain my sharp breath. It was no secret. Lorik had obviously asked about me throughout the village—and I didn’t know how I felt aboutthat.
“I would do anything for my sister—you were right earlier,” Lorik said, his tone turning savage and I leveled him a sharp look. “I imagine you would’ve too.”
“Then you’re not so selfish as you insisted,” I pointed out, filing away the fact that he had a sister, one I’d never seen. Did she live in the village? Where didLorikeven live?
“Did I say that?” he asked, his mood unreadable.
“You implied it.” And he knew it too.
Lorik stared at me, and then his mouth slowly drew into a grin, his teeth appearing even sharper in the moonlight. For the first time, I had the instinct to run from him. Warning bells in my mind battled with the warmth in my chest.
“A Sever shot me with the arrow.”
I jolted, gasping. “What?”
I always felt out of control with him. Even when I’d met him at the market all those months ago. He’d always made me feel like I was walking on trembling ground.
It was unsettling.Exciting.Unpredictable.
Unless he’s lying,I thought.
“But…butwhy?”
“How should I know?” Lorik asked, holding my gaze, his blue eyes glittering again in the silver light.
“So aSeverjust…came up from the Below, tracked you down in the Black Veil in the middle of the night where you happened to be, and shot you with a poisoned, metal-tipped arrow they just happened to have prepared?”
“It would appear so,” he said.
He’s lying,I thought. Of course he was. That story was ridiculous. Severs hunted with their claws and fangs like wild beasts. Not with a bow. It still didn’t explain what Lorikhadbeen doing in the Black Veil at midnight.
“Whatever it is that you’re involved in,” I started quietly, “don’t pull me into it. I helped you. I saved your life. I don’t need your problems spilling into mine. Veras already took the one person I loved most in this world. And if you’re involved with him, in any way, I need to know. Right now.”
Lorik held my gaze, his features sobering for a brief moment.
“I’m not involved with Veras, Marion,” Lorik told me, his voice gruff and soft. “Not now, not ever.”
My shoulders relaxed. Maybe I was a fool, but I heard truth in his voice.
“Does that mean you’ll let me stay in your bed?” he asked, the question helping to ease some of the tension that had risen between us.