Page 15 of The Midnight Arrow
“I see a beautiful, empathetic, kind woman, whodidleave the safety of her own home to help a stranger in the middle of the night. I see a woman who smiles at villagers in the market who don’t even deserve it. I see a woman who has overcome struggle and tragedy but has still managed to build all of this. All by herself. Who sings like an Allavari angel and who has barely slept because she’s been tending to a massive, nosy, irritating bastard who’s disrupted her life. She would say it’s her duty as ahealer…but truthfully, I think it might be because she likes him too.”
My cheeks felt warm.
“I want to understand that woman,” Lorik said. “I want to knowyou. I have for some time.”
My mind flashed to the first time we’d met. All those moon cycles ago in the market, on a drizzly, gray day. I remembered the way my heart had stopped at that mischievous, almost secretive grin when he’d stopped at my stall.
“You never…you never…”
“Asked your name? Asked you to the tavern for an Allavari ale after you packed up your wares? Flirted with you in one of the back booths there so I could steal your kiss and then another when I walked you home?”
“Well…” I trailed off, surprised, flustered. “Yes.”
“You didn’t strike me as a woman who would welcome someone like me.”
My brows furrowed. His tone was soft. Almost…somber. Quiet in its truth.
“You assume a lot, Lorik Ravael,” I said, just as quietly. “Maybe instead of assuming, you could simplyask.”
“Yes,” Lorik said, his eyes closing for a brief moment. I thought I saw something shimmer over his skin, but when the candle’s light flickered, I knew my eyes were just playing tricks on me. “You’re right, little witch. So when I’m recovered and not sweating out poison in your bed, would you join me for an Allavari ale at Grimstone’s Tavern?”
Despite the ache in my back from tending to him the better part of the day and the annoyance in my chest from his earlier words, a small laugh escaped me.
“You don’t have to call it an Allavari ale, you know,” I pointed out. “We are in Allavar. You just call it ale.”
“Was that an answer?”
I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear, suddenly shy.
“Yes,” I said. “Yes, I’ll join you at Grimstone’s.”
Lorik’s eyes shone. He went quiet, simply watching me, and I fidgeted under his gaze. Embarrassed but pleased with his slow perusal and observation.
“For the sake of honesty, Marion,” he warned, his tone deep and husky, “I won’t lie—I’ll likely try to steal a kiss long before Grimstone’s ever happens.”
Excitement displaced my previous annoyance. This was new. It felt…dizzying. To be wanted. To be pursued. Especially byhim.
“I might even let you,” I rushed out.
The sound he made was a cross between a groan and a laugh.
Feeling flushed and uncertain, I said quickly, “You should rest now.”
“You expect me to rest after that admission?” he wanted to know.
“Yes,” I said, trying to regain some authority in my voice. He was still a patient of mine, after all. And though his fever had come down, he wasn’t out of the woods yet.
I didn’t understand it. Allavari were powerful. Kylorr too, in their own way, though they possessed no natural-born magic. He should have been able to overcome this. But he’d taken a turn for the worse today.
Something occurred to me, and I let out a small, shuddering sigh.
It had been over a day since he’d fed on my blood. Perhaps his body needed more to cleanse the remainder of the poison and fight the infection that had taken root.
Glancing down at my wrist, I eyed the bandage, before studying him.
“Are you…hungry?” I asked softly.
His blue eyes seemed to glow brighter. His jaw tightened.