He snorted in disgust, finally sitting back. His sharp chin had formed an indentation on his arm after digging into his skin for over an hour. “You don’t need to justify the despicable things that were done to you, lass. You were a victim of horrible people. Horrible men. Every man you’ve known and been close to, human and vampire alike, has done wrong by you.”
He was right. I couldn’t deny it.
And yet I did.
“Father Cullard, Jeffrith, Baylen, Dimmon—yes. But Lukain? Before Skartovius killed him, I can’t believe Lukain betrayed me. Hehatedvampires.”
“Then you are naïve.”
“I preferhopeful.”
Garroway closed his eyes and nodded slowly. He did not bite back, and the tense standoff settled.
“It doesn’t matter now,” I said in barely more than a whisper, bowing my head in sadness. “Lukain is gone.”
Speaking to Garroway in such intimate terms, with tears and all, was the first cathartic moment I’d had. Perhaps ever. Laying bare my soul was freeing in a way I hadn’t expected.
I still wanted those men dead. That horrible rage would never go away, I was certain. And yet, I finally felt like there was something worth living for. “The men broke me, Garroway. It’s true. Any innocence I may have had was stolen from me.” My voice was harsh and spiteful. My tears over the situations had dried up years ago—or so I’d thought.
Garroway stood. He sauntered over to the bed and surprised me by crouching so we were eye-level. “If there’sanygood to come of it, lass, it’s this: Without that vile bastard Dimmon Plank, you wouldn’t have become the fighter and survivor you were born to be.”
His hand fell on my kneecap and he gave me a soft smile. I watched his hand as it squeezed my knee.
Then my face contorted. “Are you trying to say it’s agoodthing what was done to me, Garro? That it . . . built character?”
He reeled, nostrils flaring. “Of course not. That foul miscreant deserves a grisly death by your hand. I’m only saying it made you resilient.” His smile returned. “Resilient enough to live with vampires, and not fear us.”
If only you knew how much I truly feared your kind, Garro.
I sighed, fighting back the defiance and defensiveness that was always close to the surface. I knew Garroway meant nothing by it and was trying to pay me a compliment. It must have been hard for a dhampir. “Thank you,” I said.
The door opened and Garroway jolted to his feet, startled.
Skartovius Ashfen marched into the room in all his elegant splendor, red-and-gold cloak fluttering behind him. The gaunt, unrighteously handsome vampire had a stoic expression on his beautiful porcelain face. His long auburn hair was a thick mane flowing down his shoulders. His voice was rich and deep, speaking to his noble upbringing. “Getting close, are you two?”
Garroway said nothing for a moment. My eyes swiveled between the bloodthrall and his lord.
“You’ve returned,” Garroway said at last. There was no lilt or relief in his voice, which I found odd. I imagined he was still lingering on the story I’d told him. The shadow had never fully fled from behind his eyes.
“And you’re elated to see me,” Skar said wryly.
Garroway made to move past his master, abruptly heading for the door in a stiff-backed march.
My brow furrowed at his unexpected reaction to seeing Skartovius, his lord and liege.Is his bad dream—his bond with Skartovius drifting away and severing—really affecting him that much?
I supposed I would never know, as a human. I had no plans to turn into one of them.
When Garroway reached the door, Skartovius spun on him. “Where are you going? Come here, graybird. Let me have a look at you.”
Garroway froze, back to us. He went rigid and slowly turned, shuffling to his lord like a child being reprimanded.
Skartovius towered over his thrall. He stepped incredibly close to Garroway, dipped his head, and took Garro’s chin between his thumb and forefinger, lifting the dhampir’s gaze.
Jealousy stirred inside me, sudden and unbidden. It was a stab of want that nearly had me gasping, the soothing, sensual way Skartovius handled his bloodthrall.
“I nearly lost you last night, cub,” Lord Ashfen murmured. His full lips were inches from Garroway’s.
My skin heated and my eyes widened. This seemed like an intimate meeting best kept behind closed doors, without me as a spectator. I couldn’t help but bunch my hands together in my lap, trying to fight back the annoying sense of jealousy that roared inside me.
