Chapter 54

Lilitha slept.

How ~could~ she sleep at a time like this? And yet, she did. Deeply. It felt like forever since she’d had a proper rest. Not since she was with the clan. There was something about daytime sleep that the night could not alleviate. Damon’s voice echoed in her mind: ~We are creatures of the night~.

Lilitha wrapped her arms around herself.

The cot was comfortable enough, though it sank in the middle. Lilitha rolled over and dreamed of the cool feel of soil against her body. The smell of pine needles and crushed leaves filled her senses. Her nostrils flared at the smell of rain on the wind.

When she woke next, bright afternoon light was glaring through the window. Slowly, Lilitha sat up. She rubbed at her eyes and yawned. It took her several moments before she remembered why Clara wasn’t in the bed beside her. The cot was not their cot, and this was not their room. Mandalay. Sir Mandalay. Her hand was stinging.

“Who’s Damon?”

Lilitha jumped, then shot out of the bed, backing up against the door.

“Who’s Damon?”

Lilitha squinted as the glaring red light burned her eyes. Mandalay was standing in the corner of the room, arms folded, back resting against the wall, golden hair draped over his shoulders. He was wearing his Champion’s uniform, sword at his hip. His blue eyes were narrowed.

“You’ve said his name several times. A man you know?” His voice lowered. “A man you love?”

“I want to leave,” Lilitha said.

“Okay.”

Lilitha’s eyes shot to his.

“Do you really think I’m going to lock you up here forever? What would be the point of that? How’s your hand?”

Lilitha didn’t answer.

“You know, you would be in a lot of trouble if it weren’t for me. You ~and~

your friend. Murdering that drunk.”

Lilitha’s eyes widened.

Mandalay smiled faintly. “Haven’t figured it out yet? I’ve been following you. Spying on you. Keeping you out of trouble. Since the moment our eyes met on the street. I couldn’t believe what I saw. I ~still~ can’t. You. Alive.”

He gestured at the bed. “Take a seat. You might as well. You’re not leaving until you can answer me some questions.”

Lilitha didn’t move.

He frowned. “Sit. ~Goddamn~ it, sit!”

Shaking, Lilitha lurched over and sat down right on the edge.

Mandalay sighed. Red scored his cheeks. “How did you survive? What happened when I—when I left you behind?”

Lilitha stared into her lap, at her tightly clasped hands.

“What ~was~ it?” he said in a quiet voice. “It didn’t eat you. Not like my men. I saw it. I heard it. The screaming. The roaring. It ripped them apart. Like they were—like they were nothing. ~My men~.”

He closed his eyes, then opened them, and Lilitha was startled to see they were shining with tears. “I was glad to see you. More than glad. But why not you? Why are ~you~ so special?” He was pale now. He licked his lips. “You eat flesh.”

Lilitha didn’t speak, her pulse pounding in her throat.

“You kill. You slaughter. Just like the monster. What did it ~do~ to you that you should be so heinous?”

Lilitha’s eyes widened, realizing what he must be thinking. He wasn’t ~completely~ wrong. She suddenly remembered what one of the Champions had said during their journey into the forest: ~Perhaps the Devil will make her his bride.~ Lilitha swallowed. His guesses were too close.

He paled further, reading the answer in her face. He paced the floor. Lilitha scooted farther up the bed away from him as his face turned from white to red.

“We can fix that. I’m sure we can fix that.” He was babbling to himself. “This could all still work out.” Then he stopped and faced her. “Yes. We can make this work.”

He went to her.

“Keep away!”

“I won’t keep away,” he said. “You’re here with me now. I saved your life. You owe me. You—and your little friend.”

“I owe you nothing,” Lilitha hissed. “I ~hate~ you.”

“Is that so?” Something almost like pain flitted over the knight’s face. He lifted his chin. “I have a proposition for you: Be with me, keep me company and not only will I let you have freedom, but I’ll even support your friend.”

He pulled a small sack of coins from out of his pocket and tossed it on the bed. “There’s enough there to keep her housed and fed for two months. More will come, if you accept.”

“B-be with you?”

He nodded. She dropped her eyes to the sack of coins, then looked back up at him. She pressed her lips together, unable to speak.

“It’s up to you. Don’t accept and you will stay here. If I’m feeling kind, your friend will merely struggle without my money. If I’m feeling annoyed, I might just admit her whereabouts to the ministry. If you accept, you both can live full, happy lives.’

He took a step toward her. “I can be kind. Generous. Even loving. You’ll see.”

Lilitha leaned away as he sat down beside her. He went to take her hand, but Lilitha whipped it away.

“Be with me, maybe even love me, and I’ll give you ~everything~. What do you say?”

The air caught in Lilitha’s throat.

“I said, what do you ~say~?”

Lilitha nodded faintly.

He grinned. “Good.” He grabbed her hand, holding it firmly as he kissed the back of it. He smoothed his thumb over it.

A lump swelled in Lilitha’s throat, but she swallowed it down hard.

He kept stroking her hand, grinning that awful grin. “I can make you happy, Lilitha, if you give me a chance.” He leaned in to kiss her, but Lilitha reeled back. Pouting, he released her hand and stood.

He gestured at the sack of coins. “You can go. Your friend will want to know where you are, I’m sure. But not for long. I want you back here before sunset.”

Lilitha stared up at him, unmoving.

He raised his eyebrows. “Or you can stay, if you prefer.”

Quickly, Lilitha snatched up the sack of coins and sprang to her feet. The knight opened the door. Again, Lilitha didn’t move, unsure whether this was all just a big trick.

“Time’s wasting. You’d better get moving.”

Lilitha’s hand trembled as she tucked the money into her skirts. She sidled toward the door, and when he didn’t try to stop her, she darted through. She thought he might have touched her hair.

Then she was hurrying across the landing. She raced down the stairs. And then she was out the front door and speeding down the street.

She made sure to turn the nearest corner and put the inn out of sight before she stopped. Her lungs were so tight she couldn’t get the air in. Grabbing at her sides, she gasped for breath. Black spots appeared in her eyes.

Dropping into a crouch, she held her head. Slowly, her vision returned. Slowly, she was able to breathe again.

Finally, she stood. She looked over her shoulder, but Mandalay hadn’t followed. The setting sun was burning the back of her neck. Touching her pocket to make sure the sack of coins was safe, she hurried away in Clara’s direction.