Page 96 of Deadly Maiden

Shush.The ID is back.

“Is it dangerous, Wyntre?” I tip up her head, freshly slain by her beauty, by the cushioned redness of her mouth, but not by the way she looks at me, as if she fears what I will do.

“Yes.” Her throat moves in a nervous swallow. “It…can be. I killed the bloodhawk using the end of Anathema’s tail wrapped about the bullet.”

“Wow. It was curled up on my feet this morning. I didn’t know what it was. And now I do. Secrets within secrets. I know how Ishouldbe feeling, but none of this seems real. I don’t wantto be angry at you. A moment ago, I figured I should be begging for forgiveness, from you.”

She’s searching my face for clues. “I know. Neither of us has been honest though, have we?”

“I guess not.” She’s not meaning my drinking?

*No, she is not.*

My twenty-year path of revenge. The darkthings eating Orish. And my flames consuming her parents. Even if she doesn’t know this, I need to say it. Which of us bests the other when it comes to doing nastiness? I find myself empty of rage and vengeance and hate.

I have no anger left inside me.

“Your parents.” I swallow on a dry throat. I’m even more sure she has found out. “How did you find out?” I’m swinging from horror and guilt to what the fuck should I do and what willshedo?

Her mouth twitches up, and she slides off the bench and kneels before me, looking contrite. “I read it in a diary from the war.” She rests her hand over mine where it lies on my knee, cupping the back. “I wasn’t sure how to say it. When to say it. Rorsyd, I forgive you, even if Anathema is a step too far for you to forgive.”

“You forgive me, yet I killed your parents.”

“I do.”

Anathema is playing with Kyvin—if playing is the right word. I’m half expecting Kyvin’s leg to fall off. I’m aware of the scampering of the creature in the background. I’m more concerned with Wyntre watching me and waiting with her hand on mine.

“That is a weapon. A terrible one, Wyntre. The weapon is not the problem, though, is it? It’s not evil. It’s how you use it. Just don’t give the secret to the Aos Sin.” I smile weakly. As if shecould. This is not something they could build and give to their soldiers. “We are a pair of fools.”

“Maybe.” She clasps my hand a bit tighter, or as much as she can with those small fingers.

I fill my lungs with air, trying to unmuddle my mind and think this through. I end up addressing the forest and myself more than her with my next words. “Forgiveness is a lot easier when it’s you, someone I trust completely.”

“That is a good beginning.” She’s peering up at me, with that worried crease on her brow. “And the drinking?”

“The need is gone.”

I wish I knew why, but I am sure I can shift into dragon form again, and the lack of that goes with the compulsion, the dark moods. I need to figure out how everything is fitting together and why, but not now.

Wyntre springs to her feet. “Andacc.”

Is she remembering the killer drop? At the sound of grass rasping underfoot, I realize he is here.

When he pushes through, ducking under the last of the low branches into our space, the darkthing and Kyvin, our friendly undead, are prancing about in full view. The creature might get dismissed as just a cat but Kyvin…in sunlight he looks like a lovely walking corpse.

Chapter 30

Wyntre

I braced myself, intending to tell Rorsyd about the healing, but with the unearthing of his killing of my parents and then Anathema as well, I’ve exhausted my honesty.

Dressed in stained gray overalls, his latest costume, Andacc stares at Kyvin and Anathema who are batting the ball back and forth.

I am entirely confused as to why my darkthing likes to play, or the undead. Muscle memory? He must remember playing with a ball. Somehow, it’s buried in that undead brain.

“You have a pair of unusual friends.” Uninvited, Andacc stands and watches them. “Now I really have to convince you to join us. This…this is power. An undead army would?—”

“No. Just no, Andacc.” I try to sound firm in my refusal. “I can’t. I didn’t make him.”

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