Page 101 of The Darkness Within Us

“I told you I wanted Damasus to see the doctor first. You didn’t listen.”

“Damasus’s injuries are not as serious as yours!”

“I don’t care.”

Though I can’t move much, I turn my head away from him, ending the conversation.

“Fine,” he says, and I expect him to leave the room. Instead, I hear the splashing of water. What is he doing now? I turn to find him in the washroom, soaping his hands thoroughly.

“What do you think you are doing?”

“I may not be a doctor, but I had to do this dozens of times in the army. If you won’t let the professional see to you, then you get me.”

He dries off his hands before seating next to me. He reaches for the discarded medical thread and needle.

When I meet his eyes, they flash amber, daring me to argue.

It’s not as though I could run. And I have a feeling Eryx will just knock me out if I don’t cooperate this time.

“Fine.” I turn back away, leaving my arm exposed.

When I feel the chair beside me move again, I brace myself for pain. But the suspense is too much, so I turn back toward the spiteful man.

“What happened back there?” I ask. “You fought those men off, and then we were talking. Argus and Dyson showed up. I don’t remember anything after that.”

The needle hovers over my skin, and a guilty look crosses Eryx’s features. “You swooned,” he says.

“Swooned?”

“Yes, got too close to me, I expect.”

At the furrowing of my brow, the needle goes in. I wince, jerking at the contact, preventing me from reacting to his ridiculous statement.

“That hurts!”

“I know, but you have at least ten more stitches to go.”

I feel a tremble start to work its way out, so I try to keep myself talking. “How wounded is Damasus?”

“They roughed him up pretty good. He has countless bruises, but nothing was broken except his nose, which the doctor will need to right. The butler was in good spirits when I saw him, and I’m sure he’s handling his administrations much better than you are.”

He pulls the medical thread through my skin and pulls it tight. I bite down, just barely missing my tongue.

“You bled much more than I originally realized,” Eryx says conversationally. “It’s remarkable you were alert for as long as you were.Finally got your arm elevated, and that helped to slow things down considerably. All the staff wanted to be in here by your side, especially that footman Kyros. But I ordered them all away.” He dips the needle in again, and I just barely manage not to cry out.

I glare at him. He’s donned a fresh shirt since the attack, and there’s not a scratch on him.

And the levity with which he speaks, I don’t know why, but I feel as though I cannot trust it.

“How did you know I was in trouble?” I ask.

“I heard you scream.”

“All the way from the cellar?”

Now it’s Eryx’s turn to wince. “Yes, from the cellar. How long have you known?”

“Not long. I finally figured it out with the proximity to the library.”

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