Page 63 of The Darkness Within Us

Eryx groans again.

“This is ridiculous,” Dyson says. “He’s healed from bullet wounds faster than this is taking.”

“He’s not fighting off a concentrated attack. The poison is moving through his bloodstream.”

Another five minutes passes, and then Eryx’s breathing smooths. I hold my breath.

“You all right?” Dyson asks.

“I am now.” Eryx’s voice sounds perfectly normal.

“We’ll catch Sarkis,” Argus says. “That bastard will pay for what he’s done.”

“We have a bigger problem now. She knows.”

“She doesn’tknow,” Dyson argues. “She just knows something is off.”

“We should kill her,” Argus says, and I have to fight not to let a gasp escape me.

“No!” Dyson responds. “I like her. Besides, she’s too pretty to die.”

There’s a pause, where they likely turn to Eryx for his command.

“Don’t kill her. I’ll watch her closely at the wedding. She won’t say anything to anyone. Dyson is right. She doesn’t even know what she knows.”

“Fine,” Argus says.

Though I’m straining for air, I force myself to wait.

“She thinks you’re the Shadow King’s bastard. Maybe you should encourage that narrative,” Dyson says.

“That’s barely better than the truth,” Argus argues.

“It’s far better than the truth,” Eryx says.

Then the door to their room opens, and when I can no longer hear their footsteps, I draw in a deep breath.

I didn’t kill him. He’s perfectly fine.

He doesn’t suspect me, but I’m not necessarily safe.

Shit.

I can’t seem to catch on to a single thought. Not with Argus’s suggestion still begging for attention.

He wanted to kill me!

When I make it to my bedroom, I lock the door, then stare at it.

I debate calling for Kyros. I would feel much better with another body in the room, but I know I wouldn’t be inviting him into my bed for the right reasons.

Besides, two men barely restrained Eryx, and likely only becausehe doesn’t want to hurt them. I have a feeling Kyros wouldn’t stand a chance against Eryx if he really wanted in here.

He ordered his men not to kill me.

That has to be good enough for now.

While I lie in bed waiting for sleep, Eryx’s sounds of pain follow me into my dreams.

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