Page 21 of Vows of Sacrifice

“Dovah! If you’re awake, let me go!” I shouted curtly.

“Why? You smell so good! Yum, yum!”

Yum, yum? Would he take me for his midnight snack?

“Dovah!” I repeated. “Dovah, don’t pretend to be asleep! I know you’re awake!”

I waited a moment for him to comply, but instead, faint snoring—oh, very light—reached my ears. He really had dozed off, the brute! So I gave up the fight. His arm held me too tightly for me to escape without his cooperation, but the steady and deep rhythm of his breathing eventually lulled me to sleep.

Where had he gone during the night? What had he done? I drifted back to sleep with a multitude of unanswered questions running through my mind, and they all had the same subject: the Black Demon, Lord Dovah.

* * *

After the restlessness of the night, I felt some relief to wake up—for real—at first light. But above all, one detail made me feel better: Dovah was no longer in the bed! I hurriedly chose my clothes for the day, a black woollen skirt sewn to a bodice of the same hue. Once I’d cleaned up, dressed, and combed my hair, I took a bonnet out of my trunk.

“Put that down right away or I’ll get angry.”

Dovah. I turned to him like a child caught in the act.

“I’m a married woman. I have to cover my head, it’s customary,” I reminded him, confident in my argument.

He smiled. Then I noticed that his clothes matched mine a little too well. In fact, we were perfectly coordinated. A true married couple.

“You wore this unspeakable horror long before our union.”

“But . . .” I began.

In less time than it would have taken to say it, he closed the distance between us and snatched the bonnet out of my hand. He then waved it in my face.

“Your hair is as rare as the precious stone it imitates. It is magnificent. I never tire of admiring it, and I can hardly keep myself from touching it, lest I scare you away as you shout to anyone who will listen that this is inappropriate of me. I don’t care if it’s customary, do you hear me? It pleases me to look at it, and it is only my desires that count in my world. I don’t give a damn about the opinions of the masses!”

With that, he blew his whistle, and out of the half-open bedroom door came a big, strong-jawed hound with a black and tan coat.

“Dantalion, a gift,” declared Dovah simply, before offering the dog my embroidered bonnet, crafted with care by my sister Bhilène.

The huge dog grabbed the precious fabric and quietly set off back the way he’d come.

“Am I dreaming, or did you just give my bonnet to that dog?”

“That’s where it belongs.”

“It was a gift from my sister!” I protested.

Dovah gave me a mocking smile.

“Does she hate you that much?”

I immediately glared back at him.

“She doesn’t hate me, she loves me!”

“With a gift like this, one could easily think otherwise. Are you ready? We’re leaving. Unless you have any other bonnets to occupy my handler’s pups.”

“You’re nothing but a monster,” I sulked as I passed him.

“Yes, it seems we agreed on that point.” He paused briefly before continuing. “I’ll send some men to get your trunk.”

It was a curious sensation to feel him trailing right behind me. I felt like prey being stalked by a ferocious predator.

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