Page 53 of Sanctuary of the Shadow
“I don’t think I spoke at all unless I was forced.”
“What do you mean? How do you know that?”
He hesitated. “I don’t know.”
“Did you just remember something?”
He shook his head. A head that suddenly ached as he tried to recall. “I don’t—” He lifted a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. “It feels painful to try to remember.”
“Don’t, then.” Harrow pulled his hand from his face and threaded their fingers together. “It doesn’t matter.” She brought their joined hands up to her lips and kissed his fingers one by one.
“What if it does?”
Physically, he was much bigger and more powerful than her, and yet when she gave him that soft look or stroked her small hands down his body, it was as though she seized control over his entire being. His very soul lay curled and resting in the palm of her hand.
“We’ll figure it out,” she promised, meeting his gaze. “Together.”
He nodded. He could only hope that whatever they learned didn’t break her heart or shatter her trust in him.
Harrow lay back down and snuggled against him, breathing a contented sigh as he wrapped his arms tightly around her. As he lay there, full of more peace and contentment than he’d ever felt, a memory surfaced of the night Salizar had caught Harrow in his tent. A haunting wisp, it came as if to mar the perfect intimacy of the moment.
On the off chance that he is actually a wraith, Salizar had said,no matter how small or unlikely, would you still wish to care for such a creature?
Never, Harrow had whispered fiercely, eyes burning with sudden hatred.I would die first.
…
Against all odds, Malaikah made it back to the fairgrounds without incident. She even managed to pick up Harrow’s horse and drop it off at the stables first. Their plan seemed flimsy, but she had to believe it would work. If Salizar caught Raith again…
He would what? Force him to perform at the circus? Kill him? She supposed it wasn’t worth the risk of finding out, though she wished Harrow hadn’t thrown away her entire life for a man she’d just met with a predilection for violence.
Never taken a life, my ass.Raith was a walking nightmare. Terror on two legs.
But he did look at Harrow like she’d hung the moon, and Malaikah believed he’d cut down an entire army and then himself before he let anything hurt her. It was the only reason Mal had helped with this plan and not gone straight to Salizar once things had started to go south earlier. As abhorrent as the idea of betraying her best friend was, she would have done it if she believed for a second that Harrow was in danger.
Pushing open the window in her caravan, Malaikah scented the air, and yep, there it was. The unmistakable scent of Enchanter sweeping the grounds. Salizar had freed Loren from the cage and would likely come straight here as soon as he confirmed Harrow’s caravan was empty. He would suspect Mal’s involvement, and he’d be right.
She stripped off her clothes and stuffed them into the wardrobe, throwing her nearly naked body into bed. She wasn’t shy, and if strutting around in her underwear threw Salizar off his game, then all the better for her. Pulling the blankets up, she curled her tail around herself and shut her eyes, trying to slow her breathing.
About thirty seconds later, there was a raucous banging on her caravan door. She tensed, heart immediately racing again, but didn’t get up immediately. She was a deep sleeper, and if she’d actually been asleep, it would take a lot more than that to wake her.
Further banging sounded. She winced. Okay, that would have woken her. It sounded as though he was using the end of his staff to break the damn door down.
Tapping into her best performer skills, Malaikah dragged herself out of bed and made a great show of yawning and stretching as she trudged to the door. Yes, Salizar couldn’t see her yet, but the more she got into character now, the more believable she’d be. She opened the door, peering at the enraged man standing outside through squinted eyes.
“Where is she, Malaikah.”
Yep, he was pissed. The threat of being struck by lightning with his witch stick was so thinly veiled, little sparks were shooting out the tip. He was so tall, their eyes were level though he stood at the bottom of the steps. His piercing blue gaze could instill fear into the hearts of the bravest men.
Good thing she wasn’t a man.
“Who?” Malaikah yawned and stretched languidly, leaning suggestively against the doorframe, tail swinging lazily behind her. She wore only knickers and a bralette from one of her racier costumes.
Salizar’s jaw clenched.Affected by the exposed skin, Sal?Maybe there was a hot-blooded male in him after all. “Harrow. Where is she?”
“Isn’t she in her caravan?”
“Don’t be coy. I know you’re in on whatever she was planning.”
