Page 200 of Eldritch
Gods, was it possible to love someone too much? So much the mere thought of losing them stirred panic in the heart? Felt like a suffocating fist around the chest?
I reached for his arm and his muscles tensed in my grasp. A reminder that he wasn’t a man who loved easily. Or trusted easily.
When I released him, he quickly snatched up my wrist, tugging me close and slanted his lips over mine in a kiss that felt too much like an apology. His brow furrowed and he lowered his gaze, our foreheads pressed together. “I’ll not lie, my state of mind has become unpredictable at times, and I can’t often discern between what’s real and what isn’t. Were we not so far into this journey, I might’ve insisted you stay behind.”
“And I’d insist that you worry about yourself.” I gripped the nape of his neck and kissed his cheek. “As for when you slip, I told you I’d pull you back into reality when the lines begin to blur. That’s what I’m doing.”
A muscle in his jaw ticced and he turned away, staring out over the trees. “You haven’t grown weary of this exhausting waltz?” For as cold and detached as he could be, the rare flicker of vulnerability never failed to yank at my heart.
“We’re nearly there. We will find the vivicantem.”
“Yes, and it will ensure that I am strong. Strong enough to deceive those around me. But what happens when these dark thoughts become stronger than vivicantem?”
“How do you overcome an adversary? You fight them.”
“And if I become a danger to those I love?”
“Then, we fight that, as well.” I slid my hand into his and kissed the back of his knuckles.
His fingers curled into mine, and he pulled my arm into his chest, clutching me like I might try to escape. “Every time I think I could be merciful and let you go, spare you of all this, you remind me why that will never happen.”
Smiling, I pushed up onto my toes and kissed him. “It’s as I’ve told you before. You need to cast those silly notions aside.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
KAZHIMYR
Kazhimyr pushed to his feet for the first time since he’d woken up in the ale-rotted tavern two days ago. While he still suffered a slight weakness in his gait, he could at least stay upright without tumbling to his ass.
“No pain?” Ravezio asked, pressing against the spot on his calf where he’d been bitten, while behind him, Dravien examined his every move. Ravezio shifted Kazhimyr’s leg toward the moonlight coming in through the window.
“Nothing.”
“Good. We’re leaving tonight. I can’t stand another minute in this hell hole.” Dravien strode across the room to the door. For two days, he’d paced like a caged animal, hardly bothering to eat, convinced that General Loyce would somehow sniff him out. Seemed he’d been counting down the seconds until Kazhimyr would be strong enough to walk. “You two are going to distract the guards. I’ll steal two of their horses, and we’ll meet up where we discussed.”
The plan was to rendezvous just outside of town, in the small stretch of woods along the road toward Costelwick. In the event Loyce might’ve come after Zevander herself, it’d put them a half-day’s ride ahead of her. And, of course, leaving under the cover of night was safer, for Dravien especially.
Dravien nodded toward Ravezio. “Check the guards again. Make sure there are only two watching the horses.”
Ravezio strode toward the window, pressing his back to the wall as he peered downward. “Two. Saw three of the bastards and the Bellatryx head toward the brothel. Barmaid downstairs told me someone got killed there tonight.”
“Did she say who?” Kazhimyr asked, strapping his blades to his chest.
“Sexsell. Flammapul.”
“Like those in The Hovel.” It was uncommon to hear about flammellians in the more affluent towns and villages.
“You think the woman they’re after might be the one who killed them?” Seemed Ravezio was thinking the same thing.
“Seems an odd coincidence. Any word on whether the Solassions tracked her down?”
“Haven’t heard.” Ravezio slipped his sword into the scabbard at his back.
With his hand on the knob, Dravien exhaled a long breath and cracked open the bedroom door, tilting his head as if surveying the tavern below. “All townsfolk on the main floor.” He turned his head the other way, toward where General Loyce’s bedroom sat at the end of the corridor. “Her door remains closed, as usual. Let’s go now.”
Dravien raised the hood of his cloak and exited the room first, swiftly making his way down the staircase to the first level. Ravezio trailed after him, with Kazhimyr hobbling behind.
Once outside, Dravien turned right, heading toward the center of town, while Ravezio and Kazhimyr flanked left toward the guards and horses.
