Page 106 of Ravenous

Lia had only glimpsed Dagny from afar, Torben always guarding her like a dragon over gold. As if Dagny couldn’t take care of herself. Arctos had proudly relayed to Lia the accomplishments of his warrior cousin-in-law. “Do you think the others will accept me?”Or merely tolerate me in ceremonial silence?

“There’s only one way to know.”

She asked softly, “Haveyouaccepted me?”

He didn’t answer. Instead he said, “I took your point the night of your near drowning: How can I learn to trust you if I never give you freedom to prove yourself?”

She studied him, the fire reflected in his eye. “Trusting a vampire could mean disaster.”

“I’m convinced you’re no infiltrator for Bloodreach.”

“Why? What changed?”

“Your work ethic. You rise before dawn, push past exhaustion, work until your hands bleed. Over the years, I’ve encountered evil, and I’ve never met an evil being with ironclad discipline.”

She swallowed hard.I do work hard. I love to work. Maybe I’m not creepyand wrong?

Training was going better than she’d imagined. She’d gained strength, muscle, color. She’d mastered basic sword work so well he’d advanced her to archery and close-quarter drills. She’d even joined him on a hunt.

“Why not?” he’d said. “You know the ravines, and winter is about to set in. With the way you’ve been eating, we’ll need to fuel you with extra game…” He’d trailed off, looking as though a thought had struck too close to the heart. She hadn’t asked why.

That day she’d dropped an elk with a clean arrow shot. He’d called hera born hunter, then bit his tongue as if the words tasted wrong.

Now Arctos continued, “I believe you’re honest, which means I believe you when you say you have no prey drive. And that means you deserve to be trusted by your own clan.”

The words should have comforted her. Instead, guilt scored her heart.

She parted her lips to confess—

The cave flap whipped open. A blast of snow rode in on Torben’s broad shoulders as he entered, a storm in the shape of a man.

He gave a curt nod to her, eyes troubled.

Torben was never cruel, nor openly hostile toward her. But he had no kindness in him for a vampire. She often wondered if bloodthieves had harmed him personally, leaving wounds she couldn’t see.

Lia had the same question for Arctos, but nothing could make that male shut down faster than asking him about his past.

Everyone here seemed to carry ghosts; some just wore them louder.

Torben addressed Arctos in Old Norse. “The clan’s newest member has been here for weeks. I want to know anything she’s told you about her kingdom.”

Anything?She’d revealed much to Arctos. Lia rose smoothly. “If you two need to talk, I can train outside.” She grabbed her coat and sword and stepped into the night, pretending not to understand a word.

But her pulse raced. Why hadn’t Arctos told his cousin about the enslaved Berserkers? Would Torben not wonder the same?

***

Arctos

He watched Emilia exit as if she had nothing to hide, yet he knew better. Secrets clung to her like shadow to flame.

But he had his own.

“Did you tell her about the banquet?” Torben asked, looking fatigued. He’d been stretched thin of late, seeming to see a threat in every shadow.

“I did.” Arctos stood and clasped his cousin’s forearm. Close up, the change in Torben was stark: dark circles bruised the skin beneath his eyes, and the bloodshot gleam in his gaze made him look dangerous. Unpredictable. “Our thanks to Dagny.”

Torben drew back. “Ourthanks,” he echoed with a laugh as bitter as rust. “What a difference a few weeks can make.”