Page 89 of Ravenous

“What do we do now? I don’t expect free rein, but being cut off from everything is…hard.” The quaver in her voice clearly embarrassed her. “I heard the laughter at court earlier, and I’ve never felt so alone.”

He grasped that. But he had to be realistic. “Can you control your prey drive? Everything I know says that eventually you’ll feel the pull to bite. Would you be drawn to someone vulnerable? A child?”

“I’m different in other ways,” she said quickly. “Maybe I’ll never feel it. I don’twantto hurt anyone.”

“It’s a risk to my people. Do you know of any vampires who’ve tried to control it?”

“Some live on animal blood for a time. Most go back.” She hesitated. “I hoped to locate abstainers in Umber.”

“You’ve got an idea of that territory in your mind, but you would only find misery there, from the warlock uplands to the Faeholt border.” He scrubbed a hand down his face. “Before you plan another escape, I’ll contact friends. I’ll look for vampires that live peacefully among others.”

“And until then?” she asked. “You can’t live like this.”

“We do what our queen demands.” The words were ash.And if she demands Emilia’s head?He buried that thought.

“Even if Yrsa won’t liberate your people in Bloodreach?” she asked bluntly. “I thought once I smuggled word out about them, your clan would act. It would be easy for you to free them, just as you took me.”

“I continue to speak with the queen on the subject. Governance takes time.”

“My abduction didn’t. Nadje fed Inkletter information, and you were in my bedroom not long after.”

“Nevertheless.” The warning in his voice would have straightened any warrior under his command. Changing the subject, he said, “You can have a haven here, and I’ll advocate for you. We will find some kind of common ground.”

She nibbled her lower lip with a fang, reminding him of how risky even these concessions were. “You and I both know there’s no point pretending at marriage.”

“I’m not proposing we make it true. But I won’t publicly embarrass you again.” He held her gaze. “All I ask is that you let me know if you ever feel bloodlust. We’ll deal with it. But you don’t keep that from me.”

A long moment stretched between them. Then she nodded, small and solemn. “I’ll tell you.”

He studied her face—drained but resolute, as if she’d already weathered too many battles for one night. The fire painted her skin in trembling light.

“Good,” he said gruffly, turning away to throw another log on the flames. Sparks jumped like startled bees.

“Arctos,” she murmured. “I never meant for you to risk your life tonight. But…thank you for coming for me.”

The words landed harder than any blow. He looked back, found her gaze luminous with exhaustion and drink—and something else he couldn’t name.

“I’ll always protect you. Marriage in truth or not, I will defend you.” But as he spoke, the reality sank in like a blade; Yrsa’s wrath was an unknown.

Arctos couldn’t yet decide which fate posed more jeopardy: risking the vampire he’d once hated or defying his queen to keep her.

***

Lia

Arctos’s fears about blood drinking were well-founded—in other vampires.

But she didn’thavebloodlust. Not like them. She didn’twantit. Not like them.I always was contrary.

Tonight she’d told this Berserker her secret, and he seemed to believe her. She’d even sensed his guilt beneath that rough voice of his, remorse for his earlier harsh treatment.

“You should get some rest,” he said. “You must be exhausted.”

She was. She’d eaten nothing at her lonely supper, and the vodka—her first encounter with spirits—had gone straight to her head. The cave actually spun a bit. “Will you be returning to your…nymph?” she asked before she could stop herself. Too late to pretend she didn’t care.

“I’ll remain, in case you need something.”

Relief—sharp and unwelcome—flared. “Thank you.” She turned toward the bedroom but stopped at the threshold to find him staring at the flames with a pensive repose. “Arctos…”