She pressed her lips together, too frightened of the consequences to tell him the truth. A loud shout came from the top of the riverbank. Saturnino kept looking at her as a group of riders veered for them. They dismounted at the top of the hill, and then scrambled down the sloping ground, slipping as they went.
Marco marched ahead of the group; his lips twisted in a feral scowl. He drew his sword and pointed it at Ravenna. “Give the bitch to me, fratello.”
Capitolo Trenta
Marco took a threatening step toward her, gripping the handle of his sword so tightly his knuckles turned white. Ravenna stood on shaking legs, her gown dripping river water. “Before you kill me, will you see to your brother?”
Marco flicked Saturnino a dismissive glance. “He’s fine. But you won’t be if you don’t confess why you shot him.”
Ravenna held up her hand to ward him off. “I didn’t shoot him.”
He took a menacing step forward. “Then who did?”
“A bandit,” she said, thinking quickly. “He took off.”
“A bandit,” Marco repeated, his lips downturned. “I don’t believe you.”
Ravenna smothered her frustration. She knew any outburst from her would not help Saturnino, who was bleeding that odd blue-silver blood all over the wet dirt. His face had lost all color, and it was already moon-pale to begin with. He straightened onto his knees and began laughing, a low wheezing gasp that made her jaw tighten. Blood dribbled from his mouth. Saturnino swiped it away with his embroidered sleeve, his shoulders shaking with silent mirth.
His brother rolled his eyes and motioned for one of his guards to step forward. “Yank the arrows out.”
The burliest of the set darted forward and she intercepted him. “I’ll do it,” Ravenna said. Without waiting for Marco’s permission, she kneeled on the damp earth. She dropped her voice to a whisper for Saturnino alone. “This will hurt.”
Saturnino let out one last humorless chuckle. “Do you know what you’re doing?” he inquired politely.
“No,” Ravenna said. “But at least I won’tyankthem out.”
He looked at her. There was a subtle note of warmth in the dark pool of his eyes. “I think this will be more unpleasant for you, signorina.”
Ravenna gripped the first shaft. “Only one way to find out.”
“Will youfinish it?” Marco bit off.
She inhaled, wishing her hands were steadier, and then freed the bloodied arrow. Saturnino flinched and gave a single guttural groan. Ravenna’s stomach twisted at the sound. More blood spilled from the gaping hole; she had to avert her gaze from the sight. The metallic scent filled her nose and her eyes watered. She braced herself and returned her attention to his back. The area would have to be cleaned with alcohol, and she would have to stop the bleeding—
She froze.
Saturnino’s injury was stitching itself back together. Healing slowly, so slowly, before her eyes. Quickly, she drew out the second arrow, and then the third, grimacing when he let out another low moan, the sound of a wounded animal. Again, his eternal body worked its own peculiar brand of magic. The chasm of their differences had never been clearer to her. He was an immortal being, she was a single breath in his existence. A mere sentence in the story of his life. Her fingers trembled as she traced his skin.
He shivered beneath her touch.
Then he glanced at her from over his shoulder and winked at her.
Marco strode forward and dragged Ravenna to her feet. She struggled against him, punching his arm with her fist. She might as well have attacked the palazzo front doors. He pulled her toward his horse, his fingers digging into her sleeve.
“I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment,” Marco hissed. “I bet it was you who hired a bandit to shoot him. Filthy traitor.”
“Give her to me.”
Ravenna looked back at Saturnino. He was kneeling, rolling his shoulders as if readying himself for a brawl. His cheeks wereno longer deathly pale, his body no longer shook with tremors. He stretched his neck one way and then the other.
Marco paused halfway to his steed, Ravenna tucked against his brute strength. Her arm ached from his tight grip on her. “What did you say?”
“You know what I said.”
“This bitch hired an assassin to kill you.”
Saturnino flicked Ravenna a glance. “Unlikely.”
