“There must be another explanation,”Alaric hedged.
“There is only one creature known for using wendigos and ghouls to do his dirty work. The Dark One has returned. This is the only explanation,” I growled.
“It’s not possible,”Alaric insisted, much as he did so many centuries ago.Just like when he was blinded by his own importance, convinced Pyrrhus was invincible.
I cocked a brow. “What about the ground tremors? The rise of the wendigos? The attack at Graycott, Nefarr, and now Ironwood?”
“The comet disrupts the balance of magic. That is all. The Dark One is gone. I will not run from ghosts like a coward.”
It was the fall of Pyrrhus all over again. With Alaric’s ego,the kingdom’s undoing. “I’m telling you, we need to leave this place. Now. Even if I have to drag you.”
“No,”he stated in that kingly way I’d long hated.
“No?”
“Being back in the mountain with the family hoard, and the healing waters, it has awakened something inside of me. Something I’ve missed for centuries.”
Tension clenched my shoulders. “You can’t honestly be thinking of staying here.”
“Even if it is The Dark One, he’s been underground close to a thousand years. He’ll be weak. Easily defeated.”
I barked a mocking laugh. “Youare also weak and easily defeated.”
“Not for long.”He broke into a wet hacking cough, groaning as he shifted his weight.
“Sorry. What was that? Couldn’t hear you over the sound of yourdying.”
His craggy face hardened.“I’m telling you, Thorne, she will be the one to break my curse. Here. In this place. We cannot leave. Not yet.”
Flarking Alaric and his infuriating self-absorption. “Just because you found her half-dead on Pyrrhus’s doorstep doesn’t mean she was sent here to be your savior. Did you ever stop to consider that the mark on her neck has absolutely nothing to do with you, you narcissistic prick?”
He attempted to growl, instead hacking another cough.“I recall a time when you would not dare to speak to me so.”
“Strange, because I do not.” I was the sole person in Alaric’s court who’d refused to kiss his ass. I’d no plans to start now. “Fine. Since you are determined to cling to this madness, you should know you’re not the only one to take an interest in her.”
My flame sparked at the double meaning I didn’t intend. I gritted my teeth, ignoring the flush of panic the words evoked. “The ghouls who attacked Ironwood were there for her.”
“You’re mistaken,”he said too quickly.
Flarking idiot!I lurched out of my chair, sending it careening over the stone in my haste. “Dammit, Alaric, wake up. The Dark One has returned, and for some reason, he wants Serafina. Maybe even more than you do. For what purpose, I can only guess. What I do know is that staying here puts her life at risk.”
Alaric flashed his teeth, his temper rising.“While saving mine.”His green eyes narrowed to tight slits.“Days ago, you were eager to let her die. What changed?”
“Nothing has changed.” I paced several steps, the room suddenly stifling.
His craggy brow cut an all-knowing angle across his hollow head.“She’s getting to you. Isn’t she?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Another lap. Out and back. “She’s little more than an annoying inconvenience.” Though I’d said as much dozens of times, the words tasted like ash.
Alaric’s eyes burned into my being, seeing far too much. At length, he growled,“You’ve my permission to screw her if you must.”
That he would show her such disrespect shot a fiery jolt through my veins. My emerging spikes tingled along my spine. “You are so out of line.”
“Go on. Get it out of your system,”he drawled, unmoved.“Use her and leave her. Rest assured, I will be there to pick up the pieces, to deal with the repercussions of your thoughtless carousing. Yet again.”
“Enough!” Flames painted my tongue.
“What is it? The red hair? The defiance? She reminds me a lot of you in that way.”
