I nod. “The nightwalker mentioned it would fade in a few days, so I am not too worried about it anymore.”
“Does it?” he says, his brow furrowing.
I tilt my head to the side, hook my finger around my collar, and tug it to expose my shoulder and upper back, revealing the black, spined snake entwined with moonflowers.
A shallow breath escapes him, and bright blue eyes dilate, swallowing the colour until there is overwhelming darkness. “I didn’t know they weremoonflowers.”
“You’ve seen them before,” I say, covering myself. “But I don’t like talking about them.”
His eyes settle on mine. “Another thing you will tell me when we’re out of here?”
“Yes.”Never.
Another sharp sigh. “Fuck me, Saya.”
“I expected those words in a different setting, but here we are. What is wrong with my tattoo?”
He moves closer, his hands cradling my cheeks, and our foreheads touching. “When we get out of here, let’s go far away. Fuck the settlement and fuck Naylen. You, Cole and I will carve out our own piece of paradise.”
“Why the change of heart?”
His fingers twitch. “I’d prefer not to have a nightwalker lurking around you in Naylen. Besides, most settlements expect something in return for shelter. I thought I could take on most of the hard work for us, but,”—Jax weaves his fingers into my hair—“I’d rather we set our own rules, you know? Fuck society.”
I don’t answer, my mind still reeling.
“Saya…” Hardened fingers brush against my cheeks, tilting my head up so I’m gazing into his eyes. “You’re still mine, aren’t you?”
His eyes narrow for a fleeting moment, and a sharpness flares in my nostrils. My mind goes to the letter tucked in my gown, and the nightwalker who saved me.
Jax isn’t giving me room for honesty.
He wants control.
“Of course,” I say, holding back the quaver threatening my voice. “Where will we go?”
“Anywhere but here. Anywhere away from thosebloodsuckersand slayers. Maybe we can find a glider or a helicopter and fly over to one of the islands.” He leans up and kisses my temple while he runs his fingers through my hair. “I heard Vennisle has found a way to keep nightwalkers out. Some new tech they got from Sylvar.”
Perfect…
“Where’s Vennisle?”
“An island off the coast of Grenvile.” Jax leans back, places his hands over mine and squeezes tightly. “We can be explorers.”
With a forced smile, I let him indulge his completely unrealistic plans. “The nightwalker told me something else, Jax. I know you are sceptical, but he—it—said the Hellsgate will open somewhere in Darkovish soon.”
Jax shakes his head. “The nightwalker is lying. There’s no such thing. More people would know about it if every decade the moon turned red and creatures crawled out of the fucking ground.”
An edge seeps into my tone when I say, “And what about the creature I saw?”
Jax lifts his chin, his hands tightening around mine. “What else did the nightwalker say?”
I frown. “Itsaid that if I drank its blood, it would be able to help me when the Hellsgate opens.”
Jax shakes my hands once and says, “See! Nightwalkers are known for their trickery. They are an addiction until you are wholly lured into their trap. I bet it’s looking for a spawn.”
“A spawn?”
“Nightwalkers find someone they’re interested in and entice them until they are turned and become their spawn. After that, you won’t have any autonomy. You will be at the mercy of its wants and desires.” He cocks his head to the side, staring daggers at me. “You didn’t drink its blood, did you?”
