‘Is that all?’I slowly slid the cross closer to him.
‘What do you mean is that—Stop.Stop.Whatever you’re doing now, stop it.’
I snatched it back, then hastily threw it back into the bag.Raleigh slumped in his seat, trembling ever so slightly.
‘Are you all right?’
‘What was that?’
‘The crucifix I brought back from Orlfen.’
Raleigh made a disgusted noise.‘Youkeptthat?’
‘I was feeling devout,’ I said blandly.The wooden one still lay in plain sight on the table, not bothering Raleigh at all.Faith, I’d read, was the guiding power behind a vampire’s aversion to religious artefacts.The religion itself didn’t matter so long as the icon had been in the presence of real faith, and Orlfen’s crucifix had stood on its altar for decades, if not centuries.Silver was equally repellent, so it was no surprise the effects were so potent when the two were combined.
‘I’m going to touch you now,’ I said in warning.Raleigh tensed.‘Not with the silver,’ I added, and while he nodded, he still looked ready to flee at any moment.‘Just your hand.’He looked marginally more relaxed then, though he still gave off the impression of a man forced to sit on needles.‘I’ll start with our control.’I gently laid two fingers on the back of his hand.He jerked back as if burnt, then, realising he wasn’t in any pain, slowly returned his hand to the table.‘It’s just me,’ I said this time, and laid my hand over his.His skin was cool, and while I expected to be able to feel the absence of his pulse, his battling muscles trying to relax kept him in constant motion.
‘I don—’ His lips formed the words, but he cut himself off.I covered the cross on the table with my other hand, watching fora change in his reaction.Nothing.I lifted my fingers from his skin.His muscles unfurled, tension lifting.
Realisation struck with a winding blow.The cross wasn’t the issue at all.I snatched my hand away.‘Take the blindfold off.We’ll stop.’
‘You don’t have to worry about me.’His voice was tiny, unconvincing.
‘You can sit there blind all night for all I care, but I’m not continuing.Take it off.’
Raleigh hesitated a beat longer, then untied the blindfold.With perfect precision he very slowly and neatly folded it before setting it on the table.His lashes glistened in the candlelight.Then he noticed the wooden cross lying on the table and leapt out of his seat.‘How long has that been there?’
‘Does it affect you?’
‘Obviously.’
‘Did it before?Or only when you noticed it?’
Raleigh started to reply as though the answer was obvious, then stopped himself.‘How long has it been there?’
‘The whole time.’I placed it back inside its cloth bag and drew the string, watching for Raleigh’s reaction.As soon as it was out of sight he settled back into his seat.‘My next test was to touch you with it to see if it would have a physical impact if you didn’t know it was there.We can try another time.’
Raleigh wouldn’t meet my eye.‘I probably look ridiculous to you, don’t I?’His voice dripped with scorn.‘After everything I’ve put you through, I can’t even handle you touching my hand with my eyes closed.’
I let his words sit for a moment.‘You don’t look ridiculous,’ I said at last.‘I should have warned you about the cross.’
‘It’s not the …’ Raleigh trailed off.‘What were you hoping to achieve?’
‘I thought if we could narrow down your weaknesses we might be able to dilute the effect somehow.If we gradually built up your resistance to each weakness, maybe it would dissolve the curse.’It was a good idea in theory, but it would take months, if not years, to work, if it worked at all.And I didn’t have years.I barely had months.
‘It feels more like you’re learning how to kill me.’
I made myself smile.‘I’d never deny Moira that pleasure.’
Raleigh’s lips hooked microscopically.I can’t begin to describe my relief.He was okay.I hadn’t ruined what little had grown between us.‘She’d have to fight Enrique for the honour,’ he said.I could tell the smile that came next was forced, but it meant the world to me that he made the effort.‘It’s a clever idea.We can try again if you like.’He twisted the blindfold.‘I could close my eyes instead.’
‘That will work,’ I said as gently as I dared.‘If you need to open them at any point, just tell me first.We’ll do this on your terms.’
He looked more moved than he had any business being.There was something more to this, something he hadn’t told me.I hoped that one day he might trust me enough to share it.
Sixteen
IMADE NO ATTEMPT TOwarn Raleigh that the anniversary of my mother’s death was approaching, nor did he acknowledge it himself, thankfully.It had been fifteen years.Fifteen years since I dragged her to the festival.Fifteen years since my recklessness had dragged Raleigh’s attention to her.
