Air fled my lungs. The lifeless bodies of Travelers and raiders alike were strewn about the very nature that would claim them in the coming days. I knew relinquishing myself to the Hive meant I may witness gore and butchery, but I hadn’t thought it would be so immediate.
This was not like the death spoken about at Illica’s court—stories of war leagues away from the safety of the castle. Even on Hollis’s estate, where accidents like an overturned cart or barn fire happened from time to time.
This was utter carnage. Dommik’s comment was detached and casual, as if he hadn’tmurderedeveryone. Meanwhile, my gut undulated at the sight.
I bit back my nausea as I gestured to the lifeless body mere feet away. “How can you be so…so unbothered by this?”
Dommik scoffed. “What? You want me to be remorseful? You want me to grieve for him? Forthem? Trust me, they don’t deserve your remorse.” He snarled with a new round of pain brought on by his too-broad movement. His arms retracted and cradled his wound before turning his attention on me again. “You said it yourself back in the Illica keep. The world is full of horrible truths. This is one of them.”
Dommik groaned and knelt, his hand slick with blood.
I craned for a better view of his wound. “Don’t vampires heal?”
I’d heard as much, but no one I’d ever met could say if the rumors about vampires were true or not.
“Yes,” he confirmed through a pained grunt. “Well, normally.”
I lowered myself next to him and his intense gaze followed my every movement. Against my better judgment, I tore my eyes away from his exposed fangs to inspect where the Veilbreaker’s steel had torn through leather and flesh.
A strange scent wafted around us. Beyond the iron tang of his blood. Beyond the musk of his sweat and leather. Something earthy. Something poisonous.
“Bloodbane,” I whispered, placing the aroma. Its distinct black petals were rare and rumored to sprout in places where blood had been spilled.As a collector of flora, I’d found the flower loved dark, damp, private corners of the woods, but so did nefarious deeds.
Used in tandem with other herbs, bloodbane could be ingested by humans for medicinal purposes. Usually to slow a heart rate to treat a battle wound.
But apparently for vampires…
“Fuck,” he sputtered, faltering.
I winced as I sliced through the fabric of my cloak with the blade Dommik gifted me. My lack of experience with a weapon became apparent as I butchered the fabric. An uneven strip would have to suffice as a temporary bandage.
“Hold this end,” I instructed, working to wrap the cloth around his middle. Between our limited range of motion and the hisses from our injuries, we managed to apply the inadequate bandage.
He grunted an unenthusiastic ‘thank you’ as I tied the binding.
“How long will it take to heal?” I knelt beside him and cradled my wounded arm.
“Hard to say. Days, maybe,” he admitted, becoming more exasperated with each passing second.
Between labored breaths, Dommik let out a two-toned whistle and sheathed his sword. A sweat had broken out across his forehead and even in the limited light, his fair skin appeared paler now.
Dommik’s gray stallion trotted through the brush and chuffed a hello to his master.
“Hello, Asher.” The beast nudged its muzzle against Dommik’s cheek in encouragement. “I’ll be fine. Relax. I’m getting up.”
We strained to stand. My attention snagged on Dommik clutching the torn black cloak he’d loaned me.
“You’re not fine.” Concern coated my hushed tone. For his well-being, yes, but only as a means to an end. To protect my family.
“It’s nice to see you so worried about me.” A devilish grin spread across his angular jaw. He lifted his bloody hand and curled his fingers, beckoning me. “Come on, your turn.”
I bit my lip. “But…my blood…will you be able to control yourself?”
He couldn’t possibly expect me to give him any amount of trust. Not after lying about who he was.Whathe was.
Dommik let out a heavy breath and ran his tongue over a fang. The motion ignited a confusing combination of concern and curiosity. I blinked and shook away the second thought.
The pause between us lingered a little too long for my comfort. “So, no?”
