Page 57 of The Veil of Blood and Magic

Even reminding myself of this fact does little to quell the doubt sitting heavy in my stomach. I hate that I care, but I do.

“It looks like you’re about to go left,” I finally say, pointing to where the path forks left.

“And?” Zev grumbles.

“And,” I say, shaking my head. “That road borders Tamworth.”

Jagger raises his brows, impressed.

“And?” Zev asks again.

“Tamworth is Banach territory.”

Zev blinks at me.

I glance between him and Jagger. “You two are drifters. Surely you know messing with Banachs is a bad thing?” The monstrous little creatures are highly protective over their swamps and live off the flesh of any who trespassed, not to mention their razor-sharp teeth happen to be drenched in poisonous venom.

“That’s why we’re not goingthroughTamworth,” Jagger explains.

“But you still want to walk the edge of it?” I ask. “Isn’t that risky? Why not take the path through Barnesly?” I point to the path on the right.

Zev groans.

“Barnesly is at least three days out of our way,” Jagger explains.

“Not to mention there are droves of drifters who make use of the inns and taverns,” Zez says.

“So you’d rather take your chances with Banachs instead of running into your own kind?”

Zev stomps up to me, and I hate how my body perks up at the closeness. My mouth waters at the smell of his blood pumping through his veins.

“You saw what happened with the last drifter crew who spotted you. That will happen again if we pass through there. As long as we stay on the main road, we won’t provoke the Banachs.” He tilts his head, challenge in those golden eyes. “You’re not afraid of them, are you, succubus?”

I hiss at him, baring my fangs. “I’m not afraid of anything,” I lie.

I’m afraid of a great many things—being eaten by a Banach being one of them. I’ve heard stories about how they use their magic to keep you alive and breathing under water long enough to feast on your body for a month, all while you’re suffering the effects of their venom.

A shiver races down my spine, and he must read the lie on my face, because he clenches his jaw.

“Fine,” he says, shoulders dropping. “We take our chances in Barnesly.” He points to the right, and Jagger’s mouth nearly hits the road it drops so fast.

I step into Zev’s path. “No,” I say.

Zev growls again.

“We’ll go your way,” I say. There is no way in fuck I’m going to be proved wrong and run into a drifter war if we go through Barnesly. I’d rather die at the hands of a Banach than admit I was wrong.

I lead the way, walking confidently down the path toward Tamworth.

Jagger’s laughter sounds behind me before I hear him run up to walk at my side. “That was a good use of our time,” he teases.

“So eager to be rid of me that you’re worried about wasting time?” I fire right back, a smile on my lips.

“Cruel, dove,” he says. “You know I would slow time if it meant more moments with you.”

I roll my eyes, but my smile deepens. “Always the charming siren,” I say.

“You jest,” he says as we continue to walk. “But it’s not the truth. You know there are many sides to every monster. Sirens are not always charming.”

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