Page 19 of Hollowed

Tonight.Hisemphasis didn’t go unnoticed.

“Wereyou the one to pull me from the water?”

Thechill of the night cut like daggers through the sopping wet material of my dress.Ashiver wracked my body as the wind picked up, andIgritted my teeth to keep them from chattering.Nowthat the shock was beginning to wear off, the cold had set in.

“Yes.Younearly drowned.”Hisvoice was blunt as he stood, straightening his heavy jacket before pulling a second glove onto his other hand.Hereached out once more, looking down at me. “Wouldyou allow me to take you somewhere to warm up?Itwould be a disappointment if you were to die from exposure afterIwent to such lengths to pull you from the river.”

Ichewed on my lips, my hands tangling into the damp grass at my sides.Warmthsounded nice, butIwas not foolish enough to believe that going with a manI’djust met—no matter what mythical being he claimed to be—was an intelligent choice.

“Ifyou do not wish to accept my help, that is your decision.ThoughIfear you will not last much longer in the cold.Yourlips are already turning blue, and you’ve not stopped shivering since you woke.Wewould not want you to die.”

Mybody was hesitant whether to scream or laugh at the statement.Eventually, my anger won out, heating my blood better than any shelter could.Itwas foolish, given that theHorsemanwas even larger thanBrom, and had a menacing aura to him, despite his carefully neutral expression.Isaw steam rising from the grass, where my fingers were digging into the dirt, butIdidn’t care.

“Theysent me to die.”Iinhaled sharply through my nostrils, quelling the fire in my belly. “Ihardly see how the manner of my death would matter.”

“Somethingoffered does not always need to be accepted.”Hecast a pointed look at my hands. “Andthat will do you no good here.”

Theirreverence in his voice only spurred my temper.Thankfully, years of practice enabled me to keep my tone steady and my voice soft. “Whathave you been doing with the people offered to you?”

“Iam more than willing to have this conversation,” he said, still extending his gloved hand to me. “However,Iwould prefer it indoors, onceIam certain you will not become ill from the cold and the wet.”

“WhyshouldIgo with you?HowdoIknow you are being truthful?”

Heheld his hand out for a moment longer, his gaze heavy on my face.Finally, his hand dropped to his side, and he straightened up. “Fine, enjoy your night in the cold.Iwill collect your corpse in the morning.”

Thefire inside my veins moved from my hands to flush my neck and face.Likely, he was right.Beingwet in this crisp autumn air overnight, with no shelter from the wind and no dry clothes—even ifIcould start and sustain a flame on my own,Ilikely would be dead by morning.Reluctantly,Iswallowed my pride and cleared my throat. “Wherewill you take me?”

Hiseyebrow ticked up again. “Tomy home.”

Mybreath hitched in my throat.Hishome?Thisominous figure hadahome.Onehe planned to take me to.Hecould not possibly live nearby.SleepyHollowwas a small town, and we would have quickly noticed an outsider.Mybrows furrowed asIpictured my mental map of theHollow, trying to decipher where he could hide a home that no one had seen.Ilicked my cracked lips. “Where?”

“Closeby,” he said mysteriously, once again contradicting everythingI’dassumed.Ishook my head to clear to fuzziness once more.WaseverythingIhad been told about him a lie?Myheart raced and my breath quickened, butIfought to control my emotions, forcing my breathing to slow.Heheld his gloved hand out to me again, shaking it slightly whenIstill only looked at it. “Takeit.Iwill not hurt you.”

Icurled my fingers tighter in the grass, smoke still rising.Myfear, as much as my anger, fueled my magic now. “Imight hurt you, though.”

Wouldn’tthat be ironic?LittleKatrina, failure at everything,was the one to maim theDullahan.Mytongue felt like lead asIswallowed.

Fora moment,Iwould have sworn his eyes softened toward me, glinting in the evening light.Butas quickly asIthoughtIhad seen it, it was gone, the uninterested expression back in place.Heextended his hand further. “Youwill not hurt me.”

Hesitantly,Ireached out to him.Iheld my breath as my hand slipped into his, waiting for the cry of pain from the heat of my skin.Myfire had hurtHenryonce, when he’d tried to pull me out of a panic attack by hugging me, and while he had forgiven me,IdoubtedIwould survive the slight ifIburned theDullahan.Maybethe gloves were thicker than they appeared, or perhaps he had some magical protection, as he didn't even flinch with discomfort.Hisfingers tightened around my hand, and he pulled me to my feet with ease.

“Areyou able to walk?” he asked asIswayed slightly.

Theground spun in my vision, butIknew closing my eyes would only make it worse, soIfocused on theHorseman’sboots until the world stilled once more.

Hemoved to drop my hand, butIheld on tightly, using his grounding touch to help stop the movement of the forest.Mydizziness always passed faster with touch, butIhad so few willing to touch me, to help ground me to the steadiness of reality.ButtheDullahanhad not even blinked whenI’dkept hold of his hand, not dropping it untilIfinally felt steady on my feet. “Thankyou.”

Henodded his head and raised an eyebrow. “Canyou walk,Katrina?”

“Yes, yes,Ithink so,”Ireplied, touching the side of my head.

BromandIchabodhad betrayed me, butIcould not bring myself to think about that now.Iwould get my revenge on them, but firstIhad to face theHorsemanand go to his home.Ilooked around the ground, finding nothing but damp grass as panic rose in my throat. “Didyou find a bag with me?Whenyou pulled me from the river?”

Myjournals.Mynecklace.Tearsburned at the thought of losing the giftHenryhad given me.

Heshook his head slowly.Hisbrow furrowed as he studied me again, searching my face for answersIcould not give. “No, there was nothing with you whenIpulled you from the water.Why?Whatis missing?”

Myheart sank.Allmy writings and the only kindnessI’dever received were gone, washed away in the cold water. “Ihad a satchel of supplies and personal belongings.”

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