Page 39 of Sanctuary of the Shadow
Raith dragged his attention back to the present. They were approaching a large caravan with curved sides. An awning extended out from the back with colorful fabrics draped over the sides to serve as walls. A sign hung over them that read,Fortune Teller.
This was Harrow’s home, he realized. A home she was leaving behind for him.
Killing Salizar had been his final solution to stop Harrow from making this mistake. But now that that was off the table, he didn’t know what to do. Aside from climbing right back into his miserable cage and refusing to leave—something he didn’t think he had the strength to do—it seemed his only option was to give in to Harrow’s plan.
Beneath the awning, Raith had to stoop slightly to keep from hitting the canvas. There was a small table, a lounge, and a chair. Three steps led up to the caravan’s door, and the two women quickly passed through. Raith followed them.
The caravan was cramped, especially with three people. He squeezed into the corner beside the door, fearful of knocking something over.
Harrow crouched beside the bed, pulling a heavy leather bag out from beneath. When she straightened, she saw Raith and smiled. “It’s a little small for you in here, isn’t it?”
Malaikah looked too and laughed. “Here, take this ridiculously heavy bag outside while we get the second one. What’d you put in here, Harrow? I thought we agreed that you didn’t need four nightgowns.”
While Harrow defended her packing job, Raith hefted the bag and squeezed through the tiny door, happy to be free of the confined space. Closed walls were not something he enjoyed so soon after getting out of that cage.
Outside, he set the bag down and was just about to return for the second when he sensed a presence nearby. Very near and approaching rapidly. He sniffed, recognizing the scent, and growled low.
Loren.
Either the guard had awoken and alerted the human, or Loren had checked Raith’s cage himself and found it empty. What to do? Perhaps he should duck inside the caravan with Harrow and Malaikah. He could hide in the shadows, and Loren would never know he was there.
But Raith was free now, and he was angry, and hiding was for cowards.
And he wanted blood.
Loren had stood by while Salizar stabbed him with that damned staff countless times and done nothing. He deserved to pay for what he’d done.
Raith curled his hands into fists and faced the entrance to the tent.
Seconds later, the human burst through.
Jerking to a halt, Loren took one look at him and blanched, shrinking back. “Y-you…”
Raith bared his teeth.
To his credit, the human made a valiant attempt to recover his pride, straightening his spine and lifting his chin, though his hands shook. “How’d you get out?”
Raith said nothing.
“Harrow let you out, didn’t she?”
Raith growled. He didn’t like the human speaking Harrow’s name.
“Harrow!” Loren suddenly shouted.
That angered Raith. Harrow didn’t want anyone to discover them, and Loren wasn’t trying to keep his voice down. If they were caught, who knew what Salizar would do to Harrow?
Raith had agreed not to kill Salizar tonight, but he hadn’t agreed not to kill anyone else. Surely Harrow wouldn’t miss this stain?
“Where is she?” the human snapped at Raith, bravado returning full force. “What did you do to her, you son of a bitch? I’ll kill you if you touched her—”
Raith’s hand shot out and snatched the man by his neck, lifting him and then slamming him down hard onto the table.
“I am the son of no one,” Raith snarled in his face. “And you are a worm.”
He lifted his free hand and unsheathed his claws, preparing to strike—
“Raith, no!”
