Page 40 of Sanctuary of the Shadow
Raith’s head snapped up to see Harrow bursting out of the caravan and leaping down the stairs to grip his arm in her tiny hands and attempt to pull him off the human. Malaikah appeared, saw Loren, and then ducked back inside the caravan with a curse.
Harrow’s strength was minute, and Raith could have resisted her without effort, but he allowed her to draw him away. He wasn’t really sure why. The human sucked in desperate breaths, sliding off the table to the ground and scrambling away from Raith.
Harrow rushed to the man’s side. “Are you okay?”
He wheezed, glaring at Raith with eyes full of hatred—a weakling’s wounded pride.
“Bloody Goddess damn it all to the dark Shades,” Malaikah was muttering repeatedly inside the caravan, too low for regular ears to hear.
“He…speaks.” Loren’s voice was hoarse from being strangled, and he pointed a shaking finger at Raith.
“Of course he speaks,” Harrow snapped.
“You released him? What were you thinking? That thing needs to go back in his cage before he kills someone. He would have killed me!”
“He is not a ‘thing.’ And you probably would’ve deserved it for how you treated him!”
“Don’t blame this on me. He isn’t human and can’t be trusted—”
“Nobody in this damned circus is human besides you! When are you going to understand that?”
Loren jerked out of her grip and lurched to his feet. “I’m sorry, Harrow, but I can’t let you do this.”
And he turned, ducked out of the tent, and sprinted away.
Malaikah cursed foully, poking her head out the door.
“We can’t let him get away.” Harrow’s palms covered her cheeks. “He’ll go straight to Salizar.”
“How did you not sense him coming?” Malaikah hissed at Raith. “You were out here the whole time!”
Raith realized his mistake. He had jeopardized not only Harrow’s safety but Malaikah’s as well. This was his fault and therefore his responsibility.
Decision made, he shot out from beneath the awning in a blur, caught up with Loren in several seconds, and dragged him back by the neck. He tossed the human at Harrow’s feet, awaiting instruction.
She stared at him with an open mouth.
Muttering more curses, Malaikah ducked inside the caravan once more.
The human started to rise again, so Raith flipped him over and pushed him into the dirt with a foot between his shoulder blades.
Harrow dragged her hands down her face.
“Should I kill him?” It seemed the easiest solution.
“No, Raith!” She looked horrified. “You shouldn’t kill him or anyone!”
He frowned. He really didn’t see the issue. Loren was a problem, so why not eliminate him?
“We need to—” She winced. “We need to tie him up so he can’t run to Salizar. We’ll leave him somewhere where someone will find him in the morning.”
“Don’t do this, Harrow,” the human whined from the ground. Raith pressed his foot down harder, fighting the urge to crush his spine and rib cage.
“Should I put him in my cage?”
Harrow’s eyes flicked to his, and he watched in fascination as her ire vanished to be replaced with that soft look she often gave him. It was a look he’d come to crave.
Her gaze hardened again as she looked down at Loren’s struggling form. She glanced back up at Raith and nodded fiercely. “Do it.”
