Page 34 of In Death's Hands
“Oh, trust me, he’ll understand.”
“If he ever wakes up!” I shout.
The taller man in the back, who’s stayed quiet up till now, chuckles. “He’ll wake up.” He gives a nod to the other man, who steps forward, entirely ignoring how close my dagger is to his throat, and before I can so much as think about swinging the weapon, he pulls the knife out of Nathan’s back.
I’m left speechless, mouth opening and closing in shock. My own dagger clatters to the ground as I scramble to Nathan’s body, sure I’m going to find a bleeding wound and witness his last breaths.
But when I look, there is no blood. I frantically pull his shirt up and… find nothing. No blood, no wound. Not. A. Thing.
A strange sound comes out of me. What—Did… did I dream it all?
I hear a groan and Nathan moves slightly. A sob breaks out of me, and I think that maybe Nathan was right and the shock he’s been waiting for is finally happening. Tears streak down my cheeks as he gets up. Slowly and groaning all the way, butalive.
His eyes are full of confusion when they lock with mine. I see exactly when everything comes back to him. His eyes widen and shadows swirl at his feet. In less time than it takes for me to blink, he’s standing in front of me, my forgotten dagger in his hand as he growls at the two men still looking entirely too pleased with themselves.
“What did you two fucks do?”
The smaller man grins as he answers, “Only what I promised long ago.”
Nathan’s shadows, which were growing and slithering forward, seem to pause at that. “I told you there was nothing I could do.” His voice is low, somehow heavy with regret. So heavy that the dagger lowers slowly, as if he accepts this nonsense.
I’m about to push past him to do something I’m sure is stupid when I’m once again stopped in my tracks as the taller man drawls, “Enough of this, we came for the girl you promised.”
Cold wraps itself around me. What did Nathando?
“Thalnus,” says Nathan, his voice almost as cold as the dread inside me. “What have I told you about jumping to conclusions?”
“To do it more because it gets me what I want?” The Black man, Thalnus, tries to sound playful, but the effect is ruined by the lack of warmth in his tone.
“That it’ll get you killed.”
“Oh, if I had a penny… as they say here. Now get to the point, I am needed elsewhere.”
“Really? Decided to get off your ass and be useful for once?” asks Nathan, animosity dripping from each word.
“You forget yourself, boy!”
“No,youforget just who you’re speaking to.”
Their anger is palpable, the cold seeping from the shadows almost unbearable. There clearly is no love lost between these two, but I wonder what the point of all this posturing is. Is it me? Am I a bargaining chip in the gods’ search for their memories?
I was wondering why Nathan seems to care so much about my well-being. Maybe it’s as simple as him needing me in some way. But do I truly believe him capable of using me like this?
I don’t. And I still don’t know why.
What I’m sure of, however, is that I can’t stay hidden behind Nathan’s large frame. I will face this as I’ve faced everything else in my life: head on.
As I come into view, Thalnus and the smaller guy look at me with expressions I don’t understand.
“You did tell me there was a girl I’d be interested in,” says Thalnus, “and I’d say you were right.” A shiver runs down my spine as I feel his blue eyes—darker than my own—take me in fully. “Liv,” he adds, as if tasting my name.
Despite the fear strangling me, I let my eyes travel all over the two men. Thalnus looks as dangerous as he is gorgeous. Close-cropped dark hair, high cheekbones, lips pressed together in a sharp line. He’s oozing strength and confidence. When his eyes settle on my feet, I stop fidgeting. I cannot show weakness. It’s like a long-forgotten instinct blooming once again in my heart. I don’t know where it’s coming from, but for once I trust it enough to listen closely.
The smaller man seems perfectly at ease standing between Nathan and Thalnus, slightly to the side as if monitoring everyone in this windy cave. I haven’t had much time to take in my surroundings, but there isn’t much to see anyway except dark, stony walls.
I exhale slowly, evenly, thanking myself for all the breathing exercises I’ve done over the years.
“Thalnus,” I say, matching his tone. His answering smile has my heart tightening in my chest.
