Page 99 of Daughter Of The Ninth Line
Blood and Vox.
Following my nose, I found him in one of the darkened alcoves that had once been used as a place to light candles and ask favors of the Goddess. I doubted they got much use anymore—at least, not here in Fortaare.
As soon as I saw Vox, I knew something was wrong. He looked pale and sweaty, his face screwed up like he was in pain as he twisted to one side.
“Vox? What the fuck?” I hissed, hurrying deeper into the shadows. As I got closer, I knew the blood I could smell was his.
His eyes rolled up to meet mine, and he grimaced. “I’m fine, Taeme.”
“Like fuck you are. You’re bleeding.” I stepped even closer, but he put up a hand to stop me.
“Go. We shouldn’t be seen together.”
I snarled at him. “I don’t give a fuck. You’re injured.”
He just shook his head weakly. “I’ll be fine. I’ve healed from much worse. I just needed to be somewhere quiet.”
Fuck me.“Get up. I’m taking you to my room.”
He shook his head again. “Can’t. Probably bugged.”
This was bullshit. “I don’t care.” I reached out and grabbed him under his arms, pulling him to his feet. “Is there anywhere in this Goddess-forsaken city that’s private?” He hissed in pain, and I felt bad. I needed to see his injuries.
“Probably the library. Father tried to install spies in there, but they always disappear within hours,” he said weakly. I’d never heard Vox sound weak a day in his life. It was making me feel anxious.
I gripped his chin. We were similar heights, but he always seemed so much bigger, with that giant stick up his ass. When he was this vulnerable, he seemed smaller, and I hated it.
“I’m going to walk out of here, and in exactly two minutes, you’re going to walk out after me. You’re going to meet me in the library in one of the private meeting areas. If you take more than two minutes, I’m going to come back and find you, and when I do, I won’t give a fuck who sees. Understand?”
Seeing his glare actually made me feel better. “Even injured, I could kick your ass, Taeme.”
Grinning, I just pointed my finger in his face. “Two minutes. I’m counting. One… Two… Three…” Hurrying down the hall, I didn’t have time to appreciate the intricately carved doorways, similar to the ones back at Boellium. I didn’t stop to look for the Librarian, just moved off to the side to one of the many soundproof rooms.
And then I waited.
Thirty seconds.
Sixty seconds.
Ninety seconds.
He still hadn’t appeared.
I was getting ready to stand and go back into the hall to fetch that stubborn fucker when the door opened and he slid inside. He looked even worse; his skin had turned gray, his lips now thin and tight with pain.
“Show me where you’re injured.” It wasn’t a question. I wasn’t sure why I needed to see, but I knew Avalon would be upset if anything happened to this asshole. That’s why I cared. The only reason.
Vox rolled his eyes. “No. I’m okay, and its none of your fucking business.”
Stepping closer to him, I grabbed his cheeks, squeezing his face between my palms. “Despite how I feel about youpersonally, we’re all in this together. Avalon is my Soul Tie, and I’ll protect her at any cost. And for some unfathomable reason, she really likes you, which means you’re mine to protect and care for too—at least until whatever you guys have runs its course. Now show me, or I swear I’ll strip your clothes off and find it myself.”
There was a flash of something in Vox’s eyes, but it was quickly chased away by pain. He unbuttoned his shirt agonizingly slowly, then allowed the silky fabric to fall from his shoulders. He held my gaze defiantly, but I walked around him, checking for the wounds I could smell so easily.
I didn’t have to look hard. There had to be fifty raised welts on his back. Some were so vicious, they’d split the skin and were still gently oozing blood.
It was a punishment the Third Line would give to its worst betrayer, not to its most prized Heir.
“Who the fuckdidthis?” Even as I said it, I knew. There were only two people in all of Ebrus who could do this to Vox Vylan. His father and his brother.
