Page 58 of Marked By the Dark Lord
“There is something different about you,” he said, reaching up with his good hand, an answering line of magic darting through his much larger fingers. “I just don’t know what that is yet. You’re unlike any human I’ve met.”
“Thanks … I think?”
He smiled, and I suddenly wanted to open a window to let some cooler air in. How could he be lying there, covered in blood with a horrifically broken leg, busted shoulder, and massive gouge in his stomach, andstillfill me with butterflies with just a smile?
Because he doesn’t smile like that at anyone else. Just you. With everyone else, he’s the mighty Lord Rokk. Fierce warrior. Even fiercer than a grumpy old man who hates today’s kids. But with you …
I swallowed that thought. There were things I wasn’t ready to think about or admit to myself, and that was one of them. Not yet. Maybe not ever. I didn’t know.
“What was that thing with the medallion?” I asked, feeling bold.
“Energy reserves,” he said.
There was more to it than that. I considered pushing, trying to get him to just tell me more, but I didn’t. Perhaps I should have.
“Why didn’t they do anything to heal you, then?”
“I am healing,” he said. “It’s just not instantaneous. Nobody can do that. Not from weapons that have been imbued with magic designed specifically to harm you.”
“I see. Who would do that?”
The softness left his face, replaced by the hardened features of the person everyone around me feared.
“I don’t know,” he growled, shaking his head and then wincing as he remembered how hurt it was. “But I intend to find out.”
I leaned forward, brushing away some of his hair that had gotten caught in the blood on his face. My fingers dragged across his skin, and Korr’ok inhaled sharply, looking up at me.
There was surprise on his face. Not from my actions, no. From my touch? Did he feel the same way I did when he touched me?
I caressed his cheek without thinking, more focused on testing the theory than anything else, including the consequences of my actions.
Korr’ok’s body went still. “What are you doing?” he asked cautiously.
“Learning,” I whispered, placing my hand on his chest just above the biggest cut, feeling the beat of his heart through my palm on his bare skin.
It was so strong. And fast. Was he nervous, or was it still adrenaline from the fight? I knew that was why my heart was still racing. Being so close to danger and seeing someone else get hurt while defending you was a rush. It just hadn’t calmed down yet.
“What is it you’re learning?” he asked, laying a hand on mine but not removing it.
“I … I’m not sure,” I stammered, my voice betraying me.
“Try,” he urged.
I licked my lips, the little movement drawing a lingering gaze that had allmannerof connotations that I wasn’t sure I was ready for.
Are you not ready for it? Or are you scared you’ll like it?
“I’m learning you aren’t the scary monster I assumed,” I said, forcing the words out.
“No, that’s not it,” he said. “Iama monster, Mila, and you would do well not to forget it.”
I smiled tightly. He was right. “Fine. You’re notjustthe scary monster I assumed when I first saw you. You’re more as well. I thought you mindless, full of rage. But you’re smart. There’s a person in there under the anger and, well, cruelty, I guess. And that person isn’t always an asshole.”
“Then I’m not trying hard enough,” he rumbled, one side of his face twitching.
“You don’thaveto try around me,” I said. “That’swhat you need to be learning.”
“I don’t want you to forget and assume I’m safe and cuddly,” he said, baring his teeth.
