Page 10 of Marked By the Dark Lord
“It doesn’t matter what my name is,” I said, stalking forward, drawing a wickedly sharp dagger from under my cloak. “You should have listened.”
Lumberjack came at me first, his jaw yawning wide open. I dodged to the side, dragging my blade through the corner of his mouth and then through his neck. He collapsed, gurgling in pain. Though the wound wasn’t mortal to his kind, it was debilitating.
Bracelet came at me next, lunging with faster reflexes than I’d expected. Still nowhere near mine, however. I caught him by the throat, holding him mid-air as I sneered in contempt.
Then I sliced him in half and drove my dagger up through his chin. By then, Lumberjack was staggering back to his feet. He turned to run. Exposing his spine.
A few seconds later, I was standing up from his body, spine dangling from my fist. I breathed deeply, slowing my heart. My cock was practically tearing itself from my pants. I needed to fuck something. Anything. And soon.
I headed for the table, grabbing it and flinging it back. Maybe she would be grateful to her rescuer and—
All thoughts of that died at what I saw under the table. It wasn’t a girl like the contract had stated. It was a fuckingchild. No more than seven or eight, not the young adult I’d been led to believe.
My arousal died out in a heartbeat, replaced by simmering anger that threatened to explode then and there.
“You’re free now,” I said, pulling my hood up quickly to cover my horns.
The young brunette cowered in place, trembling as she stared at me, her doe eyes filled with terror. I bit down a snarl as I realized she was wearing nothing but a nightie. How exposed and vulnerable she must feel.
“Did they hurt you?” I asked, noting a tear in the shoulder of the gown.
“N-no,” she said, shaking her head.
I pointed at the ripped clothing. “What about that?”
She clutched at it with a hand, trying to hide it. There was a hesitation. “I did that,” she said finally, looking away.
The lie was obvious. What wasn’t waswhyshe would tell it.
“Come on,” I growled, deciding it wasn’t any of my business. “Let’s get you home, where you’ll be safe.”
To my surprise, she recoiled at that suggestion, clutching at the torn shoulder as she did. My eyes narrowed.
“I don’t want to go,” she said in a tiny voice.
I frowned at the change. She wasmoreafraid of the idea of going home than she was of me. I should be a monster to her. She was, after all,human. I should be foreign to her. Yet my glowing eyes and all the dead bodies werelessfrightening than going home.
Understanding started to fill me. Her father had beenveryeager to get her home.
“Let’s get you back to your father,” I said, testing my theory.
The girl cowered deeper into herself.
I nodded. “Did you get kidnapped?” I asked gently. “How did you end up here?”
“I ran away,” she said in that tiny childlike voice, answering without hesitation. Too trusting for the world. Far too trusting.
“I thought so,” I said gently, crouching down. “Why?”
The only response was a glance at her torn nightgown.
“I thought so,” I said again, extending a hand after quickly wiping the blood off on my cloak. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?” she asked nervously.
“To pay your father a visit,” I said darkly. “One I don’t think he’s going to enjoy. Will you be safe with your mother after?”
She girl thought about it, then nodded. I sighed. Far too typical of a story.
