Page 35 of Bite of the Gargoyle

“I suppose he can,” I say and offer him a small smile. “And just… so you’re aware… I don’t hold you responsible for the actions of your brother.”

“Thank you,” he says, looking down at the ground. “That’s perhaps more generous than you ought to be, but I appreciate it, more than you know.” Then that smile is back in place. “I’m surprised to find you being so… pleasant.”

I frown and then shrug, turning to face him squarely. “If we’re going to work together, then we need to figure out a way to get along, even if we can’t trust each other—”

“Who says wecan’ttrust each other?”

I smile. “Who says we can?”

Chapter Eleven

As we walk deeper into the forest, the sky overhead grows darker, no doubt from the thick cover of the tree branches.

I can hear the vegetation crunch underfoot and I wonder what sort of beasts we’ll encounter this night. Working alongside someone is odd—different. I’ve always worked alone and I have to admit, I prefer it that way. I feel like Derith takes too much of my attention.

“Tell me about the humans in the castle,” I say.

He looks over at me. “What about them?”

“Why are they there with you?”

“Gratitude.”

It isn’t the fullest answer so I press for more. “I’ve heard of people who want to be vampires. Who enter servitude and willingly offer their blood so that one day their ‘master’ will turn them.”

Derith shrugs. “I understand this happens. That is not the case here though. Kellen likes to make pretend every once in a while, but everyone has their little kinks.”

“You don’t intend to make them vampires?”

“Why would I inflict this living death on anyone else? Especially people who have done me no harm, only help. And, furthermore, why would they want it?”

“But you do feed on them?”

He pauses. “Yes. With their permission.”

“You seem very reluctant to explain why.”

“You picked up on that?”

I nod and continue to scan our surroundings, searching for any sign of something that wishes to do us harm. “You don’t have to tell me.”

Derith sighs. “I suppose you deserve some explanation given the circumstances.” Then he pauses for a moment and takes the lay of the land, just as I am. “I helped them.”

“Helped them?”

He nods. “They were being preyed on by a foul creature—I killed it. I did not ask anything of them, what they give me now they give freely.”

I don’t push any further. I believe him, and whatever exists between Derith and his humans, it’s not my business. Regardless, now I understand why Kellen and the others are so protective of the vampire who feeds on them. I start to feel a little guilty about the ass-kicking I gave Kellen on our first meeting (although he was the one who started it).

***

We take down a blight and two trolls before we even reach the halfway point between the castle and the village. Derith is as dexterous with a bow and arrow as he is with his fangs. I’m no slouch with the bow and arrow myself, having stolen it from him for a second to take down that second troll, but I much prefer the intimacy of the borrowed dagger. Death feels like more of an accomplishment up close, but maybe that’s just my personal opinion.

“You dropped your hair pin,” Derith says, leaning down to gather it up from the dirt.

“Thanks,” I tell him, holding out my hand, palm up, to retrieve it. He stares down at my hand, not making any motion to return the bobby blade to me.

“What is that?” he asks. “On your wrist.”

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