Page 38 of Fate Unchained

Her father shook his head. “Other people will take from you. Like this vulk, what does he really want from you?” Her father’s face darkened. “He was awful close to you at the gate.”

Two pink spots appeared on Lilah’s cheeks. “Nothing like that, he was just joking around.”

Kyril leaned against the wall, letting his shoulder thud hard. Both Lilah and her father jumped and turned toward him. “I’m not much of a joker. Lilah was giving me a birthday present. A very nice one.”

She glared at him. He ignored her and sauntered over to the table. “I’m not wearing these boots.”

Lilah shot up from the table. “Fine. You’ll be the only human in all of Ulterra walking around barefoot in the snow.” She whirled around, knocking her chair over, and charged past him upstairs.

Kyril stared after her. “What’s she upset about?”

Hershel took the boots from him and set them beside another pair near the front door. “I want a word, vulk.” He nodded toward the rear door at the back of the kitchen.

Lilah’s father grabbed a pipe from the table and walked outside without waiting to see if Kyril followed him.

They stepped out onto a snug wraparound porch with a few chairs pointed at the small garden and the forest beyond. Hershel didn’t speak, only stood taking deep inhales on his pipe. Well, Kyril wasn’t about to speak first.

“I’ve met a few immortals. Never a vulk, though.” His gaze hardened. “But I’ve heard of your kind. You aren’t fond of humans, so why are you forcing my girl to work with you?”

Kyril crossed his arms and leaned against the porch railing. He didn’t need to explain himself to anyone, least of all a hunter who planned to trap him. “I’m not forcing Lilah into anything. The sooner you get used to that idea, the better.”

“Why would a vulk want my daughter?”

Well, he wanted his daughter in a lot of ways. Kyril probably shouldn’t mention the ones that included her under him, although it might be fun to see Hershel’s reaction. “Boris targeted her for a reason. She’s special. And she’s much more powerful than you give her credit for.” He knew she was working with him because she needed him, but she hadn’t needed to battle a shade. Or risk death to release them from their cage. She’d simply done it. Selflessly. He was going to return the favor and make sure she was safe. “Boris will never leave her alone. He’ll continue to use any leverage he can against her. And you’re not helping by using his gambling den and running up debt.”

Hershel winced. “I’ve always squared up with Boris.”

Kyril’s eyes narrowed. “Have you?”

Hershel turned toward the door and frowned. “Did he tell her I hadn’t?”

Kyril considered the question for a long moment. He wasn’t about to tell Hershel anything Lilah told him in private. “Would it be like Boris to tell her you were in debt when you weren’t?”

Hershel turned back. “Yes. He’s … The people here in Eroica want Boris gone, but no one dares move against him.” Hershel shook his head. “There’s something off about him.”

Kyril tilted his head. First, Lilah said Boris smelled like rotten eggs—which was the telltale scent of spawn—and now Hershel said Boris seemed strange too. “How?”

“We see the bodies in the river. This is a tough town, with some of the hardiest people in all of Ulterra, but Boris has his hand around all our throats, yet none know exactly how that happened.” He frowned. “And his reach apparently extends past Eroica.” Hershel’s hands clenched into fists. “He found Lilah in Coromesto.” Hershel gestured toward a bow mounted on the side of the house near the door. “His time here is over.”

Kyril nodded. “His time is definitely over, but I’ll take care of it. I don’t think Boris is human. And the vulk are the ones who deal with non-humans.”

Hershel stared at him for a long moment, then nodded once. “I’ve killed non-humans, but my skills are … rusty.” He pointed at the house. “If you let anything happen to her, I’ll hunt you down and make sure my arrow doesn’t miss. And keep her power away from others. No one needs to know what she can do.”

“I won’t promise anything about her power—that’s for her to decide. But I will give my life to keep her safe.” The words tumbled out, but as he said them, he knew it was true. And it wasn’t because of the rune possibly entwining their lives and deaths together. It was because he wouldn’t allow anything to hurt Lilah.

Hershel’s brows rose. “I … believe you.” He stared at Kyril another long moment, nodded once, then strode back inside.

Kyril followed him, walking through the kitchen toward the front door.

Thumping echoed through the house as Lilah charged back down the stairs. “Where are you going?”

“I spoke to Zann. He’s here in the forest, and I’m going to talk to him.”

“I’m coming with you.”

He sighed. “You should stay here with your pa.”

She jerked her chin up. “Where you go, I go.”

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