Page 159 of Loreblood

Vallan said, “No trouble at all. She came willingly.”

“The illusion of choice and all that,” I pointed out, trying to give Garroway a crooked smile.

The dhampir was in a corner of the room, face covered by shadows. A wall-torch nearby made his features flicker with a deep frown, avoiding my gaze.

I cringed and rubbed the back of my neck. “I, uh, am sorry I left the Chained Sisters without telling you, Garro.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s unfortunate I can’t stay mad at you, honey badger. Because I would like to.”

My smile returned.

“I merely hope you didn’t have too much fun without me.”

My eyes reflexively moved to the barrel-chested vampire at my side. “Not at all.”

Garro hissed, stamping his foot. “Youdid! Unruly vixen.” His tone was wry, his anger fake, and it made me chuckle. It was nice to see the one man in this group who had some mirth in him. Skar and Vallan could just be so damned serious all the time.

And given Dimmon Plank’s current state, and the goals the fullbloods had, their seriousness made sense.

Vallan said, “I have told her more about us.”

“And?” Skar’s tone was clipped.

“I want to stay,” I announced. “I am ready to assist.”

Skar set down his torture knife on the table. “Quite good.” He turned, eyes matching mine, and stalked forward. “How far are you willing to go, love?”

“As far as I must,” I said, “to see the end of Olhavian tyranny and Nuhavian subjugation.” I gulped hard as he approached. Heat and danger came off him like a physical thing. His damned sinful attractiveness always did things to my insides I couldn’t control.

His thin brow perked. “You would like to free the humans of their shackles, is that it?”

I nodded firmly, meeting his gold-stained eyes. “We can help each other, Skar. I will give you Olhav, you will give me Nuhav.”

He smiled devilishly. “You make it sound so simple.”

“No, it will be ridiculously dangerous. We might fail and die. Erm . . . die more than you already are—”

He inclined his chin, giving me that one.

“—but I am done fighting against the pull I feel for you three. I think it’s fair to say you’re finished with it too. I won’t keep running. I’ve found the answers I need.”

“These answers, were they given to you by Vallan?”

I reached into my tunic. “Partly.” My hand came out with Antones’ note, which I handed to Skar. “He said we should talk to you about this. Is there truth to it?”

Skartovius read the note carefully. I watched his eyes, searching for any sign of deceit as he scanned the page. I found none—only vague concern threading his brow, and a deep frown.

“This is news to me, little temptress. I admit being distracted lately”—he glanced behind him at Dimmon—“and suppose I should’ve paid better attention. Unfortunately,youstole all my attention.”

I sighed. “Then perhaps we can make plans. Alter them to fit our needs.”

Skar nodded, stuffing the letter away in his tunic. “This does change things. I’m already getting ideas.”

“You’re nothing if not a schemer, Master,” Garroway pointed out.

“Quite right, cub.”

“Why don’t you show her your new trick?”