Page 66 of Warlord's Mate
He grabbed her hair, pulling lightly on it until she lowered her head. “Is Jorrick here?”
She barely heard him. His voice was scratchy from either not using it or some injury she couldn’t see. “No, he was out on a hunting trip when the camp was attacked.” She told him of the carnage done by Allok’s men. “There’s nothing left. It was on fire when we were taken away.”
Aris’s jaw clenched. “At least Jorrick is alive.” He glanced at Allok out of the corner of his eye. “Has he harmed you?”
“No.” Allok hadn’t done much other than scare her shitless and torture others to get her to do his bidding but physically, he hadn’t touched her. “Not yet, he hasn’t.”
“Then continue doing what you have been until Jorrick arrives. He will come for you.”
“I’ve been hoping the same thing but what men weren’t killed were brought here with me. There weren’t enough men with him on the hunt to attack this camp and win.” She’d been wishing for the same thing since she was tied to the others and marched through the forest. “There’s no reason for him to come.”
Aris grabbed her hand and gave it a light squeeze. “He’ll come for you.” The look on her face must have told him she thought otherwise. “Trust in what I say.” The corner of his mouth tilted up into a half smile. “I smell his scent on you and that fresh bite on your neck says he’s claimed you multiple times. His hatred for Allok is intense but if he’s marked you, he’ll not let another have you. He’ll come.”
He lowered his head to the ground and closed his eyes. The rhino-looking alien returned with a bladder of water and thrust it at her.
Allok was still watching her as she gave Aris a long drink, then started to bathe his face and neck, then poured a good bit on the bloody stump where his hand used to be.
“I trust you’ll give me what I want when you are finished?”
Marcy nodded. “I said I would.”
Long minutes later, Allok walked back to the light of the fire in camp. Marcy exhaled a breath, relief like a living thing sliding off her shoulders.
“What is it he wants from you?”
“Magic.”
“For what?”
“The usual. Kill his enemies and conquer the world.”
Aris smiled. “You have a way of saying mundane things in an amusing way. There’s no wonder Jorrick was taken with you,e’mahn neok.”
She stilled at the words. “What does that mean? Jorrick calls me that a lot but my translator won’t translate it.”
“Well, the way Jorrick says it, it would be an endearment.”
Heat rushed to her face. “An endearment?”
He nodded. “The literal translation is my little red one, but if he’s said it to you more than once, it’s meant as an endearment.”
So, Jorrick was more or less calling her sweetheart or honey? A pleasant warmth rushed through her body while wiping the rest of the blood away from Aris’s arm. Someone by the fire yelled. They both glanced that way. Marcy sighed. “I’ve thought since the day Jorrick took me from the arena that I’d die at his hands but it looks like it’ll be that crazy one over there who finally does me in.” She glanced up at Aris before looking away. “Does Allok like to torture all his victims or will he just kill me quickly?”
“Why not use your power to end him instead of his enemies?”
“Because despite popular belief, magic isn’t something I possess. Why will no one believe me when I say that?” She shook her head and finished cleaning the torn flesh at his wrist.
Aris grabbed her hand and squeeze hard. He motioned to the rhino-looking alien who was watching whatever depravity was taking place near the central fire. Aris grabbed the back of her head and leaned up, whispering into her ear, “Run. Run now and don’t look back.”
Run?She puzzled over his words a moment, then realized what he meant. The guard wasn’t paying them any attention. His back was to them. Aris squeezed her hand again when she sat there doing nothing before he gave her a slight nudge and pointed to the woods behind them with a nod of his head. He mouthed the word run again and gave her another push.
She leaned down so he was the only one to hear her say, “Are you crazy?”
“No. This may be your only chance. If you truly do not possess magic, then run like your life depends on it because more than likely, it does. When you do not give him what he wants, he will make you suffer for it.” His amber eyes narrowed, his mouth forming a harsh slash across his face. “Now go.”
“They’ll catch me.”
“Would you rather die trying to escape or sit here and be slaughtered without lifting a finger?”