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“And what is it you care to know?” My question escaped me before I could think. “Why do you care what happens beyond this place when you know you can never leave?”
Unless I fail.
Marius silver brow lifted, arched above one eye. “Do not mistake my want for knowledge as caring, Jak. I simply need to know what changes. Because one day, long after you have been drained upon your final night, I will find a way out of this forsaken cage. And when I do, I will be ready for what waits beyond.”
“You are confident I will let you feed on me?” The hairs on my arms rose. That part of his curse I knew well. How he would fall into a bloodlust rage — not satisfied until every drop had been devoured from his Claim. Mother told me a story of the first year the curse was laid upon him. It was the one and only time he ever left the body on the boundary of the estate.
Hollow and empty.
He never again gave back the bodies of those he had drank from after that.
“I do not need confidence, Jak. It is inevitable.” He traced a finger down my cheek, the nail a hairbreadth away from scratching my skin. “You are the Claim. It is your duty.”
Before I could speak, the girl on the bed spluttered a cough. With his unnatural speed he left me, hovering over the girl as her fit of hacking coughs dissolved the heavy tension.
“Steady, Katharine, slowly,” Marius cooed. “I have got you.”
She pressed a hand to her chest and her coughing soon settled. And I noticed the lack of bruising that had not long covered her skin beneath her fingers.
“What happened… what? I did not leave the path.” She spoke fast, her panicked words broken and rushed.
“I know… you did not.” Marius cupped a hand to her check. “That was the fault of another.”
Her head snapped to me. I expected a growl, but her chestnut eyes only widened. There was a part of me that recognised her, now that I saw her beneath the firelight of the burning candles in the room. And that unnerved me.
I readied myself for her to tell Marius that I was a witch. That I had magic and that was how I helped her. An ancestor to the very woman that laid the curse upon him.Upon us.
But Katharine’s words shocked me. “Do not be angry with him.” Her voice was small, but full of strength for someone of her young age. “Since I am still breathing, he must have saved me. The last thing I remember is the blood hound atop me.”
Marius stared at me, eyes squinting. “He did?”
I looked to my feet, clenching my shaking hands into fists. “It was nothing.”
“Do not be shy now, it does not become of you.”
“I pushed it off her,” I forced out the lie.
“You pushed a blood hound?”
I nodded, fearful that another lie would only make it obvious. “It was crushing her so I did what I could.” I caught the gaze of Katharine who, unblinkingly, stared back at me. I did not drop her stare as I spoke on. “It was my fault she left the path after all.”
“Then I must apologise for my reaction,” Marius drawled. “Katharine is very dear to me. I merely acted in a manner I saw fit. Please give me and Katharine a moment. I fear we have much to discuss and would prefer you not to be involved.” He smiled, slyly.
I bowed my head, stepping backwards towards the door.
“Jak,” the small voice called out. Raising my chin, I regarded the young girl. Katharine. “Do not stray from the path. If you enter their domain again the blood hounds will have a vendetta against you.”
“Why?” I questioned, hand hovering over the door handle.
“Because you prevented them from a meal,” Marius answered. “One never forgets that.”
8
Ijolted awake to the slam of something on the table before me. Surprised, I kicked out, knocking myself backwards.
“Careful.” A hand gripped the back of the chair, stopping it from falling to the floor with me in it. “We would not want yet another accident. Would we?”
I came to quickly, gripping the seat as Marius rocked me back to safety. How long had I been sleeping? Long enough for dribble to have dried on my chin.
