AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I yanked a string of Araki’s magic from him and wielded it to form a bind around the Strigoi’s hands and legs. Araki grunted but still kept the Strigoi in place in mid-air.
“Where you the one who killed the Duchess?” Araki snarled at the Strigoi.
The Strigoi writhed against the magic binds and hissed at us. I held the binds tightly, my hands shaking from the Strigoi’s struggle.
“Was it another Strigoi who killed the fae? Or are there more of you taking the people of Halafarin?” Araki demanded. “Who made you?”
The Strigoi unhinged its jaw, its’ long tongue slithering like a whip. I quickly grabbed a short sword strapped on Araki’s thigh and cut the monster’s tongue.
?“So be it,” Araki growled and beheaded the Strigoi with his long sword. The Strigoi’s body combusted into ashes.
“Did you know it was a Strigoi?” I asked as I stared at the ashes.
“I had a hunch, and now it just proved me right,” Araki looked at me. He was no longer in his Dhajork form. His eyes were back to a muted violet. Before ever seeing them alight with magic, they were vibrant. Now, though, after seeing that, they were dull.
I crossed my arms, bristling, “If you thought so, then why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“That’s what a hunch is, Reilyn. Not facts,” Araki sheathed his sword. He eyed the dagger I had taken from him but didn’t demand I return it.
“Still, you could’ve still given me a warning,” I glared at him.
Araki narrowed his eyes at me, his voice cold, “Why would I do that? You stormed out on me and came here without permission.”
“What if it had managed to injure me? Have you forgotten that we are still linked, and my death equals yours?” I hissed.
Araki’s face hardened. “On the contrary, I’m constantly aware of your presence.”
“Then why let me charge into harm?” I questioned.
Something flashed in his eyes too quickly before I could determine what he was thinking or feeling. “Think Reilyn, why did I allow you to come here?”
I thought hard for a long moment and searched his face, but Araki’s composed expression offered nothing. He told me nothing.
My eyes widened as it dawned on me then my face twisted in disgust. “You thought I created it.”
Araki began to walk away. I chased after him, angry at his unspoken accusation.
“I had nothing to do with this!” I halted in front of him, forcing him to stop,
“Now I know that. If you had created it, it wouldn’t have tried to kill you,” Araki said simply.
I scoffed, “So now you’ve ruled that out of the way? Are you satisfied?”
“Not even close,” Araki bit out, “You are still an enemy. You might’ve not created it, but I wouldn’t put it past yourkind.”
“The Nightshade has nothing to do with this!” I defended.
“What if I am right? Araki challenged.
“You are wrong,” I denied vehemently. I detected no trace of the Nightshade signature magic on the Strigoi.
“Time will tell, little lamb,” Araki stepped closer to me. I stood firmly, meeting his intense eyes with a defiant tilt of my chin. “But if I’m right. I will behead every one of your kind.”
The Skin and The Tavern
Reilyn
We rode back to the palace on his horse. I didn’t ask why he hadn’t flown here and came by horse instead. I had first said I’d walk back, but Araki had argued that it was pointless to refuse when we were both heading back to the palace. His words and actions threw me into a loop, especially shortly after threatening to kill every Nightshade member. But I was tired from the fight with the Strigoi, or maybe that was an excuse for me to accept his hand to pull me up onto the horse.
