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“A life for a life. It is a debt you have every right to take. I came to kill you, and you saved me. Therefore, my life is yours to take.”
“So, you are indebted to me?”
Another faint curl to his lip. “Evidently.”
“Do we have a deal of that debt? So, your life is mine, and you can not harm me unless you’ve repaid the debt?”
He arched a brow, then slowly cocked his head. Surprise flashed in his serene eyes. “I have deals and debts to be paid and that I owe in return. What’s one more?”
“You do not know why the queen wants me dead?”
“I don’t. I…”
I slid the dagger slowly to his heart. “A heart for a heart, Huntsman.Tell me.”
“I only know that your image was in the queen’s mirror, and she sent me after you. So I am to carve out your heart, put it into the wooden chest in my saddle pack, and bring it back to her. What she does with it and why she wants it, I do not know.”
A vision in a mirror? What kind of dark magic was that?
My eyes narrowed. “A magical mirror had a vision of me. Seriously?”
“It would seem so, yes.”
Ugh.I’d think about that later. Instead, I dug the blade into the edge of the huntsman’s vest, through to his tunic. “A deal on the debt?”
He sucked in a breath. “I’m dead regardless, so might as well.”
“A healer can treat your wounds. I will—”
“Not that. The queen. She’ll kill me for disobeying her.”
I leaned back, putting the dagger back in my vest. I eyed the huntsman as he tentatively put a finger to the ruined flesh at his throat. A pang of pity swept through me.
“The queen will kill you because you didn’t bring her my heart?”
“I have never failed before. So, I am unsure how the queen will take it.”
“Sounds toxic.”
His eyes lifted to mine as he braced himself on his elbows, but he chose not to answer. I shrugged. When I stood, I offered him a hand. His eyes went from my palm to my face. He slowly assessed me before gripping my hand. I assisted him to his feet. He was heavy and massive. With the loss of blood, he'd be less able to move soon.
“Let's get you on my horse before you pass out.”
I turned on my heel and exited the dark wood.
My horse was still tied up where I left him. I rubbed a hand down his nose, thankful a wolf hadn’t attacked him. I was also grateful I had at least emptied my bladder before all this had happened.
Had the huntsman seen me pee?
I heard him make his way to us, and a blush crept over my cheeks. It mattered little if he did. He’d be dead soon or in the hands of a healer and out of my life.
“Let me get you up on Tavere and find a healer.”
“I need to get my horse. At least the pack.”
I nodded. “Let's get you up while you're able, and we'll find your steed.”
He looked me over slowly, and his piercing blue-gray eyes seemed to tap into my soul as if he could read everything there. It sent a shiver across my skin and raised gooseflesh where his eyes caressed. I could tell he was assessing my value, prowess with a weapon, clothing for travel, and things of that nature, but it still felt too intimate.
