Lakesedge (World at the Lake's Edge #1)(14)

I crouch down beside him. “I can help you.”

He lets out a harsh laugh. “You’ve certainly helped quite well, so far.”

But he sits still while I wipe the cloth over the cut. Blood spreads through the fabric and onto my fingers. I start to shake, overcome as I remember my own blood, too bright and too fast, as Arien helped me wrap my knees. The cloth slips from my trembling fingers. I try to catch it but instead put my hand clumsily on the monster’s wrist.

He looks at me, startled.

“Sorry,” I manage. “I—I just—”

“If you’re going to be squeamish about blood, maybe don’t run into the blighted woods next time.”

“I didn’t know they were blighted!”

Impatiently, he grabs the cloth and starts to bind his arm. He moves deftly, not at all awkward, despite using only one hand. As though he’s done this before.

Then I see another cut on his palm, visible through a slash in his glove. I peer closer. It looks different from the cut on his arm. The blood is darker.

When he notes me staring, he quickly folds his fingers closed over it.

I tear another strip from my dress and hold it out to him. He snatches it from me, turning his back as he wraps the cloth around his hand.

When he starts to get up, I reach out to help him, but he ignores me. He struggles to his feet, then stands for a moment, his hands against his temples as he gathers himself. He swallows heavily and takes a deep breath. “Ash damn it. You have both been one disaster after another.”

Arien lifts the torch from the ground and holds it out. “Thank you for coming back.”

“I’ll not save your sister a second time. Don’t run from me again, either of you.” He takes the torch, relights the end with a sparklight from his pocket. Then he jerks his head toward the trees. “Come on, let’s go.”

Wordlessly, we go back through the forest. The monster ahead, Arien and me close behind. Florence meets us partway with a lantern. Her eyes widen at the sight of the monster with his bloodied face and bandages on his arm and hand.

“What happened?” She reaches out, but he pushes her away.

“Never mind that. There’s a blighted grove.” He points to indicate the direction, then takes her lantern, giving her the torch in its place. “Go back and burn the trees. You’ll need to watch the fire so it doesn’t catch the whole forest.”

Florence hesitates, her hand still stretched toward him. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

He glares at her. “Yes.”

She turns with a sigh and vanishes into the trees.

We walk the rest of the way in silence. When we reach the tree line, the monster motions for Arien to go on ahead and pulls me aside.

He puts his gloved hands around the tops of my arms and leans close. My gaze goes from his dark eyes to his bloodied mouth, and I’m filled with a strange, hot feeling that isn’t quite fear. He slides his hands down my arms and holds my wrists loosely. He brushes his thumb against where my sleeve hides the bruises.

“Are you truly sorry I took you both from that cottage?” His eyes lower, and he goes on quietly. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

The rest of it echoes, unspoken, made clear by the touch of his fingers on my wrist. I won’t hurt you, not like that.

“And what about Arien? What do you have planned for him?”

He gives me a guarded look. “That’s none of your concern.”

“I don’t care if you hurt me.” My teeth clench tight at the thought of it, but I don’t pull away. After all I’ve faced from Mother to keep Arien safe, I know I could bear it if the monster was cruel to me. I could. “Just leave him alone.”

“You’ve heard enough about Lakesedge Estate to know I can’t promise you safety.”

He lets go of me and walks back into the wayside cottage without turning to see if Arien or I will follow.

He doesn’t need to. He knows that we have nowhere else to go.





Chapter Five


Lakesedge Estate is a silhouette against the night sky. The road gives way to a graveled drive, arched by an intricate iron gateway. As we pass through the gate, Florence reaches out to collect an unlit lantern hooked on the post. She lights it with her sparklight. The colorless flame glimmers through the dark as we ride toward the house.

There are hills all around, thick with trees and studded with sharp granite outcrops. It’s like a separate world, quiet and still under the secretive moonlight. I cling to the edge of the saddle as I look around, trying to see more. But it’s too dark. Everything beyond Florence’s lantern falls away to shadows.

The drive slopes downward; the house is at the very bottom. We stop, and the monster gets quickly down from our horse. He hasn’t spoken a word to me the entire way. Now he very deliberately avoids making eye contact as he helps me dismount.

I climb inelegantly from the saddle, tripping over my feet when I step onto the ground. I’m sore from the days of riding, and I have to take a moment to breathe through the burn of my muscles, knotted into unfamiliar aches.

The monster pushes past me, leading his horse away into the darkness beyond the house.

“Wait,” Florence calls after him. “Don’t you want some light?”

She takes the reins of her horse and follows him with the lantern, leaving Arien and me alone in the quiet outside the front door.