Page 34 of Dhampira

“I won’t tell you again,” Rasimir said. His pupils expanded, bleeding black across his irises until no trace of green remained. When he blinked again, his eyes were solid black. He’d been truthful. He drank the beings of Nocta to death so he could steal their power. He was a monster.

And he was mad.

I slid off my horse, the courtiers’ stares crawling over my skin. As I walked toward Alon on numb legs, it was worse than being collared on Cyprio’s stage. I’d nearly been stripped naked then. I might as well have been naked now, my fear and heartache laid bare. I had no idea how to steal Alon’s power, whatever it was. I was more likely to die than harness his gifts. And if I survived, what would I become?

My skirts dragged on the ground, catching twigs and leaves, but I couldn’t be bothered to lift them. Blood spattered the leaves around Alon. Tiny rivers of it trickled from the arrowheads lodged in his body. Absently, I remembered that arrow wounds didn’t bleed much on the outside. The damage was always internal.

Alon’s head was turned to the side, his eyes closed. I knelt beside him and touched his shoulder with a shaking hand.

“Alon,” I whispered.

Moss-green eyes blinked open. Recognition filled them, followed by something that might have been relief. “I can’t move, Your Highness. I think my spinal cord is severed.”

Tears burned my eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. But…could you roll me over before you feed? I’d like to see the trees.”

A tear streaked down my cheek. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Please, Your Highness. Please, it’s—”

“I will,” I said quickly. “I’ll do it.” I scrubbed my hands over my eyes and then gripped his shoulder.

“No!” When I froze, he offered a weak, apologetic smile. “You’ll have to snap the arrow shafts first, Your Highness.”

My throat burned, and my voice trembled as I said, “Of course. I’m sorry.” My hand shook as I grasped a slender shaft of wood. Gritting my teeth, I snapped it just above the arrowhead.

Alon screamed and I flinched, tears dripping from my chin. Panting, Alon nodded. “All right. Now the others.”

I snapped the arrow shaft in his buttock, then the one behind his knee. While he was still writhing, I flipped him as quickly as I could.

He panted on his back, his eyelids fluttering. Something rustled, and I stiffened. A second later, tiny green vines wove through his hair.

My breath hitched, and I watched, spellbound, as the vines threaded in and out of the light brown strands. Striations appeared on Alon’s skin, the lines almost like…

I looked at a nearby tree. When I turned my gaze back to Alon, his eyes were open and a soft smile curved his lips.

“I’m ready, Your Highness. The forest has come for me.”

I laced my fingers with his. “You’re a dryad.”

“Yes.” He closed his eyes, a sigh lifting his chest. “I never should have left.” His eyes fluttered open, and now tiny leaves tumbled through them. “Do it now, Princess, while my power is flowing.”

“I can’t,” I whispered.

“You can.” He offered another sweet smile, and he squeezed my hand. “Most people are capable of far more than they realize.”

I wasn’t. I was a fool. Greed had landed me here. Greed and an all-consuming need to reach for things better left untouched. If I hadn’t longed for the tiara in Cyprio’s cart, I wouldn’t have touched silver. If I hadn’t sneaked out of the cottage looking for the dragonstone dress, Cyprio wouldn’t have captured me. Vander wouldn’t have found me. I never would have set foot in Nocta. Never crossed Rasimir’s path.

And Alon wouldn’t be dying on the forest floor.

His brow creased. “Please, Your Highness. It hurts.”

I bent my head. The scent of his blood—sweet-smelling and tinged with something wild and green—filled my nostrils. I waited, but my fangs wouldn’t descend. The monster inside me was silent. Dormant.

The crunch of leaves brought my head up. Lorcan strode toward us, his perfect face a mask of arrogance. He stripped off his gloves as he neared, and he tossed me an irritated look as he dropped to one knee on the opposite side of Alon.

“Sorry to interrupt this touching scene, but some of us have duties to attend to.” Without preamble, Lorcan bared his fangs and plunged his head to Alon’s neck.