Page 83

I pulled the sieve back out and the thing went insane. It nearly vibrated out of its skin as it tried to decide what was more important. Taking Owain’s light or getting the sieve I was holding. It snapped its head back and forth between the two before finally deciding Owain could wait.

It prowled. Down Owain’s chest. Down his legs and to the bottom of the bed and towards me. I took several slow steps back and to the right, getting the sieve further away from it but also trying to position myself so I’d be between it and Owain when it pounced.

“You want this?” I gave it a little wave. The mare followed the movement with its head, eyes glued to the sieve in quiet despair. It whined.

I moved more to the right, my arm outstretched away from the bed. The mare jumped off the bed and lunged for the sieve.

I leapt into action and slid between it and the bed. My back was to Owain and my full attention was on the mare. It wouldn’t be getting to him again. I’d do whatever I had to.

“You want it?” I asked again, and the thing let out something between a cry and a growl, swinging up to try and snatch the sieve out of my hand. I didn’t want to risk dragging this out any longer.

“Go get it.” I reached back to throw it into the far corner, but before I could, a cold, clammy hand closed around my wrist.

I looked to the side to see Owain shaking his head. He was still so pale. He was trembling, and his neck bore dark red marks that were already starting to bruise. I wanted to burn the world down because he’d been hurt when I swore I’d protect him.

“Owain,” I said, desperation clear in my voice.

“Treat it with kindness,” he said, voice raspy from the abuse as he took the sieve from my fingers. “What does this do?”

“It’s a game,” I said. “It’s supposed to make the mare count all the holes until sunrise, when it goes away.”

“Okay,” Owain said slowly. He got out of bed carefully with a grunt of pain, taking the sieve from me while I held on to him to support him. He crouched and placed the sieve gently in front of the mare while I held his elbow.

It snatched it and pulled it into its lap, hunching over it and tracing the tiny holes with clawed fingertips, completely enthralled by the task.

Owain watched with a small, sad smile on his face.

“It looks pained,” he said, compassionate and kind to the bitter end.

Something inside me snapped. The terror I had gone through, the feeling of being powerless against something hurting him, the unknown. It got to me. I broke down whatever walls I had built to keep my emotions in check.

I gripped his hand and pulled him towards the door.

“Wait…” He looked at the mare as it pulled at its own fur in frustration, going over the sieve again and again as it lost count in the darkness. “I have to…”

“No. Sunrise is in half an hour. Once the light hits, that thing is going to be gone. Bronwyn, Andrew, make sure the protective stuff is in place the moment it disappears.”

“What measures?” Bronwyn asked.

“Nail the horseshoe to the bottom of the bed,” I said. “Place overturned slippers next to the bed. Spill a pile of rice in one corner of the room. And make sure there’s a light on at all times.”

“Got it.” Bronwyn was already snapping into action.

“You.” I turned to Owain. “You and I need to talk.”

fifteen

BRAT

Ryan

“Sit down,” I said once I’d marched him into my room.

“I can…” Owain started, but I glared as harshly as I could manage while my heart was still beating wildly at the memory of him suffocating in front of me.

“I said sit down,” I repeated, and he had the gall to tilt his head and quirk that infuriating brow at me.

“You first.”