Martyr's Promise by Elizabeth Hunter

Author:Elizabeth Hunter [Hunter, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-941674-69-7
Publisher: Elizabeth Hunter

16

They spent the day in dugout shelters around the mouth of Rocky Creek. Carwyn and Brigid were the last to hide, taking their time to make sure that all the rest of the hunting party was well concealed and nothing was visible from the surface.

They’d reached the mouth of the creek with an hour of darkness to spare, which gave them just enough time to excavate shelters, store weapons, and generally make themselves invisible to any humans passing by.

Brigid lay in the small refuge Carwyn had dug, tucked against the vampire with the biggest heart she’d ever known. “You’re thinking about Summer, aren’t you?”

“She’s not asleep right now,” he said. “Or I doubt it. I doubt sleep is very comforting to her.”

“Do you think she’s still at the farm?”

“Yes. That’s why we’re heading upstream.”

“Why?”

“Because I think if she were free, she’d have found help by now. It’s been two full nights and two days since Daniel was found. If she’d made it out, she’d have gotten back to town in that time.”

Brigid curled closer into his chest. “I was nothing like that when I was human.”

“What do you mean? You are one of the most competent women I’ve ever known. And I’ve known quite a few.”

She smiled. “I could find my way in Dublin, tell you where to find criminal elements and where the safe neck of the woods were. I knew the city, but surviving in the wild?” She shook her head. “I’d have been bear breakfast out here as a human.”

“You’d have learned if that’s what your native environment was,” Carwyn said. “Summer’s family told her that wilderness survival was important, so she learned it.”

“My family taught me that knowing ancient languages was important, but I didn’t learn those, Carwyn. Your argument might have a few holes.”

His arms came around her and snugged her to his chest. “You’d make it. If you had to? You’d figure it out. I have no doubt at all.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re a survivor, Brigid Connor. That’s what you do.”

When he held her close, pressed her skin to the roughness of his clothes or the fine curling hairs along his skin, she felt the fire that lived in her retreat. Carwyn somehow knew when she was most on edge, and he used that knowledge to defuse her. Many nights she felt like she was walking the edge of explosion.

Not unlike the giant ticking time bomb Ivan presented.

She felt sleep starting to reach for her, but she fought it. “Ivan. If Baojia kills him—”

“He’s rogue. No one would blame him. Even Ivan’s sire would struggle to find a justification to avenge him.”

“But that could happen? Does anyone know who his sire is?”

“No idea at all. And as I said, when it comes to the unwritten rules of vampire politics, Ivan is already dead. Operating in foreign territory without the permission of the vampire in charge isn’t done, Brigid. Not without consequences. The mere fact that he’s here and doing anything challenges Katya’s leadership. She has to see him dead, or she’ll be seen as weak.

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