The Devil's Bride by Emma S. Jackson

Author:Emma S. Jackson [Jackson, Emma S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: crooked cat / darkstroke
Published: 2020-02-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Matthew followed the silver glow of Jamie’s aura like a moth towards a candle flame. He was emptied out, and this was all he had. She was all he had. One solitary connection with a person who simply needed him to be useful to her. He could do that at least, even if he’d given up on everything else. The thought of Rowel turning his ire upon her over her choice to show him mercy – whatever she deigned to call it – robbed him of complete apathy.

There was an odd vibration, similar to the one they’d experienced in the cellar, as she led him into the courtyard, but instead of going through the back door to the kitchens she continued around the house and towards the front door, and it faded. Thank goodness; he wasn’t sure his body could withstand any more at that moment. It was getting hard to lift his feet.

The shutters glowed with lines of light from within his father’s study and spilling weakly from the hall further away. They must have removed the boards he’d hammered up to ward off the cold. Strange decision.

As they reached the steps, he watched the swirl of her emotions changing: the tightening of her focus and the black hate underpinning it all. Rain dripped off her hat and splashed on her coat. Her shoulders were straight and strong and…covered in blood. He hadn’t been able to see it before, but now they were near some light, the dark splatters were there. Thick and fresh, and not her own.

The door opened before she touched it, and the man he’d fought in his father’s study was there to greet them. He tipped his hat back and his smile was angry. “You managed to find your dog and bring it back on a leash then?”

“Don’t you get sick of stating the bloody obvious Dennis? Or is it just easier for your feeble brain to understand if you say everything slowly and clearly, out loud?”

Matthew paused on the step below her and felt his balance tipping back slightly. Her fingers tightened on his rope and tugged just enough to pull him forward again. She sighed when Dennis didn’t answer.

“Move out of the way. I need to take him to Rowel.”

Dennis stepped back, widening the doorway, but as Jamie passed he leaned forward. “He’s about ready to slit you from gut to gizzard for making this rat our problem.” He laughed. “Just a friendly warning.”

“I wouldn’t celebrate too much if I were you. If he kills us, you know who’ll have to dig the graves.” She patted him on the cheek hard, and Matthew saw the revulsion spiking through her. “I’ll do my best not to cause you extra work. Just as a friendly gesture.”

She carried on, leaving Dennis seething behind her. As Matthew passed by, Dennis booted him in the side of his knee-cap so he crumpled suddenly, a splicing pain radiating up and down his leg. Clearly his pride was still hurting over the tussle they’d had earlier.

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