Free Blackthorn [3] Blood Torn by Lindsay J Pryor Page B

the authorities that we’re in trouble.’
    ‘And they’ll force us to go on the meds,’ she said. ‘Or incarcerate us.’
    ‘Exactly,’ Jask said. ‘But a serryn going in to collect it is a whole other story. The witch will have no choice but to hand it over without question. Defying the most superior of witches is justifiably punishable by death apparently.’
    ‘ If Jask can tame her enough to co-operate, that is,’ Corbin added. ‘Because if she leaks word of any of this whilst she’s in there, it’s over for us.’
    Despite the high odds, Jask could feel the weight being lifted off Solstice’s shoulders. But it only added to the weight on his own. ‘That’s why there’s no guarantee yet.’
    ‘But if there’s hope, the pack have a right to know,’ she said.
    ‘And when I’m convinced that the solution is obtainable, I will tell them. False hope is crueller.’
    ‘Even false hope is better than no hope.’
    ‘This is my decision, Solstice.’
    Her flawless brow crumpled as she glanced with concern over at the serryn again. ‘And in the meantime you’re going to give her open access to the compound?’
    ‘Locking her in a room won’t help me get her on side.’
    ‘But this will?’
    ‘Jask knows what he’s doing,’ Corbin assured her. ‘You know that.’ He looked over his shoulder as the serryn pushed back her chair and stood, attracting all their attention. ‘Which might be a good thing as it looks like breakfast is over.’
    Jask watched the serryn skirt the periphery of the room back towards the buffet table.
    ‘Jask, I’m sorry but you can’t just let her walk around,’ Solstice declared. ‘You might be able to handle her, but think of the others.’
    The serryn stepped up to the cutlery trays and, in plain sight, removed a knife.
    Jask’s heart skipped a beat. ‘Minx,’ he hissed under his breath.
    Corbin looked across his shoulder again then back at Jask. Even his eyes turned grave for a moment. ‘You can’t guarantee she’s not going to use it, Jask.’
    ‘She’s looking for a reaction, that’s all.’
    Instead of returning to her table to finish her drink, she slipped out of the doors.
    ‘She’s also got an impulsive streak,’ Corbin reminded him. ‘I landed on my arse in those ruins because of it, remember? If you’d told me a little thing like that would shove me down a staircase, I would have laughed in your face. We still know nothing about her.’
    Jask caught a glimpse of her out the window, heading down the steps and out onto the green. ‘She knows I can easily get the knife off her.’
    ‘And what if she hides it somewhere for later?’ Solstice asked, her fair eyebrows raised again, her eyes echoing rebuke.
    ‘Shit,’ Jask hissed. He shoved his half-empty tray away, hating the fact he was going to have to respond. And that by doing so he was doing exactly what she wanted – showing he was worried, that he was acknowledging her potential.
    It was a game of kiss-chase, and he was chasing.
    He pushed back his chair and stood.
    ‘Like I said, Jask – hard work,’ Corbin declared with a wink, before plunging a chunk of bread into his mouth as Jask reluctantly left the table.
    * * *
    As soon as she’d done it, she’d wished she hadn’t. Reaching for the knife was one of her frequent do-now-and-think-later moments. She’d gain nothing from it other than get Jask’s back up, but even that seemed a better option than letting him continue to sit there so smugly – let alone with the blonde by his side.
    Sophia stepped out into the fresh morning air. The invigorating breeze swept across the quadrant, something intolerably biting still accompanying it now that the overcast sky masked any hint of sunshine that had broken through earlier.
    She took the steps down onto the path, holding down her shirt hem as the breeze caressed her thighs. She looked left towards the archway where Rone and Samson had disappeared earlier and it took only a split-second