Free Death's Lover by Marie Hall Page A

nodded.
    “Good.” She tipped her chin and ran her hands down his back, doing something she rarely did. Heal.
    A black mist flowed from her palms into him, sealing the lacerations and stitching the flesh together. She was not of the great healer bloodline, but what she had was good enough. Within hours he’d be whole, for now, this would do. She reached up and released his bonds.
    He rubbed his wrists. Hair like a sea of fire crackled around his head.
    “Here.” She shoved a pewter amulet against his chest.
    He trapped her hand between his, yanked the chain from her cold fingers, and looked at it, then at her.
    She pulled her hand back and growled, “So that Cian does not detect you. If you are to be around his mortal, your mark will be all over her. Cian cannot detect the subterfuge. Keep it on at all times. You’ll remain cloaked by the charm within.”
    Silver eyes narrowed, a dangerous gleam of madness burned in their depths. Grinding his jaw, he slipped it over his head. Muted blue light flared from out the amulet, covering him. He shone palest blue and then the light faded, swallowed into his flesh.
    Frenzy was now undetectable to any fae. They could look at him but all they’d sense was the mark of mortality. Warm satisfaction seeped through her veins. Everything was going according to plan. There was no way she’d fail.
    Who’d suspect the treachery she was about to put into motion?
    She smiled.
    “And how am I to get close to her?” He yanked on the amulet, gruff voice full of displeasure.
    She patted his cheek, a mocking smile tilting one corner of her mouth. Impatience built inside her chest. The heaviness of budding anger settled in her gut. “Have you forgotten all your skills, Frenzy? Perhaps I was wrong in keeping you in my court so long.” He fingers trailed up the ridged scars of his bare back. “I could always find another if you don’t feel up to it.” With a deft flick of her wrist she sank one of her nails into his flesh, not deep, but enough to draw blood.
    He growled low in his throat and pulled out of her grasp. She laughed and licked the stain of blood off her nail.
    Silver eyes swirled. Frenzy was so unpredictable, so animalistic, on the verge of insane. With none of Cian’s weakness toward mortals, he was the perfect scout.
    “Wait out the night. You’ll know what to do on the morn. And for your sake, do not fail me again.” Then she turned and fled back to her chambers and the warm body of her consort.
    *  *  *
    Eve’s heart was in her throat. Fire scorched her lungs as she ran barefoot through a wild thicket of trees. She gasped as sweat poured freely down her forehead.
    The footsteps were gaining on her, crashing through the trees, swishing aside the blades of grass. Stones bit into her feet. She felt the sticky wetness and knew she bled, but she couldn’t stop. She had to keep running.
    She pushed herself harder, her arms pumping, her muscles screaming in protest.
    It was so dark, the sliver of moon the only light around for miles.
    The footsteps were close.
    An icy chill swept down her spine. She glanced behind her shoulder, ignoring the stinging pain of tree branches slapping against her cheeks.
    A dark silhouette followed, a barrel shape ripping through the woods with purpose.
    A paralyzing fear gnawed at her brain. Keep running. Don’t stop.
    She twisted around trees, jumped over fallen branches. She slipped on a pile of dead leaves, her bloody feet making it slippery and wet.
    She scrabbled for purchase, her nails clawing at the dirt until she stood upright.
    Breath on her neck.
    Oh goddess.
    Fingers grazing her back.
    She tried to run away. Hard hands clamped onto her waist, pulling her down. Eve screamed through her teeth, her ankle twisting out from under her as she fell hard and wrapped her arms around her head.
    Her heart was like the toll of bells, pounding in her throat, her head. A whispering wind riffled through the woods. Crickets chirped. Owls screeched