Even after two thousand years those words resonated through him. As did the pitiless look on her face as she turned and left him to the soldiers, who had gleefully carried out her order…
"You are worthless, slave. Good for nothing at all. You're not even worth the scraps it takes to keep you alive. If we're lucky mayhap you'll die and save us the winter rations for a slave who has some value."
Zarek growled as his memories took hold of him. Unable to deal with the pain they caused, he lashed out with his powers. Every lightbulb in the den shattered, the fire roared in the hearth, narrowly missing Sasha, who had been lying before it. Pictures fell from the walls.
All he wanted was for the pain to stop…
Astrid screamed as her ears were assailed with foreign sounds. "Sasha, what's happening?"
"The bastard tried to kill me."
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"How?"
"He shot a fireball from the fireplace into my hindquarters. Man, my fur is singed. He's having a fit of some kind and using his powers."
"Zarek?"
The entire cabin shook with such ferocity that she half-expected it to burst apart.
"Zarek!"
Total silence descended.
All Astrid could hear was her heart pounding.
"What's happening?" she asked Sasha.
"I don't know. The fire went out and I can't see anything. It's totally black. He shattered the lights ."
"Zarek?" she tried again.
Again no one answered. Her panic tripled. He could kill her and neither she nor Sasha would see him coming.
He could do anything to her.
"Why did you save me?"
She jumped at the sound of his voice right beside her ear as she sat on the couch. He was so close to her that she could feel his warm breath on her skin.
"You were hurt."
"How did you know I was hurt?"
"I didn't until after I got you inside. I… I thought you might be drunk."
"Only an absolute idiot would bring a strange man into her home when she's blind and lives alone. You don't strike me as an idiot."
She swallowed. He was a lot smarter than she had given him credit for.
And a lot scarier.
"Why am I here?" he demanded.
"I told you."
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) He shoved the couch so hard that it skidded forward several inches. Then he was in front of her, pinning her to the cushions. Making her tremble from his fierce presence. "How did you get me inside?"
"I dragged you."
"Alone?"
"Of course."
"You don't look strong enough."
She gasped in terror. What was he going for? What did he intend to do to her? "I'm stronger than I look."
"Prove it." He grabbed her wrists.
She wrestled with him for several seconds. "Let me go."
"Why? Do I repulse you?"
Sasha growled. Loudly.
She stopped moving and glared at where she hoped his face was.
"Zarek," she said firmly. "You're hurting me. Let me go."
To her shock, he did. He moved back ever so slightly but his angry presence was still tangible.
Oppressive. Frightening.
"Do something smart, princess," he growled in her ear. "Stay far away from me."
She heard him walk away from her.
"He's guilty"Sasha snapped. "Astrid. Judge him."
She couldn't. Not yet. Even though Zarek scared her. Even though at this moment he did seem unbalanced and terrifying.
He hadn't really hurt her. He'd only frightened her, and that wasn't something anyone should die for.
After this, she could well understand how he could have snapped one night and killed everyone in the village he had been entrusted to guard.
Would he snap like that with her?
Because she was immortal, he couldn't kill her, but he could hurt her.
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) A lesser judge might go ahead and render verdict based on his actions tonight alone. She was tempted herself, but she wouldn't. Not yet.
"Are you all right?" Sasha asked after she refused to respond to his demand for a verdict.
"Yes."
But she was lying and she had a feeling Sasha knew it. Zarek terrified her in a way no one ever had before.
Over the centuries, she had judged countless men and women. Murderers, traitors, blasphemers. You name it.
But none of them had ever scared her. None of them had ever made her want to go running to her sisters for protection.
Zarek did.
There was something about him that really wasn't sane. She was used to dealing with people who tried to hide their insanity. Men who could play gallant heroes while inside they were cold and cruel.
Zarek lashed out and yet he hadn't hurt her.
At least not yet.
But his bullying tactics were going to have to go.
She remembered Acheron's words to her: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly…
"
What was inside Zarek's heart?
Expelling a long breath, Astrid reached out with her senses and tried to locate Zarek.
As before, she couldn't find him at all. It was as if he were so used to keeping himself hidden that he didn't register on anyone's radar. Not even her heightened one.
"Where is he?" she asked Sasha.
"In his room, I think.
"
"Where are you?