Page 148 of Eternal Craving

He glanced at the deformity. “If I had any strength in that arm, I’d strangle you.”

“You want me to speed your death? That’s why you’re provoking me?”

“I want to die with honor, not discussing the finer points of life with the very creature I’ve dedicated,” he cringed with the pain, “my life to tracking down.”

I applied pressure to his wound. “Something’s different with me.”

“You look the same.” He pushed himself up and looked around. “My men?”

I bit into my wrist and held it over the gash on his arm, splashing my blood into the laceration. Archer flinched and his wound leaked serous fluid, as our blood intermingled, bubbling up and then reabsorbing. The cut healed.

I lifted my wrist to his lips. He pushed it away.

“How’s the pain?” I asked softly.

“Bastard, your filthy blood is inside me now.”

“That arm either heals or you lose it – or your life.”

“At least it would be an honorable death.”

“Death is death either way.”

“What do you want, Orpheus?”

“You must live.”

“Why?”

“Two reasons.”

Archer’s breathing was calmer. “Go on.”

“Firstly, because I find myself becoming rather fond of you.”

“Ridiculous. And the second?”

“Deep down, you have a desire to truly understand what we are.”

“Get out of London.” Archer closed his mind.

“One more minute and I’ll have what I need,” I whispered.

Archer gave me a weak smile. “You don’t have that much time.” His eyes flickered to the right.

Several Stone Lords were headed straight for us.

Again, I used my preternatural ability to escape their reach.

The lid to the coffin where I’d placed Roman’s head was back in place. Candlelight threw shadows over the dark walls of the burial chamber. In here, there was nothing but stillness, a complete contrast to the mayhem above.

Sunaria loomed in the shadows. “Are they all dead?”

I looked her up and down. “Not exactly.”

“Elijah? Archer?” She studied my expression.

“This time, you behaved yourself and stayed put.”