Mark of Love (Love Mark #3) - Linda Kage Page 0,166

fiery red hair and then a blade pressed against my jugular.

“Melaina?” I choked in surprise.

“You fucking High Cliff piece of scum,” she snarled. “I left you alone with my niece for one hour—one hour—and look what happened.” The blade bit into my flesh, producing blood. “Now, where’s Quilla?”

“She was supposed to take you to Earth,” I rasped.

“Oh, she brought me the damn amulet you’d been hiding from us. Bastard. Then she told me to go without her because she needed to save you. You. Can you believe that shit?”

“She did what?” I asked, unable to believe Quilla would be so reckless. Or loyal. She had honestly cared about me.

But, dammit, I had told her I’d be okay.

“So where is she?” Melaina demanded.

“I don’t know. They caught her.”

“They caught her? Wrong answer, asshole. I said, where is she?”

I had a sense she really would cut my throat open then, so I kicked her off me and rolled away, just as the door to the cottage flew open, and Olivander stepped outside, lifting a lamp and peering into the dark.

“Indy?”

“I’m fine,” I called, out of breath, just before diving to the side when Melaina screeched like a banshee and leaped toward me again, her dagger raised with deadly intent.

“Um. You sure about that?” the prince asked, not intervening, simply watching as I panted and dodged, trying to avoid being stabbed to death.

“Yep.” I tossed hair out of my eyes and then grunted when Melaina threw the knife and it hit me handle-first right between the legs, doubling me over.

Jesus, that hurt. I guess I should’ve been relieved it wasn’t blade-first. But I didn’t feel too relieved at the moment.

Clutching myself, I bent my knees in and I slid toward the ground. “Just—just having a little discussion with Quilla’s aunt.”

“Ah.” Olivander leaned against the opened doorway and kept providing light for us as Melaina proceeded to kick the crap out of me, grabbing a hunk of my hair before slamming her fist into my jaw.

“If they have her, then why the hell are you here and not out there saving her, huh?” she roared.

“I don’t know where she is!” I cried defensively, deciding I needed more hands to protect all the parts she was attacking.

Melaina kicked me in the ribs. “Don’t you dare bullshit me. I know that mark of yours can track her anywhere, so I’m going to repeat my question.” Bulldozing into me again, she pushed me onto my back. And then she crawled on top of me and straddled my face, her knees squeezing forcefully around my neck. “Where is she?”

“You know,” Olivander spoke up conversationally. “I’m beginning to think she’s legitimately kicking your ass, and you’re not just letting her win anymore.”

I spared him a glare, and then grabbed Melaina’s thigh and flipped her off me, causing her to scream in rage and surprise when I pinned her down and got into her face.

“Look at me!” I snarled, pointing at my temple. “They took my mark. They took it so I couldn’t find her, and now I can’t feel her at all. I don’t know if she’s okay. I don’t know if she’s alive.” My voice cracked on that word, and I grew defeated as I repeated. “I have no idea where she is at all.”

“No,” Melaina whispered in horror, lifting her hand slowly to touch my wound. “But you—you have to. You’re my only hope in getting her back.”

“I don’t know where she is,” I said steadily. “But I will. We’re doing everything we can to locate her, and we will get her back. I swear it.”

“Yes.” A sob shook her frame. “We have to,” she ordered. “That girl is my heartbeat. No matter how much I tried to contaminate her and sully some of that pure soul she has so she wouldn’t be too fragile and she could take care of herself, a part of her could never be tainted. There was just this innate kindness that lurked below the surface no matter what I did, and it infected those around her. She infected me. The little bitch was like my own little ray of hope. No matter how dour things got or dark our future looked, she never gave up. She was always there. With me. I can’t give up on her. Oh God. Please. She’s my child. I can’t do this without her. Please…” She clutched her face and moaned. “I can’t leave the Outer Realms without her. She—she…” Looking up at me and revealing