The Vow (Black Arrowhead #1) - Dannika Dark Page 0,83

his eyes on mine.

“Tak isn’t the killer,” I said.

He lowered his arm and stared at me, water dripping onto the tile.

“I followed him into the woods earlier, and—”

“Dammit, Mel. I warned you,” he said through clenched teeth. Lakota threw the sponge into the tub angrily and spun around.

The chill in the air was too much, so I sat down in the blissfully hot tub, my knees drawn up. “Before you punch out a wall, I thought he was off to kill someone.”

Lakota erupted with mirthless laughter and turned around. He stared at me incredulously. “And you think that makes me feel better?”

“Tak’s been sneaking out to feed a family of rogues. He’s not the killer.” I reached for the sponge and set it between my knees, giving Lakota a moment to digest the new information.

He pulled up a footstool and sat next to the tub with his arms on the edge. “You saw them?”

“The children looked malnourished. That’s where he was the other night, and that’s where he’s been each time there was a murder. Someone knows when he’s leaving the property. It’s too much of a coincidence that the crimes were committed on the days he went out. They knew he wouldn’t have an alibi. They knew someone might spot him or his wolf running between territories. He said he’s usually gone half the day or night, repairing shelters and talking with them. Sometimes the children have injuries and no access to medical care.”

Lakota rested his chin on his arm, a faraway look in his eyes. Some of his brown hair fell forward while he looked down at the water. The steam from the tub wet his face, glistening on his skin.

“He won’t tell Shikoba,” I continued. “The rogues were stealing food and supplies from nearby packs and the tribe, so that’s why Tak’s helping them. He doesn’t want them to get caught. People around here take the law into their own hands, and besides that, the Council will split up the family since the parents can’t care for the children. He made me swear to keep his secret, and you have to swear not to make me a liar.”

Lakota’s arm dropped in the water, and he swirled it back and forth. The back of his hand lightly grazed my bare thigh.

“What’s wrong?” His silence bothered me. I wanted him to share his thoughts and never keep anything from me, though I had no right to make such a request.

Lakota’s face held a look of regret. While something had happened between him and Tak, I had a feeling that Lakota was struggling with something deeper than just a fractured relationship. Someone had seen Tak coming and going—likely another member of the tribe. Even though Lakota wasn’t in their tribe, maybe he felt like a traitor for turning in one of his own.

I reached out and caressed his cheek, and he leaned into my touch. That simple gesture gave me butterflies. “You’re just doing your job.”

Lakota cupped his hand around the nape of my neck. “Lie back, and I’ll wash your hair.”

After grabbing a short pitcher and a bottle from a small shelf at the head of the tub, he rinsed my hair and then poured a small amount of liquid from the bottle. Lakota held my head above water as he massaged my scalp. It felt both strange and wonderful to have a man be so attentive to me. I’d always seen the silly side of Lakota, the overprotective big brother, and the tough guy who’d always looked at me like his kid sister’s friend. I never realized how admirable he was—how decent and tender. Something as simple as wiping water away from my eyes spoke volumes, and I became a little regretful that one day he would lavish his affections on another woman meant to be his life mate.

It grew quiet, and when I sat up, I slicked my clean hair back. “How did they get the water in the tub? There isn’t a faucet on the end.”

“They did a rain dance.”

I splashed water at him. “You’re funny.”

“There’s a faucet on the back wall. They fill buckets and pour it in, I guess. I’ve never taken a bath over here before.”

“You certainly need one.”

“Men take showers. Baths are for women.”

“Are they, now?” I laughed. “Do you think your mother gave you showers when you were a toddler?”

“I wasn’t a man then. I was a boy.”

“I can’t believe you’ve spent your whole life thinking there are actually things that