A Hunger Most Dark novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: The Offer

The hunger broke me in the stable yard, on the thirty-ninth day.

I had gone out to ride, because Ysmay said movement helped.

The groom led my horse out of the stall, a young man with a clean collar and a small pulse that I could hear from ten feet away.

I did not remember deciding to cross the yard.

I remembered his face turning toward me, and his mouth opening, and the sound the bucket made when it hit the cobbles.

I had him against the stall door with one forearm across his chest, and my teeth were already lowered toward the side of his throat.

"My lord!" he gasped. "My lord, please."

Gerrick hit me from behind, and the two of us went down in the straw together.

I threw him off.

He was twice my weight in muscle and I threw him off, and he rolled to his feet and drew his sword and did not point it at me.

"Davren," he said. "Don't."

I was on my knees, shaking, my breath dragging in and out.

The groom had run.

The yard was very bright and very loud.

"Gerrick." My voice was a stranger's. "Get her out of here."

"Get who out?" said Lenore.

She stood in the stable door in her grey coat with her sleeves already pushed up.

I had not heard her come.

"Go back inside," I said.

"No." She walked across the yard, straight at me, and she did not stop until she stood in front of my knees. "Captain, wait at the gate."

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