59. Benson
Benson
Grim Devotion
My teeth hurt from grinding them together.
I could kill someone.
I want to.
“Lazlo,” she whimpers in her sleep. I hold her hand as I try to comfort her. The only part of her that doesn’t look injured.
The door slides open. A goblin with red jasper hair slips inside and shuts the door almost all the way. If Thea’s head was not in my lap, I’d be breaking every bone in his body.
I’ve never felt this rage before.
I’d thought I hated witches for all they did to goblins.
I never expected to hate goblins more for what they did to my witch.
“How is she?” he whispers, dropping down to his haunches and passing me a blanket. I glare at him before taking it. I wrap the blanket around her. In the sliver of light, she looks worse. Her face red and darkening. Lip bloody.
The noise in my throat promises pain.
“I didn’t touch her, I promise.” He holds his hand up in surrender. Like I could actually do something. I can barely move. “I’d never touch another goblin’s hearthstone. Even if she didn’t have all the favors.”
I debate correcting him. Can’t find the energy or the words. I run my hand through her bloodstained hair.
“What happened?” I finally ask.
“I have no idea. I don’t think he meant to hit her. But she just kept giving him smug answers and then he hit her, but couldn’t hurt her. I’ve never seen a goblin take a beating like that and walk away, she did it with a smile and joke on her lips.”
I scoff involuntarily.
Only Thea could piss someone off that thoroughly.
“Leave,” I growl out and the goblin retreats. A few more come and leave apologies and offerings that do little to quell my anger.
She turns in her sleep, her wrist falling into the light from under the door.
That brand.
If I live long enough for her to wake up, I’ll ask her.
“Lazlo,” she whimpers again.
I run my hand through her hair again, attempting to soothe her.
But whoever it is, she can’t find them.