Daysider (Nightsiders) by Susan Krinard Page B

shook his head. “You keep it,” he said. “I had sufficient nourishment before I left Erebus.”
    Of course, he’d lie anyway if he knew what he’d taken in Erebus wasn’t enough to fuel his healing. But if his job was done...
    All the anger she’d been suppressing burst like a suppurating wound inside her chest. “I suppose if you need more, you’ll take it from me?” she asked.
    “No,” he said firmly. “Never.”
    “Why not? It’s not as if you’d have to kill me.”
    “We are partners, Agent Fox,” he reminded her. “That makes us equals, does it not?”
    “And I wouldn’t be your ‘equal’ if we weren’t? What if I were human? Would that make me fair game?” She leaned toward him, her breath fanning his neck. “Tell me...does it work the same with Daysiders as it does with leeches? Could you make me do whatever you want? Would I become your serf?”
    Damon’s expression hardened, but Alexia almost didn’t notice. As the first beams of sunlight pierced through the trees on the hill above them, touching Damon’s face, his skin began to darken. Within a minute it had returned to its previous tan, transforming like the pelt of a leopard that had suddenly changed from black on gold to gold on black.
    If Damon had glimpsed her surprise before she concealed it, he didn’t give any sign. “Fishing for information, Agent Fox?” he mused with a faint, ironic smile.
    She returned the smile. “Didn’t you hope you’d gain useful intelligence from working with an Enclave field agent?”
    He inclined his head, acknowledging her point. “But I would not have you constantly worried that I might tamper with your mind,” he said. “Only some Bloodmasters and Bloodlords are capable of what you suggest, and Darketans can’t do it at all.”
    “That’s comforting,” she quipped.
    “As is the fact that we seem to have very similar healing abilities.”
    “You’re telling me Erebus didn’t have that information before?”
    “Did Aegis?”
    She snorted and bit into the ration bar. “I didn’t know a Daysider’s skin changes color with the light.” Damon rubbed his jaw. The shadow of a beard had darkened it overnight. That was a very human characteristic, one that male dhampires shared.
    “Aegis must be aware that Darketans have a natural adaptation that makes the melanin content of our skin alter in accordance with the level of illumination.” He dropped his hand back to his knee.
    “What is ‘Darketan’?” she asked. “I’ve never heard the word before.”
    “That is what we call ourselves.” He climbed carefully to his feet. “It’s a name from ancient legend.”
    “What legend?”
    Instead of answering, he bent to retrieve her blanket, folded it neatly and handed it to her. “Thank you for keeping watch,” he said.
    “Should I thank you for saving my life again?”
    “Since I was ordered to work with you, it would hardly appear to my advantage if I were to let you die.”
    “Of course.”
    And that was that. She hadn’t expected him to answer any differently, though part of her had hoped...
    She cut off that line of thought and focused on her own body. Though it was early yet, she was just beginning to feel a faint crawling sensation under her skin, a twitching of certain deep muscles, an ache in her bones. It wasn’t likely to get much worse for some time, but she had to conserve her strength, and she needed sleep.
    But she also wanted Damon to reveal his plans. “What do we do now?” she asked.
    “You need rest,” he said. “I’ll watch.”
    Alexia had to remind herself again that there was nothing remotely personal in his concern. “We can’t stay here,” she told him.
    Damon scanned the hollow in every direction. “I think the shooters are gone, at least for the time being.”
    “Then you don’t think they’ll attack again if we move?”
    He cast her a probing glance, undoubtedly wondering why she was asking him what he couldn’t possibly