Bearclaw Valley I roam these halls, search the night, in hopes that I might see

merrick winced in consternation as aventus leapt forward to stuff his jaws full of the newly killed flesh. 
"slow the fuck down," he growled in a spasm of the controlling artery. "you almost just died. don't go out choking."
but there was no scolding in merrick beyond that moment; he lay his own battered figure down nearby and pinned his gaze to the ceiling of the cave. "she's going to die for this. only a matter of time." merrick would always return for what he believed belonged to him,
and nyra's throat would be the dripping ruby in the crown of thorns merrick had jammed atop his own brow.