Page 66 of The Duke’s Bloody Bargain

“I can’t see Darius.” Irene’s shoulder brushed mine.

I didn’t shiver. I didn’t have the right to keep being frightened of touching her. Besides, she was right. Darius was gone.

“Darius!” My voice sounded muffled to my own ears; it bounced back to me. No answer. “Stay close to me.”

We proceeded onwards. The ground was crunchy and unstable under my boots. My legs seemed to be tree trunks. Irene’s heartbeat was the only sound breaking the dense silence. The bloody fog was so thick that I could grow turnips in it.

The snakes floated in and out of view, going through the fog like earthworms would slide into the soil. Some were as thin as my finger. Others were as thick as my leg.

A snake wrapped itself around me with its strong grip, and visions of Irene dead, of me killing her, of me draining Darius filled my mind. They flashed vividly before my eyes in all their horrific glory.

A groan of pain was torn out of me both because the snake’s touch was painful and because the visions seemed real, like memories.

Had I attacked Darius? Had I killed him? Had I hurt Irene?

I rubbed my temples, focusing on where I was. Those weren’t memories, but they might be the future. No. I refused to believe I was capable of draining those I loved. Hope was a choice.

“Alex.” Irene’s panicked voice brought me back to reality. “There are too many.”

A choking sensation seized my throat. I had to force those visions out of my head. Irene had been stabbed once because I’d lost focus. Not again.

More snakes leapt through the fog. They didn’t have eyes, only a toothless, gaping mouth that wasn’t particularly frightening. But their touches triggered the most terrifying and dark thoughts, like me slaying Irene out of bloodlust, me killing everyone in Raven Hall, or me butchering the great sycamore.

I held her hand on instinct. If one of the snakes snatched her away from me, I would bring down the damn mansion brick by brick to find her. I braced myself for the familiar assault of fear and disgust, but apart from a light tremor, nothing happened. The fear of losing her was greater.

She laced her fingers through mine and gripped my hand harder than she would have done a moment ago.

“I hate those snakes.” She hugged my entire arm when a snake swished past her.

I sucked in a breath as a chill slithered down my back. But I forced the discomfort down. The humiliation and shame of the way I’d behaved with Irene gave me the energy to control my reaction. When I thought of what I’d done to her, using the power of the bond to order her, I wanted the fog to take me.

She pressed herself against me.

“I’m sorry.” She jumped back, but I took her arm and pulled her closer.

“Don’t wo-orry,” I stammered. “I don’t want to lose you.” And I wasn’t talking about the fog.

She came closer. “Neither do I.”

A smell similar to that of rotten mushrooms hung in the air. The front door came into view through a narrow opening in the fog. When we’d almost reached the front step, a large snake coiled around us. Irene shouted as its spirals grew tighter.

The more she screamed, the thicker the snake grew. She was likely seeing horrific visions. The snake coiled around me as well.

The oppressive sensation became so strong I feared my bones might snap. It was my transformation all over again. The pain, the burning skin, the bones breaking, the fear. Visions of the fever hospital tormented me.

Sweat soaked my shirt. I gnashed my teeth as agony sliced through me. I was so tired that I wanted to give up and collapse to the ground.

What happened to me didn’t matter. I had to protect Irene. I forced the visions out of my mind, focusing on Irene, her smile, and the happiness she brought into my life.

She kicked and squirmed, and the snake thickened. Desperation and agony rang out of her screams. She waved her hands and slapped the snake, making matters worse. The smoky beast grew larger and stronger.

“It’s fear.” I swatted the snake away. “Try to relax. The snakes are made of fear. The more frightened you are, the stronger they grow.”

She gripped my hand and arm harder. “I can’t…”

“Close your eyes.”

She squeezed them shut. Her breath came out in quick pants. I caressed her cheek, gritting my teeth as my own fear surged. The snake aiming at me became wider. But I wanted to calm Irene. I wanted her to trust me, and the fear of losing her was bigger than any other worry.