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I can feel Ophelia’s presence in the room radiating cold and power like a black sun. Through sheer willpower, I pry my eyes open and see the ceiling above me. It’s blurry.
Then I see Ophelia as she approaches the bed.
“How is it possible,” she snaps, “that every time I turn my head, one of you idiots finds his way into her bed? I put so much effort in this enchantment only for you to disobey me time and again.”
“Get out of my room, Lia.” Mia’s voice is shaking. “Get out!”
“You’re in no position to give orders,” Ophelia says silkily and I brace for her anger.
It’s not enough. Nothing can prepare me for it. Bones crack in my body as it begins to change. My back arches. My mouth opens but nothing comes out, not even a breath.
“Stop it!” Mia shouts, beating her fists on Ophelia’s back. “Stop hurting him, God!”
“You stay away from my boys,” Ophelia hisses.
“They aren’t yours!”
“They will be. Soon. Stay away from them or I’ll hurt them badly. Is that what you want?”
Mia’s voice cracks. “You won’t do that. You need them.”
“Just for now.” Ophelia lifts a hand, forms a symbol, whispers something—and the net around me tightens more. I twist on the bed, more bile rising in my throat. My jaw shifts and I cry out, any pride I’d tried to hold onto by keeping silent smashed to smithereens.
“Stop!” Mia shouts.
“You sure? Will you stay away from them?”
Mia makes an agonized sound. “Yes! Just stop…”
Ah fuck. I fall off the bed and find myself on my knees, moaning. I can almost feel the wings on my back, the beak on my face, I can feel my mind slipping away.
Ophelia steps closer, black leather boots with stiletto heels. She steps so close the stiletto is almost touching my cheek and the smell of leather is so strong my churning stomach tries to turn itself inside out again.
“Speak, pet,” she says. “Make your amends before I let the shift take over you.”
I can’t be angry. She’s right. I was wrong. I owe her. She’s good for me.
“This was a mistake,” I breathe. “My pledge is to you.”
“Say you’re sorry.”
I groan as the pain spikes. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, please…”
“Sin,” Mia says, sounding choked.
I ignore her. She did this to me, she lied to me, she abandoned me.
“It’s a mistake, it was a fucking mistake. Stop the shift.” I reach for her boot, grip her ankle. I can’t breathe. Black spots swim in my eyes. “Ophelia…”
She lets me sweat for a few moments longer, then murmurs something and the grip on my magic relaxes.
Maab. I roll on my back, panting, as my body seems to retract on itself, my bones cracking as they return to human form. The relief makes me want to laugh and cry.
At least I know it’s almost over.
Let it all be over.
I’m done.
