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“I can’t… You can’t ask that of me.” Fresh tears spill down my cheeks and I shake my head. “I can’t, Kastian… I just—”
He pulls me back into a tight hug and nods his head slowly against mine. “Shit—I’m so sorry, Elodie. I understand... I shouldn’t have asked. I’llproveto you that you can though. I’ll earn your trust and I’ll never fucking break it. I’ll pick up every last part of your heart if I have to, okay? I’m here… I’ll always be right here.” He runs his hands gently through my hair and I’m unraveling in his hands.
“What deal did you make with her?” I clench my fists, not sure if I really want to know.
He hesitates but finally murmurs, “I’m cursed not to say…” I tense in his arms but he quickly runs his hand down my back. “I won’t hurt you, Elodie… Never. I only agreed to it in order to break this bloodthirst of hers for you. Once she has what she needs from me, we’ll both be free to go.”
I feel relieved by his words but not enough to not cry.
Having Kastian here has already begun to bring my cold heart out of the frozen pits of the afterlife. Maybe it’s because I finally feel what I lost sight of so long ago.
Hope.
16
Elodie
Violet and the others come back in the room and stand at the edge of my bed. She leans forward on the bedframe and taps her long nails against the oak impatiently. I can’t get a read on her but I know she’s planning something
“No bonding, Kastian. I’ve placed our sweet Elodie on a blood-repulsion curse. She can only take from her Dreadius guard.” The Eostrix flicks his eyes at Rune. It’s the first I’ve seen him acknowledge my red drop in the snow.
“That must be why she so adamantly protected him from Arulius.” He warms his gaze on me. I’m surprised I don’t find any jealousy stirring like before. He was so pissed about me drinking from Wren.
I wonder if they’re better friends now. Did they stay together to plan this? Who’s caring for Margo?My heart stings with all the questions.
My cheeks heat as he sets his hand over mine, bringing me back to the conversation. That’s right… I won’t let anyone hurt Rune. He’smine—like they all are. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to let any of them go. I wonder how Kastian and Arulius will take to that.
“How is Arulius?” I finally choke out after realizing I’m thinking about him too.
Violet raises a brow and smirks. “Well, dear, you almost ripped his heart out, along with your own. You should be feeling the same, no? How areyoufeeling?”
She has a point. I take a moment to focus on myself.
“I feel fine.”
“There’s your answer. He’s fine, just shaken from… whatever you did. Which brings me back to my original question, Elodie. What did you do in the torture rooms today?”
Fuck—like I even know.
I remember claws and soot-colored skin… long, black nails and so, so much hate and anger inside the walls of my soul.
“I was really mad, and then I was just… gone. Drowned in my anger until it was like my power had control of me, but it didn’t feel like mine. It was…”
“Darkness,” Kastian murmurs, worry etching his eyes, and I feel sick that he even had to see me like that.
Violet studies me for a few more moments before clicking her tongue and motioning for me to get out of the bed. I raise a brow but slip from the sheets and stand.
“Why did you bring me to this room? Where is this?” I take another long look around the white walls and inhale the lavender and lilacs that dance on my palate.
Willow scoffs beside her. “As if we would carry you all the way to your dirty side of the castle. That’s for servants.”
Okay—ouch.
“Says the Eostrix who’s only tasted the blood of her own,” I snap back.
Naminé chuckles beside the brown-haired Eostrix. Willow’s green eyes narrow at me and she crosses her arms. “And what isthatsupposed to mean? I’mpure, you dirty little—”
“Shut the fuck up before I rip your throat out,” Kastian growls at her. She instantly shakes the nasty look off her face and smoothes her features.
