AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A new voice, echoing Nakoa's Knowingness, silently reassured me. The knots in my gut eased slightly despite the tense weight of Vesper's gaze.
She knew.
She must… Mustn’t she?
Had I hunted her or her family down?
The guilt at the mere possibility had caused a slight tremor in my hands.
Vesper’s own hand drifted to the severed horn on the right side of her head.
“Will it grow back?” Nakoa asked gently.
She remained silent for a few moments, and my heart clenched at the sight of the sudden glistening in her eyes, her voice hushed.
“No.”
Vesper’s head turned towards the ground as a tear slipped down her cheek.
I couldn’t help but notice Rayne’s pained expression before he reached out his hand, and the broken half of Vesper’s horn appeared in his hand as he knelt beside her. His voice was inaudible to everyone but her and, incidentally, me…
“Where I’m from, our scars are a great source of pride because it means we were powerful enough to survive. Beauty is not diminished by our scars but enhanced.”
Well damn, Rayne. Look at you.
I was shocked her undergarments didn’t burst into flames right then and there.
Vesper slowly lifted her tear-filled eyes to meet his; something silent and tangible exchanged between them.Soulbound,that Knowingness pressed upon me.
Nakoa’s eyes found mine, and a soft, knowing smile curled a corner of his mouth. He drew my hand, the one marked by our vows, to his lips and pressed a kiss to it, making my heart flutter with both fear and… perhaps a blossom of affection.
Vesper’s expression turned thoughtful as she made a noncommittal grunt. “I’ll needherhelp with something first.”
My heart just about stopped dead in my chest for a brief moment before I steeled myself.
Shedidknow. And now she was probably going to try and exact her revenge.
Which means one of us would end up dead.
One of us, or more specifically,her.
As much guilt plagued me, this isnotwhere my life would end.
I nodded at her before looking up at Nakoa, feeling guilty already.
So much for his plan.
Nakoa gave me a baffled look that, very clearly and wordlessly, stated, ‘Do you really think so little of me?’before returning his attention to Vesper, studying her for several long moments as though he were having some sort of internal discussion. Perhaps with his Knowingness, considering our earlier discussion.
“… Swear your loyalty in blood, and you’re welcome to ask her for as much of her time as she’s willing to give.”
Vesper’s expression hardened to a scowl.
“I’ve lost count of the number of times that I have been manipulated, bound, leashed, caged, and exploited. I reached the conclusion a long time ago that I would, in fact, rather die than be exploited and manipulated again… If I decide to help you, it’s because I want to. Not because I’m bound by my very life force to do so.”
Nakoa gave her a sympathetic look. “I imagine your journey has been a painful one, but that doesn’t change the fact that we don’t know you, and we need to be able to trust you. Every single person here has sworn their loyalty by blood and magic… Just as every member of The Uprising has. If you intend on becoming a part of our family and thusly… helping to bring Zurie’s reign to an end… Then, no exceptions will be made for you. I will not risk the well-being of mysoulboundor myolana kah’heibecause you have been betrayed by others. You’re welcome to leave if this is not something you can concede with.”
Vesper remained silent for a few moments before her gaze passed over each one of us as she spoke.
