AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I nodded. “A little ginger in it would be nice. You can find a clump of the root from my herbs, but not anything else. Not yet.”
“Got it.”
I closed my eyes. “I love how you do that. When I was sick, when I was younger, no one really took care of me. I am the one they counted on to take care of others, so I almost don’t know what to do with the attention you guys are giving me.”
He kissed my back, right down the center of my spine. “You’ve been ours for almost no time, and you were poisoned in our home. There isn’t any amount of attention I could give you right now that would be enough. Besides, I like being here with you.” He stopped rubbing his finger on my spine to instead lie down next to me and put a strong arm around my center. He smelled so clean. I was sure that I didn’t.
But he didn’t seem to mind. He breathed me in, holding me. “You’re going to live. And…and I’m so glad about that, while at the same time, I am utterly horrified because we let Sadie die. I…I feel awful. We never considered poison, but also, I’m hugely grateful to have you here, next to me.”
I swallowed and turned to him. “I’m going to fall asleep any second, so please forgive me for the fact that I’m going to simplify something. I believe fully that it is possible to feel two ways about the same thing. Not everything has to be simplified to black and white.”
“Some things do.” He kissed my neck. “Like the fact I’m glad you’re alive. That is very clear for me, but your point is taken.”
That was good. I closed my eyes.
The vision took over seamlessly, or perhaps I dreamed. I walked through a land with Jayne, Hannah, and Caroline. We weren’t alone. Some of the other Chosen were there, and we all headed toward a castle. Like something from a book—a very scary book—the castle loomed on the horizon like a black fortress.
Jayne squeezed my hand. “I can’t believe we have to do this.”
I sighed. “But we’ve been chosen.”
I woke with a start to find Oliver had joined Charlie and me in bed. He was awake, and he stared at me in the mid-afternoon light. “Hi, beautiful.”
I frowned at him. “At this point, I think it’s fair to say I am not currently looking beautiful.”
“Yes, you are.” He kissed my cheek. “We found the person who poisoned you, and we’re dealing with the situation. That is where Freddie and Truett are now. They’re delivering her to Hawkseye for punishment. To poison a Chosen? No. That’s a nightmare. She killed Sadie and she tried to kill you.”
I blinked and heard Charlie suck in an audible breath. “Who is it?”
“Amy.” Oliver sighed. “Seems she’s in love with us, or she thinks she is, but this isn’t love. She discovered she could kill Sadie, so she lingered with the process, making it slower with her, because she knew we didn’t really like her. She could tell we liked Sloane, so she tried to get rid of her faster. She’s going to face judgment in Hawkseye.”
I nodded. “I was pretty sure that she loved you guys, but I didn’t expect this. It’s going to take me days to get over this. Weeks maybe.”
Charlie kissed the back of my neck again. I loved how it felt. “You take as much time as you need.”
I closed my eyes.
My dream picked up again, but I wasn’t with the others anymore. Instead, I found myself alone in a room with the monster. I yelled and tried to back away. It’s a dream. You’re not with him. His red skin was more vibrant in person, and I could see how his skin peeled a little bit, like he was shedding a top layer. His eyes glared at me with anger, yellow and swirling in the dim room.
“You are mine. You are not to die before you’re delivered to me.”
I blinked. “I’m not yours.”
“You are chosen. You are mine. I said yes to you. I want you all, but I want you most.” He stroked a cold hand down my cheek. “You will be my favorite mate. They will come for you soon. Go easily or I will kill the ones who hold you.”
I sat up, my heart racing. Truett stared down at me. I shook my head. He had left the manor, taking Amy for punishment. How much time has passed? I gripped my throat.
“Hi there,” he said and smiled at me then sat on the edge of the bed. “You okay? You’ve been sleeping hard for almost a day. We thought it best to leave you to it, but I was coming to wake you. I’m hoping you can hold down some broth.”
Something was on the edge of my mind, something he needed to know. Something they all needed to know. What was it? I rubbed my eyes. “Yes, food is probably good.”
“Do you want to try to come downstairs? The servants are all asking about you round the clock. They want to fuss over you. I think there is some fear they’ll be blamed for what happened with Amy. None of them knew.”
I understood. They didn’t know me, but I was the lady of the house, for whatever that was worth, so they would be worried about their jobs. “Sure. I think I should shower before I come down.”
He held up some water. “Sips first. Brief shower. Not too hot. I’ll be out here, in case you need me.”
I nodded and got out of bed on wobbly legs. I’d slept for a whole day? I was pretty sure I’d never done that before. I climbed under the water when it warmed up, not letting it get too hot, and I closed my eyes, reveling in the luxury of being clean. During the worst of my sickness, I hadn’t thought I would ever feel clean again.
