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Free.
That word has changed meaning so many times I no longer recognize it. Not having the mark will not make me free. It will feel confining. Empty.
“I will never let her oath bind you. I will protect you,” I say, “like you’ve protected me.”
Alaric chuckles but not unkindly. “I don’t doubt that.” He kisses me. “But you must never forget that you are human in a world of vampires.” The smile falls from his lips. “She won’t hesitate to kill you if you try.”
“Being tied to her will killyou,” I shoot back.
He shrugs one shoulder. “I do not care if she ends my life. I do not wish to live in a world that you are not part of.”
“How can you speak so casually of your own death?”
“When you have forever stretched out ahead of you and have lived several lifetimes, there is very little to distinguish the two.”
I furrow my brows, not understanding how anyone could feel that way. But that is impossible because I will never have that amount of time.
He may not believe a human can protect a vampire against the most powerful of them—and maybe he’s right—but he has given me his heart and stolen mine.
I refuse to let him resign to this fate.
Inhaling, I’m ready to say as much, when he runs a hand through his hair, and says, “We should get going if I am to return you to your room with enough time to sleep. I doubt Cassius will go easy on you in training.”
Even though a big part of me wants to beg him for more time, I know he’s right. Cassius was furious with me today when I was not only late to training but tired and distracted as well. My efforts were abysmal.
* * *
When Alaric woke me, wanting to take me somewhere, this hadn’t been what I expected, but it was what I needed, and I think he did too—even if it wasn’t nearly long enough.
We enter the castle the same way we left. There is more activity now, so it’s harder to remain inconspicuous, and Alaric has to compel several of them into forgetting they’ve seen us. It would be safer if we parted ways immediately, but he insists on escorting me all the way to my room.
A hand latches onto my arm, yanking me back into the shadows of an alcove. My shoulder hurts, feeling as if the limb was nearly ripped off. I reach for the hilt of the dagger, freezing with the blade half drawn at the murderous look on Cassius’s slender, handsome face. With the sharp angle of light and dark playing on his features, he appears feral.
He snarls low in his chest then shoves me behind him. My back hits the wall, forcing the air from my lungs as Alaric reaches us, fangs bared. Thick red rings of demon-sent power nearly swallow the blue of his eyes.
“Who do you think you are touching her?” he growls.
“Have the two of you completely taken leave of your senses?” Cassius returns the snarl. “I am her master now, not you. She will be oath bound to me once you are bound to Elizabeth.” He delivers the words coldly, wrapping his fingers around my arm to keep me in place.
I struggle against his iron tight grip, stopping when I realize I’m only hurting myself.
“I have marked her—”
“And you will lose her forever if you do not leave,” Cassius interrupts. “Now.” The fierceness drops from Alaric’s face. “For her… Leave for her. You don’t know her anymore.”
My throat is tight and parched. I’ve stopped breathing, waiting for Alaric’s protest.
He meets my gaze for only an instant before returning his attention to Cassius. With a terse nod, he turns on his heel and leaves. My heart cracks as Alaric disappears from view
Cassius finally releases my arm. This is for the best right now, at least until I figure out how to fix things.
And I will.
You don’t know her anymore.
This is a temporary setback, but that doesn’t stop the separation from hurting, or keep me from hating Cassius for his words and for his part in all of this.
Chapter Six
