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Werewolves…vampires…things talked of only in stories, or fables, walked amongst us. Not many people the wiser.
Except now I knew, and I didn’t know how I felt about keeping that secret for Domenico—though I would do just about anything to keep Charity safe.
Would I have to act as if the guise of priesthood was true? After all, it was everything he’d built his life around, the people he interacted with daily…the church he called his home.
What did this mean for Charity and Freyja? What was it Domenico wanted with Freyja, anyhow?
Deep down, I knew I would find out, not much was kept from me, even as a young boy.
I shivered as I remembered the sleeping girl, who looked more dead than asleep, and the way that Freyja had thrashed in that God-awful cage.
Like a wild animal.
“What do you think he’ll do with her? With Freyja?”
Charity’s soft voice broke my thoughts, and her soft tone brought a smile to my lips, as I looked down at her closed eyes and lashes that fanned her high cheeks.
“There’s no telling, little light. I am here though, and we will figure this out together.”
I had untied her wrists promptly, but I feared that she’d be held prisoner just as much as Freyja. I made a silent prayer to God that Domenico would not harm Charity—my Charity, the girl that was once my stepsister, but now my lover.
“My mother will be so worried…and Thomas is dead…”
Charity’s words trail as a tear slid down her pink, freckled face.
“Your sister is there, and you know Clarise will take care of your mother. Strong willed as she is.”
A forced, small pull at the corner of her mouth became visible at my words about her sister, but she quickly returned to her somber mood as the carriage came to a stop.
We’d finally arrived at Castle Delesepps.
And all I wanted to do was lay Charity inside my bed, with only skin, wine, and bread between us for at least one full week.
I wondered if Charity would be able to let Freyja go…let go enough to enjoy only me. Yes, it was a selfish statement to make, but I didn’t want to share. I had done what I’d needed to do, and at the time, it was having them both, emotions be damned.
We would find a way to free Freyja; we would all get out of here alive, together. I had to find a way. This was the least I could do, if not to prove to Charity that I really did care for her. Betrayal aside, I had only wanted to please Domenico and do as I was tasked when I came to that small town of Bethlehem.
Surely Charity would want to stay in line with the traditional values of her family and put the immature urges of having us both behind her. She must want a life with me, how could I be wrong about that?
For now, I hoped that my love would be enough to keep Charity safe and happy inside the dark castle walls.
The only woman I had ever loved.
* * *
Just as Iknew he would, Domenico made a big show of what he had to offer us almost immediately.
We were quickly summoned to dinner by one of the many young men who resided here during any given season. We were not being guarded, but we were watched. Closely, I was certain.
I eyed the space around us, searching for the familiar cracks and crevices that withheld so many secrets. So many dark parts of myself were hidden inside of those walls. At least they were safely secured, with only Domenico knowing the truth of our complicated relationship.
Charity held my hand in a death grip, and each time Domenico would smile, she would shudder beside me.
I was a savage boy for thinking carnal thoughts about making her thighs do that little shuddering thing, but I did my best to reign in those thoughts as I tucked her inside my arm, fitting there so perfectly. I was finally getting used to my taller height and bigger body—the body of a man and not a boy. I felt pride in protecting her fragile heart.
Domenico smiled down over us both, the regal and polite man that he was. His smile seemed more menacing now that I knew what he was, an undead bloodsucker, but I tried hard not to think about that right now. I needed to focus on making Charity feel at home, I needed her to trust me—vampires or not.
I doubted Domenico would kill me, especially not after all those chances he had when I was much younger and weaker.
