Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 69923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
“I do know,” he said, following me into the dark. There wasn’t time to run as his hands slapped the wall on either side of me. “I’m not shedding any tears over the man, but for such a seemingly naïve, sweet little thing, neither were you.
“You ripped a person into shreds and it didn’t disturb a minute of your rest. The cool, logical calm of a killer.” Alexander bore over me, pressing me flatter against the wall. Gently, he caught a tear off the tip of my nose. “As cool and logical as this little performance. Tears on cue.”
“This isn’t a performance, Damien. Gods, what’s become of you?” I burst out. “What made you so hard and distrusting? Sometimes— Most times, an apology is an apology. And tears are just tears. I don’t relish the pain you’re in now.” I couldn’t stop myself touching his clenched jaw. “I don’t relish it, and I had nothing to gain from it. Galen’s death was such a senseless, terrible tragedy. I mourn him.”
I claimed the tear staining his finger. “I cry for him.”
He stared at me for a long time—the body molded to mine stiff and unmoving. I didn’t mistake this for passion. As he said, skin to skin made it hurt worse.
“I want to believe you, Aella. To trust his death was an accident, and not the act of the brass, unrepentant traitor you’ve always been.”
“Of course it was an accident. Why would you think otherwise?”
“Are you saying I have no reason to?”
“Yes,” I replied without hesitation.
“I can trust you to tell me the truth?”
My head bobbed. “Nothing I’ve hidden is because I’ve wanted to. I want to be honest with you. Honest with everyone.”
“Okay, Aella.” He tipped my chin—his callous both tender and scratchy on my sensitive skin. “I’m going to ask you something, and if you tell me the truth, it can all be simple from here on. You and I will know where we stand.”
“All right. Ask me.”
“Were you out in the woods that night because you were trying to escape?”
The world narrowed, converging on a single point and crushing around it... until I stopped breathing.
“Answer me.”
“Alexander—”
“Answer me,” he whispered.
“It can all be simple from here on. You and I will know where we stand.”
Yes, we will.
“Yes.” The word singed leaving my tongue. “I was looking for a way past the barrier spells. That’s why I was out that night, and why I ultimately crossed paths with that demon.”
His hands slid down the wall, swinging down by his sides. I couldn’t say why the move left me feeling exposed. His stepping back and peeling off my body was the same as him removing my clothes.
I was bare before him, and neither one of us liked what we saw.
“Thank you, Aella.” His tone was dull—emotionless. “You found the last shred of honor in your soul and told me the truth. Now, I will do what I promised.”
“What does that mean?” I squeezed my arms where he grabbed me. My only shield in the face of that true still lake within his eyes.
“People have guessed what you are from the armed escort that had to bring you through the doors, but I haven’t confirmed it because even though you think I’m a bastard, I believed you deserved a chance to prove yourself without the chains of your mistakes holding you back. Making you do your duty was punishment enough.
“And you know what? Maybe a soft-hearted part of me felt responsible for locking you in the dark and dirt with Nico Xenakis. Leaving you be for the next four years was my way of making up for failing in my duty.”
My lips parted but nothing came out. Alexander felt guilt over Nico’s attack? How could I have known that when immediately after he sentenced me to this place?
“All of that’s changed now.”
“Why?” I didn’t mean to sound so stricken. “Yes, I was trying to get out, but that doesn’t change the fact that I didn’t know what that baby really was. It was an accident, and I won’t let myself stop paying for it.”
“No.” Bright green pools glowed through the dark. “But I’ll do a much better job.”
My body went cold. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying you killed my brother,” he growled. “Any guilt is gone. Any soft-heartedness is dead. Any sense of duty is over. I will no longer hold back what’s coming for you.” He laughed. “Hold it back? I’ll be leading the charge.
“It is my solemn swear and promise to you, Aella Galanis, that I will make the rest of your days hell. Anything and everything you love I’ll personally and with great pleasure grind beneath my boots. I hope you do find that way out,” he said, turning to leave. “Run away until you hit the border and throw yourself off so many times you finally snap your neck. That’s where I’ll find you to say our final goodbye. Otherwise, I’ll never stop.”