Way more than I did.
And that was when I learned the truth. We weren’t bonding over pain and our darkness; she was darkness and enjoyed giving pain to everyone. Even me. I wasn’t protected from it, but walked right into real darkness and agreed to serve it forever.
And no one lied to the darkness and survived.
“I received a message from my baby sister that Cerdic was planning to give his oath to a princess. I wished to see it with my own eyes. I should have communicated that with you, but there were a few hiccups. I am sorry.”
She chuckled softly. “So my Cerdic has found a new princess finally, huh? I thought he would never get over his love for me.” I swallowed a flinch at her calling him hers. “When will he give his oath?”
“It was done not hours ago,” I answered, feeling her anger, and for some insane reason, I felt an urge to protect Inez.
“They have power here,” she whispered, cutting into what else I might have said.
“Yes, My Princess. It was part of why I stayed. They have much most of us have lost.”
“Well done locating such a find, Ceawlin,” she purred. “I might forgive you for not telling me about Cerdic sooner. I’m hurt you did not think to tell your princess you went to tease your twin before he signed away his freedom.”
“I wasn’t sure I believed Olivia,” I admitted. “The picture she painted of the princess made it sound unlikely and this was more than a prank, but I found it to be her jealousy and much more.”
“Interesting, very interesting. Let’s go home then and you can tell me everything about this princess and her coven.” She was smiling evilly when I lifted my head. “I’ll need to know all of it if I’m to take her and her coven over to make what she has mine. And if she misbehaves, I might make your twin mine again too.”
I swallowed loudly, understanding she meant by killing Inez. I nodded as I stood, not surprised she rebuffed me when I tried to greet her. It amused her to rebuff us, but she would strike us if we didn’t attempt it. She was that twisted.
I glanced over my shoulder at the castle, worried I’d committed worse sins than I ever had by leading Bahati to Inez’s door. I shot a quick glance up and a silent prayer to Aether that her champion was as strong as I hoped because Bahati was ruthless, cold, calculating, and would cross lines most would never stomach.
And I’d sold my soul by giving her my oath.
Maybe that was what I deserved for betraying my twin. Then again, my father had taught me that real men pushed back when insulted.
Right, because he’s a role model anyone should listen to ever, you fool. I was. I raced after Bahati and wondered how everything had gone so wrong and what I could honestly do about any of it.
15
“I know you think this is too soon and you didn’t want it like this and I’m sorry for that,” Cerdic whispered against my lips before kissing me. “But I’m going to be selfish because I need you, Inez. I’m going to take what you offer, even if you’re not fully ready, because you have to be mine. I promise I won’t be so selfish again. I swear to you, it won’t turn out like you think and we’ll fix everything. I will.”
I woke out of the dream when someone shook me. I blinked up into Cerdic’s worried ocean blue eyes, just as he had been when he’d told me what I was dreaming about before taking me.
“You passed out after we finished only once,” he muttered, cupping my cheek. “You were a lot more tired than we realized, love.”
“Stress is a killer,” I mumbled, wanting to wipe my eyes, but remembering the makeup at the last minute.
“And you’ve not been feeding as much because of how it makes you feel,” he added. He brushed his lips over mine and pulled me to sit up. I glanced over at my hand and saw the cut hadn’t healed and blood was still dripping out of it like a pretty fast leaky faucet. “And you need to eat.”
I was going to argue my stomach was upset, but it growled loudly as if letting me know it was ready to go. I noticed I was also in a red nightgown that was revealing, but better than being naked, and Cerdic was in matching red boxers.
I melted, realizing they’d found me something since they understood being naked on display for a few days was upsetting me.
I started with a plate of pastries that I about inhaled and two glasses of hydrating sweet herbal tea that would also help my stomach. Then Branko brought me a bagel with what I liked on it, kneeling down when I ate it and rubbing his cut hand over my leg so I soaked up his blood.
“That bad?” I checked.
“You’ve been down on the tank,” he answered, not trying to make it a thing or lecture that it wasn’t the time for me to be like that. I appreciated him handling it that way as it wasn’t like I wanted to be unhealthy. I was just too stressed.
After that, it was clear Cerdic couldn’t wait anymore. He moved me off the daybed and to the cushion that was on the ground. Right, it was harder to have my hand in contact with the ground if I was up higher. He kissed
