Page 31 of Of Night and Blood: Special Edition

I blinked, too confused to respond.

“I like the way you look when I puzzle you,” he said, smiling widely. I quickly relaxed my face, not needing him to feel any way towards me other than afraid if I wanted to maintain control over the conversation. Though honestly, I did not feel as though I had it at the moment. “His ability is light. He can call to it, weaponize it, create it.”

“That is impossible,” I said, my brows knitting together.

Why was he lying to me about something so small?

Unless I was wrong, and the male was not fae. Looking at Bellamy was an obvious hint that I ignored—there were some demons who did not look much different than fae. I thought back to the way Henry looked. He had that bright hair that distracted from everything but his height, and that face full of freckles. His jaw was not as defined, body not as bulky, but still handsome.

“You are figuring it out, I can tell.” I looked up at him again, noting the way he leaned towards me, as if excited to see my mind working through the puzzle.

“Henry is not fae is he?” I asked. He smiled then, his head shaking slowly back and forth. I was right, they had demons who looked like us, so much so that I did not even hesitate to assume we were the same. “Do all demons look fae?” I inquired, desperate to know more, to have a fighting chance against these creatures.

“Nope, we were only each allowed one question and I answered two. Your turn now, where were you trying to go?” he pushed. What was I supposed to say? I was mindlessly wandering? I wanted to somehow find someone to teach me to fight? I needed to get out of this fancy prison? They all gave off an innately naive feel, but there were no better answers coming to mind.

“I felt trapped. So much has happened, and I am overwhelmed. I have no one, I cannot defend myself against a mortal boy let alone fae or demons, I am unaware of whether I will live or die, and no one has bothered to tell me where I am. I have been assaulted, kidnapped, beaten—” Cutting myself off before I shared too much, I averted my gaze to my feet to avoid the pity that was steadily filling his eyes. I would not be looked down on. “Do not give me that look; if you want to show remorse, then take me home.”

“Home? Asher, that was not a home. You call this a prison, but what is the difference? Why can you not see that the life you were living was not worthy of you?” he asked, stepping towards me.

I backed away just as quickly as he crept forward, but my back hit the wall. When Bellamy was about three steps in front of me, he stopped his pursuit. Apparently, that was not a rhetorical question.

“I was loved and cared for and given everything there. I had a family, a community. Here I have nothing, I am nothing. Why bring me here Bellamy? To torture me? To brainwash me? To use me? What is your motive?” My voice was full of acid, like poison coming from my mouth. Regret was something I felt very rarely, but a small part of me wished I treated him better.

Tragic as it was, that part of me needed to be squashed. She was weak and easily exploited. I would beat that part of myself down until she was nothing, because I could not afford to be at the mercy of a sycophant.

“You know nothing of love, I can promise you that. You know only the tactics of a corrupt monarchy that used and abused you for years without you even realizing!” he said, voice rising without fully yelling. I pressed my head back in the wall, looking up at him with a scowl.

“What do you know about my life? How long were you sitting in the shadows stalking me like a lunatic?” I shot back. He was not without fault, and he knew nothing of who I was or what I lived. I was lucky to have the life I did, lucky to be afforded such opportunities.

“You would be surprised Princess, I know much more than you think I do.” He closed the distance between us, once again bringing our faces inches apart. Cinnamon and smoke wrapped around me, like his scent was a tangible thing.

“Take me home,” I demanded.

He would not take me back, but I had to try this way before I attempted to flee, because that was not going to start or end well, and everything in between would be horrid too. He placed a hand on my cheek then, cradling my face. His features softened but his eyes blazed on like an uncontrollable fire of rage wanting nothing but to consume.

I was in the lion’s den. Even worse, I was enjoying it. To my discontent, that part of me was not rooted out fully yet.

“Why can this not be home?” he whispered. I thought he would kiss me, but instead he took a deep breath and started walking towards the double doors. Anger and sadness warred over my heart, because I had yet again been fooled by his act.

“You speak of home as if you did not steal me away. As if you did not kidnap me against my will. I would rather call a mud puddle my home than this place, here with you. Because at least the mud puddle does not act like a hot spring. You are no sheep offering sanctuary and love, Bellamy, you are a lion waiting to attack, and I refuse to be the lamb that falls prey to you.” My voice faltered, shaking with uncertainty and outright ignorance. I knew that what I said was truthful, so why did I struggle to believe it?

“Then follow me,” he said without looking back at me.

“To where?” I asked, a bit of terror shooting through my veins. At that, he turned around, his face the picture of serenity.

“To train you into a lion.”

Chapter Twenty

Istood rooted in place, mouth agape, for a few moments. Bellamy patiently waited with one hand on the handle of the door, watching my reaction. I thought about what he said and wondered if he might be lying. Would he really teach me to fight? Lian was right, I was a hazard enough with just my powers, let alone with the ability to physically attack.

If he was not lying, then it would be idiotic of me not to take him up on his offer. I needed this advantage if I were ever going to make it home. Mia and Xavier would be furious with me for learning, but after everything that had transpired over the last week and a half, I imagined they would find it in themselves to see that the guaranteed benefits far outweighed the possible consequences.

I nodded my head and walked towards the doors where Bellamy waited. I did not miss the small upwards tilt of his lips before he pulled the door open. It was still dark outside, the stars and moon lighting up the green lawn and the sea beyond. The dewy grass smelled heavenly, allowing me to take my first full breath since I had felt Sterling’s hot blood spray across my face.

Bellamy continued forward, but I stopped, tilting my face towards the sky and closing my eyes. I missed the gardens of the palace, the way the scent of the flowers comforted and grounded me.

My still damp locks made the already chilly air feel even colder. I missed the way Mia braided my hair as well. How she would surprise me by weaving flowers through the brown strands, growing them from thin air. My hands moved to my hair, pulling it all into a single plait, eyes still closed and face still up. If I was not taking in such deep breaths, I might not have noticed the change to the air, the smell of smoky cinnamon wafting towards me.

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