Page 60 of The Sorrow of Shadows

They pour out of me, hitting me all at once. Sorrow, fear, guilt, desperation, heartbreak, love, and grief wage a war inside me as I continue to wail.

I sense, more than see, Aurelius hit his knees in front of me.He reaches a hand to my cheek and pushes me again. “Come on, little demon, I know you’ve got more in you. Let me have it all.”

My shadows become living extensions of the pain I feel, turning into sharp edges and whips that fly around me. I feel the crevice in my chest crack open wider still and more pour out of me. They tear through the room, slicing and cutting through whatever is in their path.

Soft grunts come from Aurelius, and my eyes fly open. I manage to pull back enough of the shadows to clearly see him. He’s still kneeling directly before me, his arms open wide and head thrown back. His clothes are in tatters and thin red lines cover his body, blood trickling down the cuts that my shadows created.

I gasp at the thought that I had caused him to bleed, and he looks up at me.

Giving me a wicked smile, he says calmly, “There she is—my little demon. We’re not done, give me more. I’ve tasted your anger and blame, now let me taste your sorrow and grief. Give me your pain.”

Who is this male?

I finally voice the question he wanted me to ask before. “Why, Aurelius? Why does everyone I love keep dying? When will it stop?”

A sob breaks free, and I slump as the anger is replaced with grief. I clench my stomach, trying to soothe the ache deep in my core. The pain I’ve been denying floods my system, and I feel my body crumble to the floor.

Before my head can hit the ground, Aurelius is there, cradling my trembling body. Sobs wrack my body as tears flow freely now.

“That’s it, my girl. Let it all out for me,” he says soothingly. His long fingers run through my tangled locks as he pulls me closer into his body.

I tremble and curl into his broad chest, soaking up hiswarmth. Breathing becomes difficult as I cry so hard I start to hyperventilate.

He rocks me gently, letting me feel whatever comes to the surface. After a few minutes, he looks me in the eyes. “I need you to take a deep breath for me, Breyla. You’re struggling to breathe, so either you calm down or I’ll be forced to intervene.”

“I-I ca-can’t...” I struggle to get the words out, letting him know I have no control over my body right now. I sob again, pleading with my eyes for him to make it stop.

“Shhhh, it’s okay. I’ve got you,” he whispers as I feel his power wrap around me, my heartbeat slowing to a manageable rate. The tension leaves my body, and I suck in a deep breath.

Tears still stream down my face, snot running out my nose, but I feel like I can finally breathe again.

“Thank you.” My voice is a whisper.

“You never have to thank me, Princess.”

I nod, but don’t say anything more. I curl back into his chest as tears continue dancing down my cheeks. It takes a few minutes more before I feel the last of the adrenaline leave my system, and my spent body slumps in his arms.

The shadows have cleared from the room, but I feel sleep calling me as blackness creeps around the edges of my vision. Aurelius senses the shift in me and moves to stand up, keeping me cradled in his arms as he does so.

Even if I wanted to protest, I lacked the strength to do anything, so I let him carry me out of the training room and through the castle. My eyes flutter shut, and when I open them again, we’re outside his quarters. I don’t say anything as he carries me through his door, lays me in his bed, and pulls the sheets up around me.

I hear him rustling around his room for a few minutes before I feel the bed dip behind me. His arm wraps around me, and he pulls me into his warm, bare chest.

I can’t help myself and ask, “Why are you naked, Aurelius?”

“Because you destroyed my clothes, Breyla. And I’m not completely naked. Now go to sleep, little demon.” He chuckles and squeezes me tighter.

As if on cue, I yawn and snuggle closer to him.

“Little demon, I need you to stop moving,” Aurelius growls softly in my ear.

“I’m just trying to get comfortable; your bed is harder than mine,” I complain while adjusting slightly.

“It’s not the only thing. Now quit moving. My restraint can only be pushed so far,” he grumbles and pinches my side.

“Fine, fine,” I concede, and I still in his arms. I let out another deep sigh and yawn as my eyes flutter shut. Finally, the darkness claims me. I sleep peacefully and without any dreams.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

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