Page 60 of Eternally Yours

After she left, I sank to the floor and stared up at the inky sky peppered with stars, wondering what was happening to Loren. Praying she was still alive. That she wasn’t being dissected by those animals. I tried reaching her through our bond, wanting to tell her I loved her, yet fearing she’d feel my disappointment at failing to save her.

There was only silence on the other end. Why couldn’t I feel her? Did this mean she was dead? Burying my face in my hands, agony pooled in my stomach. This feeling of helplessness, of not being able to do anything to help her gnawed at my bones. I’d expected my father would be pissed. That he’d give me an earful or maybe even beat the shit out of me.

But death? He’d threatened me with it, but I never imagined he’d go through with it. It had been a foolish hope.

Damn him. He hadn’t even given me a chance to explain. To tell him I was willing to restore our family name. That I’d honor my oath. Take Mariellena as a bloodmate, even if only in name. Unite the fucking covens. Coming home had been a grave mistake. I should’ve never thought my father would forgive my transgressions against our family.

I stood back up. Things couldn’t end like this. My life wouldn’t be reduced to a pile of ashes. I tried to claw my way up the walls, but it was useless. My nails cracked and I fell on my ass every single time. I pushed my shoulder into the door until I felt bones splinter. “Fuck you, Father!” I roared.

Hours passed and he never showed his face.

Did I mean so little?

Then the oculus opened. “Nic,” Cat whispered.

I rushed to the opening. “Tell me he’s changed his mind.”

“He’s been locked up in his study. No one has been allowed in.” She lowered her gaze.

“Cat, what is it?”

“Nic, I don’t know how to get you out of this.”

My gaze softened over her. There had never been a situation we couldn’t get out of. And in all the lifetimes I’d known her, I’d never seen her defeated. She was broken, and it tore me up to know it was because of me.

Tears trickled down her cheeks. “It is not a quick death, Nic.” She slipped a dagger through the opening. “If you want to end it quickly.”

She meant suicide. To spare me the slow death waiting for me with the dawn, she was suggesting I’d stab myself through the heart.

“I’m not going to die here, Cat. Loren needs me.”

“Nic, there’s nothing I can do. Your father won’t change his mind.”

“We’ll figure something out. We always do. There’s a small chance I can survive through the noon sun tomorrow. That should buy me enough time to convince my father—"

“What do you mean you’ll survive?”

“That's what I told you when I arrived. Loren’s blood. It’s not affected by the beasts’ toxins. Nor daylight. It makes her immune to a lab dog bite and to the sun.”

Her eyes widened, realizing what this meant. “That’s right. That’s how you were able to walk in daylight. You drank from her. You’ll survive the sun, Nic!”

“I don’t know what the lasting effects are, but I have to believe I can make it through tomorrow. Still, the biggest problem is what the Order plans to do with her. Cat, Loren isn’t just immune to the toxin and the sun, she’s stronger than any vampire I’ve ever known. If they manage to weaponize her, to use her to make more like her, they could have an army of super hybrids breaking through our front door in the middle of the day. We wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“If your father won’t listen, there is someone else who might.”

“Who?”

“Your mother. It’s what I was trying to tell you back in the interrogation room.”

My chest tightened. My mother. When it came to ruling, my mother was but a shadow, a figurehead, but she showed me compassion where my father hadn’t. The look on her face when I left… It had broken me. I never wanted to hurt her, but when my father had called the orders against Elizabeth, she’d done nothing. Said nothing to defend me. In her silence, she’d chosen his side.

The sound of hurried footsteps came from down the hall, behind Cat.

“Nicholas!” I heard my mother’s shrill voice before she appeared. My pulse raced with old feelings I hadn’t fully squashed. When she turned the corner, her eyes were wide with fear and relief. “You came back.”

Cat bowed out of respect and shrank away to give us a moment.

My mother came closer to the window, her expression grim. “What did you say to your father? Why did he put you in here?”

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