Page 9 of A Rising Hope

And I was not going to rely on luck. My eyes darted back to Godric. I leveled my breaths, forcing my jaw to relax.

“I comenowbecause there is finally an answer to the one part we could never quite figure out. There was always one missing part in our plan?—”

“Yes, how to actually find the location of the Queen,” Godric said.

“Well now, we can.”

“You got her blood?” His face painted with disbelief.

“Not hers. But someone she now has by her side.”

“What? Who?” He scratched his lengthy beard, attempting to hide his nervous tic, as his foot tapped on the long slabs of woodthat served as floor. The muscle in my temple twitched, wrath and rage curling like a giant wave ready to devour everything, but I forced myself to take another calculated breath instead.

With a heavy gaze, I summoned a few drops of Finnleah’s blood taken so many moons ago from the blood oath we exchanged. As small as a few drops of rain, they floated above my finger.

“My wife,” I answered, as I met his gawking stare.

If the previous words had shocked him—these disgusted him.

“Yousworeto abandon that Destroyer’s tradition,” he bitterly spat, a deep frown stamped across his face.

“I did.”

“And yet you are married? Soulbonded too?” His nostrils flared, anger in the corner of his eyes.

“I am.” I raised my wrist up, exposing an intricate band with a simple black ring on it. The knots were still fresh on the leather strap. The bonding cut barely healed from the secret ceremony only a few nights prior. There was no point in hiding it, he already knew that. Healers, especially at his level, could smell the freshly mixed blood of our Soulbond with a little effort.

His eyes widened at me, repugnance and utter apprehension painted across his every feature.

Perhaps it was pure desperation crying from the far depths of my lost soul, but for once I’d let my brother see me.

Actually, truly, see me as I dropped the heartless mask.

He hesitated for a moment, taken aback at the sudden change, at his realization.

“Do not tell me you have fallen in love.” He shook his head. “You are incapable of it.”

“And yet I have.” The merciless agony at the words twisted my soul.

“The world must truly be coming to an end then.” Godric rubbed his face, still trying to come to terms. “And this girl, thiswoman . . . she . . . she shares the same feelings for you?” He glanced back at me in disbelief.

“Yes.”

“You aremarried,” he mumbled the words, pinching the bridge of his nose before returning his stare to me. “You are married and have a wife.” His eyes widened as he understood. “The Queen has your Soulbond.”

“Ah, so you see the predicament I am in?” I clasped my hands together, resting them atop my knee, letting the sleeves of my shirt drop inconspicuously, hiding the wedding band away from the world.

Godric let out a long sigh. His features softened as his eyes darted between mine.

I did not speak the actual words.

I was unable to.

My tongue was incapable of uttering the cursed words.

But for better or for worse, my brother understood.

The storm quieted outside, only occasional gusts of wind whistling on the other side of the walls.

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