Page 42 of Ties of Starlight

A sharp gasp filled the air and she whipped around to see Olvir sitting on the bed, an elf in his lap, skirt hiked up past her knees, her hands in his hair, and the ties of his shirt undone.

“Lady Inga, I didn't see you there!” The girl gave a breathy laugh, her hair loose and knotted.

“Inga, I can explain—” Olvir started, but not really making any move to dislodge the girl on top of him.

“Explain? How can you possibly explain this? How could you?” Inga's voice broke as she gestured at them. “Again?”

“Nothing's really happened—” the girl started, hands shifting to his shoulders.

“Get away from my husband!” The strength of her own voice nearly shattered her ear drums as she grabbed the girl and ripped her away.

This was where the memory always blurred in Idonea's dreams. But there was a dagger. A scream.

Her being thrown.

Then blood.

Her next clear memory was her dropping the dagger and falling to her knees beside Olvir, crying out for help as she pressed her hands to his chest, trying to stem the bleeding. But it was too much, it was far too much, and the lifeleft his eyes. The girl was also already gone, dead on the ground beside them. The red was staining the front of Inga’s dress, all over her hands and up her arms as her whole body viciously shook with sobs.

Then someone was kneeling behind her. A hand brushed her shoulder.

“Oh, Inga...”

Bror.

“I—I di—” And then a blade was piercing her chest, and she could see the tip and feel the steel in the back.

A metallic taste filled her mouth as a hand gently brushed her cheek and tucked her hair back. She choked as Bror pulled her back, turning her to face him and cradling her as he killed her.

He held her with one arm, the other still brushing her hair back, cradling her cheek. “You know I had to. You killed two elves. I didn’t know your human blood was this strong.”

She could do nothing but choke.

“You are the most beautiful creature I've ever laid eyes on.” His hand stilled, and fury passed over his face. “And the most repulsive. It's better this way.”

She didn't understand.

He'd stabbed her, and yet he was holding her like he cared. But at the same time, he spoke like she was a rabid mutt.

His thumb brushed over her temple like a lover.

“I don't know how you did it,” he whispered, grip tightening on her as if he was afraid of losing her. “I hate you. I hate your filthy human blood. And I hate myself more because I have been burning alive, but now I'll be free from you.”

He pulled the blade out, and she reached for the wound, but she was too far gone.

Bror just pulled her closer, pressing her to him, hand sinking into her hair.

“You're better off this way too.” His fingers ran through her hair, breaking the net of pearls and sending them scattering across the ground, into the blood. “Believe me, you would not have wanted to live after this. I’m sparing you, lily. I would not have rested until I owned you, and you would have despised me as much as I despise you.”

Then she breathed her last.

Until she came back two hundred years later in time for the comet's return.

Idonea woke from the memory with a rough scream she quickly cut off. She dug her hands into the ground, focusing on her breathing to try to steady her racing heart. The letter was on the ground beside her.

And just looking at the paper tore her open again.

Olaug didn’t love her.

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