Page 99 of Degradation

“Are your feet weary, Princess?” Darian asked.

I rolled my eyes at him. “Deviant. Stay away from my feet.”

“That’s not what you were saying to him last night,” Eadric said.

My core clenched at the memory of how the pair had put me to bed and how Brandle and Garron had woken me. Desire exploded from each of them in response to my need.

“Ah, Trouble,” Edmund said, watching me. “Say the word, and I will bare myself on this road.”

“Don’t you dare.” My gaze flicked to the trees even as I opened myself to search for the beasts. None of them pulsed with the energy of my father.

“We’ve made better time than I’d anticipated. Another hour and we’ll be close to the cottage,” Brandle said. “Or we can push through and reach Towdown by nightfall.”

I thought about it and shook my head. “It would be wiser to arrive in daylight.”

Once we finished our meal, I continued with the road until I felt my father to the North.

“He’s still there,” I breathed. “He’s waiting.”

“Then let us not keep him waiting any longer,” Daemon said, taking my hand.

I opened myself wide, letting all that I was free into the world along with my intent of peaceful passage. The beasts snarled and snapped at the multicolored dust in the air but otherwise ignored the eight of us as we left the road I’d made.

My pace quickened the nearer we drew to the glade until I was jogging lightly to reach my father.

He waited at the edge of the trees where darkness met the lighter shadows. His tattered clothing was gone. Yet, when he turned his head at my approach, I saw the humanity still reflected in his gaze.

“Are you with me, Father?” I asked, not slowly.

In answer, he opened his arms.

Edmund cursed, and I felt his intent to stop me. The ability to manipulate the energy in everything, however, gave me the advantage, and I was wrapped in my father’s embrace before Edmund could reach me.

My father’s grief and regret weighed on him as his claws raked through my hair and settled at the back of my head.

“You’re not alone,” I whispered against his fur. “You will never be alone again. Now bear the pain, Father. For me and Eloise, you must bear it.”

I touched my energy to his well, delving deep past his memories and into the spell that bound him. It was layered in hate and revenge—cast by a scorned lover who refused to let go. The spell demanded that the infected walk his remaining days alone, cursed to have a visage that reflected the beastly behavior shown to the original caster and cursed to destroy all that it might come to love.

Thanks to my spell, Father’s hadn’t yet settled into his very being. His lingering humanity protected him like a thin blanket of mist.

I set my hand on his cheek along with my intent. “This burden is not yours to bear. Shed it now and become what you truly believe you are. Between Father and Beast, the choice is yours.”

Heat exploded between us and threw me backward. If not for Edmund’s presence, I would have likely hurt myself. As it was, I simply used his body as a cushion, and he took the brunt of the impact with the ground.

“Kellen!”

Hands grabbed at me, helping me to my feet and blocking my view.

“Is he all right?”

“I’m fine,” Edmund groaned.

“Not you. My father. Is he all right?”

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

Brandle glancedover his shoulder then straightened abruptly.

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