Page 4 of Midnight Kingdom

He shrugs. “Because it was clear you both were talking about something on our trek through the forest and the snippets I did pick up included Variant’s name.” He clears his throat. “That, and you told him Anona was dead. I suppose you told Revenant too?”

“No,” I say, shaking my head.

“What happened, Eilish?”

“Nothing that I want to discuss with you.”

“Yet, you chose to discuss it with Cambion—someone who, of the three of us, is the least friendly to you?”

“He forced the issue.”

“Then should I force the issue?” he asks and glares at me as he takes a step forward but I stay him with my outstretched hand.

“No.”

Dragan doesn’t say anything right away but just stands there, his breathing heavy and his glare even heavier. “Eilish, did Variant hurt you? Did he… force himself inside you?”

His soft tone surprises me and when I answer, there’s no anger in mine. “No.”

“Are you lying to me?”

“No.”

“But there is something,” he says as he studies me.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

He takes another step closer to me and reaches out, taking my hand and then pushes my arm down. He doesn’t drop my hand. “You and Cambion were involved in a long conversation. In it, you admitted something to him.”

“Whatever it was, it was between Cambion and me and you need to respect that.”

He nods but then takes a deep breath and holds it inside for a few seconds before releasing it again. He looks down at my hand which he still holds in his own. His skin is warm and I love the feel of him. “Look, I know I haven’t been fair to you. I know I’ve been hot and cold and I know I haven’t explained myself. I’m… I don’t… I know…”

“You don’t owe me an explanation,” I start.

“Just listen, will you?” he barks and then shakes his head as he glances down at the ground. “I don’t know what’s about to happen. When we get into that castle, who knows if we’ll be successful in finding Morrigan and freeing her. Who knows if we’ll get killed…”

“Weren’t you trying to make me focus on the positive a few days ago?” I ask with a small smile that’s meant to be encouraging.

“The point is,” he starts as he lifts his gaze and spears me with it. “Eilish, I’m sorry.”

I can’t help my surprise. “You’re sorry for what?”

“I’m sorry for everything,” he answers quickly and then grows quiet as he apparently searches for something more to say. He drops his eyes to the ground before facing me again. “I’m sorry for the way I’ve treated you, I’m sorry for pushing you to Revenant, I’m sorry for failing to protect you and I’m sorry for whatever the fuck happened when you were with Variant.”

I breathe in deeply as I listen to him and then I nod. “I accept your apology.” Then I clear my throat. “But, I’m not sure where it leaves us.”

“Where it leaves us?”

I shrug as I look at our entwined hands. “It’s not like you magically trust me now, is it? And it’s not like you can ignore the Succubus side of me and it’s not like you believe I’mnotgoing to drain you of your life force every time you get near me, right?”

“I… I don’t know,” he answers.

I exhale very slowly to ease the tension building in my body. “Variant used a compulsion spell on me when I went to his chamber. He forced me to touch myself while he… while he… fucked Anona,” I admit and watch as Dragan’s eyes go wide. “It was disgusting and repulsive,” I continue.

“I’m sorry,” he begins but I shake my head to silence him.

“There’s more.”

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