Page 83 of Glass and Bone
How am I supposed to not fight back? How am I supposed to sit here and let Tobias choke me? Tobias. Myhusband. Enzo’s voice flows through my head over and over and I force myself to relax, despite the panic boiling in my chest. My legs drop, my arms fall away from his, and I just stare at him. My lungs are on fire, and I can feel my limbs growing numb. My eyes open, wide, ready. He flinches, his smirk wavering as surprise flashes through his eyes. I smile just before I close my eyes again, succumbing to the sleep pulling at the edge of my consciousness.
He needs you.
I have to trust Enzo, trust that he’s right. Tobias needs me. He won’t kill me. Ihaveto trust him.
Don’t fight back.
Chapter Thirty-Five
I am still sprawled out on the marble floor when I open my eyes again. There is light flooding the room, bouncing off the marble walls, blinding me. I am freezing, my thin dress doing little to stave off the chilly air. I swallow slowly and almost jump with surprise when my throat doesn’t hurt, it feels fine. I sit up, my hands touching my neck. No pain. Nothing. I don’t understand.
I look around and see Tobias passed out on the couch. He’s still wearing his suit, his tunic unbuttoned and open. There is a small amount of blood on his nostril from where he hit it on the floor.
I stand and walk over to him. I see no other damage from what is visible, and it relaxes me for some reason. I am glad he isn’t injured as badly as I expected, but his reaction was something else entirely. I don’t even have words to describe it. But he didn’t kill me. Enzo was right.
I walk around the couch to the dressing room and stare at my reflection. I am still wearing the black gown, but my hair is a mess and I have kohl running down my face and red lip stain smeared on my chin. I lift my head and there isn’t a single bruise on my neck or cheeks. It was real. It had to be I remember everything. I walk back out into the main room and Tobias is up, stretching.
“Morning, wife.” He smiles as he reaches for me. I stand my ground, refusing to grow closer, and he tilts his head. “What’s wrong?” His arms drop.
“What happened last night?” He laughs and I raise my brows.
“We both had way too much wine, it’s no wonder we slept half the day away.” His voice is light, unbothered.
“No, what happened when we got back to the room?” I say, louder this time. He looks at me confused before plopping back down onto the cushions with a sigh.
“Well you fell and then brought me down with you, causing my nose to bleed.” He smiles and rests his head on the back of the couch. “Then we tried going to bed and you fellagainand then I woke up on the couch. So neither of us made it to bed before we drunkenly fell asleep.”
“You hurt me.” I say quietly.
“What?”
“You were choking me.” He stands and whirls around towards me.
“What are you talking about? I didn’t touch you.” His eyes are wide, surprised and confused. My hand reaches up and lightly brushes my scalp where he had ripped out hair, but it feels fine.
“I don’t understand.” This can’t be just in my head. My hand falls to my side and he steps around the couch towards me. I raise my hand and he stops.
“Ela, I think you had another bad dream.”
“No, it was real.”
“Just like the dead version of you was?” He says softly. He speaks to me as if he’s consoling a child. I look up at him. His hands are raised, palm out, to show me he’s no threat. My neck was fine, my head was fine, I could swallow just fine. But it was all so real. I drop my hand and he walks over to me again. He lifts my head and looks at my neck.
“What are you doing?”
“I am just making sure a dream demon didn’t strangle you.” He mutters trying to lighten the mood. When he’s satisfied, he slides his hands down to my arms. “Are you okay?” I nod and he bends down, asking permission to kiss me. I lift my head and let his soft lips graze mine. “Coffee?” He asks as he turns towards the door, his black shirt wrinkled and open.
“And cream, please?”
“Always.” He smiles and I force a smile in return. When he turns away, I drop to the couch, my hands finding my neck again. It had to be a dream. It couldn't have been real. I don’t understand. How could it not have been real? I felt it. Every second that I went without oxygen, but there isn’t a single wound on my body. There is no headache, not like when Jeremiah had strangled me.
Tobias is cheerful during breakfast, speaking about how today is a very relaxed carnival day. Apparently, the performers are back, and there will be jousting between some of our guests. I fake interest in the conversation, sipping on the delicious coffee. I pretend to feel ill, like I had too much alcohol the night before. He’s sweet, attentive as he unlaces my corset so I can take a much-needed bath.
The water is boiling, and I nearly jump out of it. But I don’t. I sink down wanting to feel it burn away everything from yesterday. The drinking, the dancing, the kiss.Oh gods, the kiss with Theo. We were both drunk, but we both wanted it. I wanted it. The taste of whiskey in my mouth, the smell of spring air and sweet grass. The feel of his calloused hands running down my back as he left kisses down the side of my throat. The feel of him pressing into my stomach, telling me he wants more.
I dunk my head in the steaming water and scream. Bubbles head up to the surface, and I follow, gasping as my head breaks through the surface.
“What is wrong with you, Elaenor?” I don’t fight the tears that pool in my eyes, letting them join the bathwater as they drip off my jaw.
