Page 15 of Sworn to Revenge
The tension in the air hums between us, thick with both longing and dread. I want to fix this, to take her pain away, but I know—right now, I can’t. All I can do is hold her, be here for her. And maybe, in some way, that’s enough—for now.
“The Guardian?” I ask, keeping my eyes fixed on hers as I reach to hold her trembling hand.
“It’s hard to explain…” she whispers, breaking our gaze and focusing on the bathroom door across the room, as if staring down her own demons.
No.Not again. Panic rises as I wave a hand in front of her eyes, checking that she’s still with me.
A tired smile tugs at her lips, followed by a soft chuckle. Her lips—even though still red from crying—are so perfectly shaped they look almost painted. Work of art.
“You’re laughing?” I say with a mock frown. “You don’t seem to remember how you were stuck here last night like you were possessed by a demon.”
She smooths her fingers over my furrowed brows, letting out a quiet laugh, easing the tension with a single touch. My pulse quickens as I feel a shiver shoot through me, and my gaze drops to her half-smiling lips. I silently curse myself for not keeping my distance; she’s family, and I can’t risk this.
“I’m still waiting for an answer,” I remind her, gently lowering her hand and holding it, grounding myself from the spell her touch cast over me.
“The Guardian… he’s the water dragon connected to the Coral of Life,” she finally explains.
I raise an eyebrow, and she elaborates, “the Coral of Life sustains the power of all royal bloodlines in the oceans. They draw their strength from it.” She takes a shaky breath, then continues, “The hunters have to capture humans, usually sailors, once a month to feed it their souls.”
My breath catches.Did I hear right?
I’ve known blood and violence all my life—murder, drugs, prostitution—but I’ve never heard of anything so savage. “Sending traitors to hunt innocent people just to maintain royal power?”
She nods as I realize I’d spoken the question aloud.
“Alin said you gained your freedom, though,” I press, still reeling from what she’s told me. How did they manage to turn someone so full of life, so naïve, into a killer?
“We thought so,” she murmurs, swallowing hard, her gaze distant, “but we realized it’s something far worse…”
I can see she’s balancing on a razor’s edge, about to snap, but I need to understand. “The Guardian?” I press again, my voice slipping into an edge of frustration I don’t mean.
She stares at me for a moment, and the storm in her eyes breaks as she reveals a truth that sends rage boiling through my veins, telling me everything.
“I’m that Sacred Bride,” she whispers in conclusion.
I clench my fists tightly. That fucking creature can keep dreaming.
“We’re not leaving this room until Alin comes back with answers,” I tell her, making it clear. “And I’ll lock the door if anything happens again.”
“You’re in danger here if you stay with me,” she warns, but I shake my head.
“I’m not going anywhere. You’re not facing this alone.” I hold her face, turning her gaze to meet mine. But suddenly, her eyes glaze over, her expression hardening between my hands.
“Bay?” I ask,frantically placing a finger under her nose to ensure she’s breathing. Her face has gone pale. “Not again…” I mutter, fumbling for the earplugs in my pocket and grabbing the shooting-range ear covers from my backpack. Better safe than sorry.
She sits before me, motionless and silent, her breathing so faint that I’m afraid any wrong move might shatter her, like a fragile porcelain doll.
Her eyes don’t blink, even as a single tear falls down her cheek, trailing to her chin.I swear I’ll kill that piece of shit.
Rage wraps around me, reminding me of how powerless I am against their world. I still know nothing, and I certainly have no way of diving to the ocean depth with Alin to hunt that delusional sushi.
Another tear slips from her eye, and I carefully wipe it away, wondering if her voice will once again dominate the room. My heart races faster in my chest as I wait.Am I scared?
“Bay, if you can hear me, I’m still here. I’m not leaving you,” I lean closer to her face, gently placing my hands on either side of her head and raise my voice, as if she’s far away from me. I have to pull her out of this torment.Think harder.
A warm liquid wets my hand, and my body tenses as my eyes land on the light stream of blood trickling from her right ear. My heart pounds violently now—I’m not sure if I’m more terrified of the situation or of the pain she must be enduring.
Alin freed her from the grip with her voice—maybe music is what she needs?
