Page 17 of Sworn to Revenge
The layout of this room is identical to Pedro’s, and as I glance back at Cora, now sitting up in bed, it takes me a few seconds to remember that this is her and Mariano’s room. She sent him to sleep in the guest room at Luca’s apartment, while I’m here. She said they have some business to handle anyway, so by the time he gets back, she’s already asleep. But I think she only told me that so I wouldn’t feel bad about keeping them apart like this.
“I’m fine, really,” I send her a warm smile as her concerned gaze examines me, her eyebrows raised in worry, as if I’m a small whirlpool that couldturn into a tsunami at any moment.
Maybe I really am like that?
I shake off the negative thoughts flooding my mind and hop over to her bed with a smile, jumping beside her.
“So, what are we doing today?” I ask with a mischievous grin, lifting my leg in the air and stretching it to my head like a small human child discovering their legs for the first time. I did only discover them about a month ago, so I’m allowed to enjoy them. I’m still thrilled by the fact that I can jump, run, dance—and Cora even says she doesn’t understand how I’ve only had legs for a short period and yet I’m so flexible, as if I’ve been practicing for years.
“You know we can’t leave the apartment until Alin gets back. What do you say we go down to the playroom now that his influence over you is weaker? We can watch a movie,” she suggests, and I immediately jump up in excitement. Finally, I’m leaving this room after two days of being stuck here together. I love Cora, but when she grabs my chest in her sleep like a merling searching for its mother’s breast, I start to wonder if she has other tendencies.
“Well? Am I going to wait much longer?” I urge her as she takes her time getting up from the bed, stretching lazily as if she only slept for twenty minutes instead of a full ten hours.
“Miss Bay, I know you’re excited about having legs for the first time and bouncing around on them, but mine are worn out after years of walking. You’re not going to rush me,” she says, pointing at me with a mock threat, scrunching her nose just like Alin does when she teases me. It’s clear they’re very close.
Alin has everything—everything I ever dreamed of having. And now she has another family on land, and soon, a little merling too. She’ll help me find my freedom as well, I’m sure of it. I can’t let myself doubt her or slip back into self-pity.I’m not alone anymore!
“All set! I’m ready!” Cora shouts from the bathroom as she spits toothpaste back into the sink, flashing me a bright smile with her sparkling teeth and announcing, “Clean.”
“And now we’re off to dirty them again. Is Maria making us breakfast or lunch?” I tease her as I notice the time on my phone just switched to noon.
“I see now that the stupid dragon isn’t stuck in your head, your sense of humor is back,” she fires back, throwing her face towel at me in a clear declaration of war, her eyebrows furrowed in clear annoyance. I laugh, waiting for her to unlock the door.
“Are you torturing me on purpose? Hurry up already; I regret letting you keep the key,” I shoot back at her. She rolls her eyes at me and finally heads to the door, unlocking the heavy-duty lock Mariano installed. They’ve gone all out with the security in this room, but I can’t blame them. When I’m under the Guardian’s influence, I’m a risk to all the humans here.
The click of the lock opening makes my heart race with excitement. I’ve only been here for two days, but I was about ready to climb the walls.
My foot steps outside the door before it’s even halfway open, and I skip down the wide staircase to the second floor, wondering if Maria is already in the kitchen preparing food for us. When the smell of warm pancakes hits my nose, I don’t even look back to see where Cora is—I run straight to the kitchen. Pancakes have definitely become my favorite food on land. They have such delicious food here that I don’t think I could ever go backto eating with this kind of enthusiasm in my city.
As if reading my thoughts, Maria immediately hands me a plate with the four perfectly stacked, syrup dripping pancakes a small pat of butter perched on top of this tempting tower.Yes, it gets me every single time.
I quickly sit down as Cora joins us, and Maria hands her a hot cup of coffee, along with a small plate of cookies instead of pancakes.
“You don’t eat pancakes? That’s a crime against humanity,” I declare as I shove an oversized bite into my mouth with the fork. “Th’res’ good,” I blurt with my mouth full, causing Cora to nearly spit out her sip of coffee as she struggles to suppress a laugh.
“Yes, they’re definitely delicious, but they’re a guaranteed recipe for heartburn for me, so I prefer to play it safe,” she replies, and I’m secretly glad that means more pancakes for me.
“So this is where you two are... Once again, Bay follows the pancakes, and Cora is munching,” Alin’s familiar laugh fills the kitchen, and I turn excitedly to see her walk in with Pedro.
“It’s about time you came back,” I say, grinning from ear to ear. “And I see you went to see your husband first if you’re walking in with Pedro. Two horny love whales. You were only apart for two days,twodays!”
She rolls her eyes at me, ignoring my teasing. “Will you behave better if I tell you what my mother said?” she asks with a mischievous smile, raising an eyebrow playfully as she waits for my response.
I flutter my eyelashes in exaggerated innocence. “I’m always on my best behavior,” I say, getting off my chair and walking toward her. “When youbring me what I need,” I quickly add, dodging the playful kick she sends my way with a laugh.
“Cora, are you okay?” Alin turns to her, asking with concern when she hasn’t said a word.
“I’m perfectly fine, just waiting for you two to finish your games and get to talking. You left me stuck with Bay for two whole days instead of sleeping with my husband, and now you’re dragging out the news?” she grins wickedly, as if she and I had planned to get under Alin’s skin today. A snort escapes me as Alin lets out a heavy sigh, and even Pedro struggles to maintain a stern expression.
“You two are going to get yours!” she warns, and I nudge her forward toward the kitchen counter, pulling out a chair for her to sit in so she can start talking. I quickly take my seat as well, with Pedro settling in close beside me. The three of us now stare expectantly at Alin.
She takes a deep breath. “So, I have good news and not-so-good news. Which do you want to hear first?” She glares at me, as if getting back at me for all my teasing, killing me slowly with the suspense.
“The good news,” Pedro answers before I can even open my mouth.
“The good news is that there is a way to break the Sacred Bride’s connection,” she starts and then pauses. I’m afraid to get too excited because, judging by the heavy sigh she releases, she’s about to tell me something I really won’t like.
“The not-so-good news,” she continues, her gaze fixed on me, and I brace myself for the blow, “is that you need the Guardian to reject you.”
