Page 74 of Oath of Betrayal
A desperate sob shook my body. I wanted to burn away the fog and discover what I’d lost, to feel something,anythingother than numb confusion. Two more shadows ghosted across my vision, and this time, I felt something: fear.
Fear that the emotions locked deep inside would break free and destroy those I’d begun to care for. As I looked down, Isaw four threads lying in my hand, each one disappearing past the wall of flame. I pulled my hand back, gripping the threads tightly, but no matter how hard I tugged, nothing changed.
I screamed my anguish, and the flames surrounding me responded, leaping higher and hotter, blinding me.‘Little Flame, wake up! Wake up before you set the bed on fire!’the voice in my head roared in command, and my eyes snapped open.
‘Vahin?’I thought, feeling the warmth and concern radiating through our bond. Unfortunately, his voice was already fading, the distance between us too great. It was a miracle he’d awakened me from my nightmare.
Since Alaric had reversed his spell, there’d been glimpses of old feelings. Good and bad memories had stopped being a silent picture of my past, now filled with vibrance and colour, enriching my world with new sensations. The only things that hadn’t fully returned were my emotions towards my Anchors, and that worried me.
It didn’t help that Orm had been called back to Truso. I hadn’t seen him since my messy rejection; he left almost the minute he stepped out of my bedroom, and I had no means to ask him to return or to tell him about Alaric’s curse.
The fear of something happening to the dark fae gnawed at my insides so I tried to spend as much time with him as possible, hoping my conduit abilities would be enough to prevent any problems. If Alaric guessed the reason for my sudden closeness, he didn’t comment on it.
A soft knock dragged my attention to the door. Agnes rarely knocked. She simply barged in, cleaning the mess my dreams always made of the bed before readying my clothes or bringing a tray of food.
‘Enter,’ I called, wondering who it was. I hoped Orm had returned, and we could finally discuss what happened when Ihad asked him to leave. I worried it was more than issues with the king that kept him away for so long; I hated this distance between us, and I missed his presence in my bedroom. I even decorated the chaise lounge by my bed with pillows and a soft, fluffy blanket in case he wanted to join me overnight to let him know he was welcome to stay.
‘Good morning, Ani,’ Alaric said as he entered. A single eyebrow rose when he saw me sitting amidst a circle of charred linen. ‘Another bad dream?’
‘How did you guess? Your reversal spell still hasn’t settled, and Agnes is running out of clean bedding,’ I grumbled, standing up and folding the destroyed fabric. ‘Could you help me with this?’
He looked at the linen in my hands, and his other eyebrow joined the first as amusement lit his features. ‘Did I just get my long-awaited promotion to lady’s maid? Should I help you dress?’
‘I am not letting you get your hands on me again. I still remember what happened after the duel.’
I chuckled at the disappointment in Ari’s eyes. In Orm’s absence, Alaric brightened my day, always making me smile. My spending time in his company seemed to improve his mood, and the mischievous smile that accompanied it looked good on him. Occasionally, when I noticed him frowning and clutching his chest, I stroked the back of his neck, soothing the magic of the marks until they went dormant once more.
‘There goes my opportunity to see you naked again.’ His sigh was so theatrical that I hit him with the pile of linen I’d been holding. ‘Is this assault or an invitation?’ he continued his tease with a smirk. ‘If it’s an invitation, you’ll need to hit me a little harder. I can even show you where I like it most.’
‘I will hit you where it hurts, and when I do, you definitely won’t like it. Stop flirting with me, you incorrigible rogue.’
‘Fine, bar me from all pleasure,’ he grumbled with a huff before picking up the linen from the floor. ‘What do you want me to do with this?’
‘Whatever, just make it disappear. I’ll find some replacements before Agnes notices and yells at me again.’ I gasped when he tossed it straight into the fireplace. ‘Oh, for fuck’s sake. I didn’t meanburnit. How will I explain that mess?’ I said with exasperation before shaking my head. ‘Why did you come here so early in the morning?’
‘Would it be too awful if I said I just wanted to see you? Besides, Orm should be back today, and I wanted to let you know.’
‘Are you sure?’ Hope suddenly blossomed in my chest.
‘Yes, the scouts have already returned. Orm made a quick stop to meet with some veterans and ensure the area around the Lost Ridge was cleared. The scouts told me they were expecting him today, though,’ he said before coming closer and reaching for my hand. He raised it to his lips and kissed it.
‘I know you were waiting for him. I would have to be blind to not see how much you care for that idiot soul brother of mine. Just … don’t forget I’m here—and if he behaves like a stubborn clod, come and talk to me. I can help in more ways than just hammering some sense into his thick skull.’ The tension between us was sizzling, and I had the overwhelming urge to close my eyes and let him kiss more than my hand.
Why did it have to be so complicated? Why did I have to choose between Orm and Ari? I’d had a glimpse at Orm’s wild magic, and I doubted he would accept me sharing a bed with another man. If I wanted to be with him, I had to accept the part of him he couldn’t change; but deep inside, I rebelled against it.
I wanted Ari to be part of it, part ofus. He wasn’t as intense as Orm, yet sometimes, I felt such deep desire for him it leftme gasping. Especially when he performed the little gestures I loved, like kissing the sensitive skin of my wrist.
‘Thank you, Ari,’ I breathed, feeling a sudden tightness in my chest. Dealing with feelings was difficult right then. I pulled my trembling hand back and walked to the window, opening it wide. ‘The weather is really nice today. I think I’ll head to town and visit my friends. I don’t think I can sit in the workshop right now.’ I licked my suddenly dry lips.
It wasn’t my best attempt at changing the subject, and as I turned, I saw Alaric’s beautiful golden eyes darkened by crimson.
‘You think I’m interested in the weather when all I can see is the silhouette of your beauty before me?’ The man looking at me was no longer the self-deprecating joker. He was a hunter stalking his prey and I felt myself freeze, realising I was standing there wearing nothing but a thin nightgown with the morning sun shining right through it.
As I struggled to draw breath into my lungs, I grabbed the nearest blanket and wrapped it around my shoulders before turning away from those mesmeric eyes. ‘Erm, oh well. I’d best get dressed, so if you could leave …’ I asked—no, begged—because if he didn’t leave now, I would end up doing something reckless.
‘Yes, I should go … but I don’t know if I can.’ Ari shook his head. ‘If you ever desire my company, all you have to do is ask.’
I turned back to the window. The image of Alaric kissing my palm flashed before my eyes, sending a shiver down my spine, but I shook it off. No, not yet, not until I was back to normal and had talked to Orm. The loud bang of the door announced his departure.
