Page 115 of Tortured Soul
“There’s no need,” I said.“With the two of you, you’ll be back before she has the time to get weaker. It’ll take you more time to get there and come back than actually get our people back and destroy the base.”
Something flickered in his mind, piquing my interest before he locked it tight, away from my reach.
“Right. But just in case, please, look after her if we take longer.”
I didn’t like the direction that exchange took.
“I can’t promise anything. Now,please, let me out of your damn head before I puke from feeling her so close.”
I felt him roll his eyes before my mind slowly drifted away from his and I was back on my couch, the leather book closed on my lap.
I hated how her scent clung to my nostrils even though I wasn’t really there. How I could feel her touch like she was laying on myownchest.
I needed to find a way to control my powers. To control my mind from invading Arc’s everytime she was with him.
Sometimes, I hated that mind link between the two of us. Now, more than ever.
Chapter 33
Lola
June 21st, AD 519
Istood frozen as Mother adjusted my dress, humming softly under her breath. Through the window, my eyes met Aghen’s worried ones. He was wearing his leather armor, the one he already had to repair about a dozen times because of his past battles.
He wasn’t supposed to be waiting for me. Father gave him chores to punish his constant defiance. If he saw Aghen here, my brother would be in trouble. What a great twentieth birthday we both had…
“You’re so pretty,” Mother sang. “Although, you need some more meat on your bones. I heard Amyntas likes his women a bit fuller.”
Bile rose to my throat but I choked on it as she pulled harder on the back string of my dress, pushing my breast up to the point they were almost spilling out of the already indecent cleavage.
“The first thing he’ll want to look at will be your hips. They’re wide, but not enough. So let’s bring his attention elsewhere, shall we?”
She circled around to stop in front of me, inspecting her work with her hands behind her back.
“Hm. Something is missing.”
I bet there was. She was never fully satisfied when it came to me. She should have been grateful to have been blessed with twins. Having a girl as well allowed her to sell me to the damn Dragons without batting an eye while her son was to be named heir of our clan.
I squared my shoulders and held back my tears.
“Oh, right! I can’t believe I forgot.”
She turned around to rummage through the boxes on the small table next to her bed, coming back with a black velvet pouch.
“He sent this ahead for you to wear.”
My throat bobbed as she took out the choker necklace and inspected it. It was a black velvet band with an opal pendant, surrounded by artfully carved Dragon wings. The sight of it alone made my stomach churn all over again.
“They do have strange tastes,” she mused as she went back behind me to put it around my neck. “You’re to wear it until you’re wed in a year.”
I knew not to be fooled by her cheery tone. If I were to remove it, she’d probably beat me for disobeying.
Again.
The hate I felt for the woman was endless.
“Perfect!” She clapped her hands happily as she faced me again for a final inspection. “Or at least, as good as you'll ever be.” I turned my head to the side, finding Aghen’s eyes again. “Scouts have said that he should be arriving before the sun sets. Aren’t you excited?”
