Page 125 of Upon Buried Embers
I stumble to the trees, wrapping my cloak around me, tears streaming down my face.
Leave.
A sob releases from me, and I wipe my face before pulling my hood up.
He was so angry, I was only trying to make it better.
Entering the forest, I pause for breath against a tree, my heart hurting after everything that has happened.
I look around, wondering which direction to go. I’ll continue forward and find somewhere to hunker down for the night.
That’s all I can do.
Setting off again, voices hit me, and I blink in their direction.
Two hooded figures are behind a large tree close together, and I wonder if they’re coupling, when the figure with their back to me suddenly turns, and my blood turns colder than the snow.
Darcia’s eyes widen in surprise, but then fury takes over.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” she growls, stomping over to me and I stumble back. “What did you hear,slave?”
“N-nothing.” I turn to leave, fear running through me.
I need to get out of here, quickly.
I’m grabbed by my arm and spun around, her fingers digging in.
“Oh,” Darcia says, looking over my face and smirking. “Rohan finally had enough? Is that why you’re out here crying?”
“We need to go, Darcia, before someone sees us.” My eyes dart to Rhett for a moment before I look away.
“In a minute,” Darcia replies. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m leaving, so l-leave me alone.”
“You’re leaving?” Surprise flares in her eyes. “Don’t lie to me!” She shakes me.
“I’m not, I-I’m going.”
She smirks. “Oh, did you wash the hair on his reins?”
My stomach drops like stone as realization hits me.
“Y-you tricked me?”
“Of course I did,” she laughs.
“But… w-why?”
“Why? You’ve been in the way since Rohan took you. He’s never around anymore, always with you, always helpingyouand I’m sick of it!” She shoves me. “I knew you’d be desperate for the Dragonbond’s attention, so I made sure you overheard us talking about his reins.” She scoffs. “And you were stupid enough to actually take the hair and wash it.” She laughs, cruelly. “Pathetic.”
My heart pounds, and a little ball of anger flares in my stomach. I never wanted Rohan’s attention, he gave it to me all on his own.
“I’ve done nothing to you.” I whisper, voice trembling even as my fingers ball into fists.
She glares. “You have, you exist, that’s what you have done to me. You’re ruining everything! You should’ve been left in The Pit.”
Yes, I should have.
