Page 79 of Immortal Sins
I twist in his grasp, freeing myself. “My sister is in danger. Lydia… My dad. You betrayed my trust, you should be grovelling for my forgiveness, not commanding me like I’m one of your subjects—”
A dry laugh grates his throat. “You are, though. You can’t leave this realm without my assent.” He’s terribly beautiful in this moment, in this sacred room built by his people. The bunch of his muscles and the hollow curve of his lips quicken my breaths. Dark Fae power ripples along the walls, and the portals glitch to darkness, inactive.
Fear spikes in my blood. If he decides to keep me here…
“Your dad is useless and gullible. And your sister is a two-timing bitch. Wake up, Jules,” he points to the empty mirror behind us, “you’re running blindly into a nest of monsters.”
Tears spill over my lids, my heart in pieces, the fragile trust between us shattered. “The only monster I’m afraid of isyou.”
Cole’s nostrils flare, his cheeks hollow. His hands curl into fists, and his biceps strain. “Go ahead, then. See if I care.” The lights of the hall of mirrors flicker on, but Cole barrels out of the room without looking back.
29
COME A LITTLE CLOSER
Igape at Cole’s retreat. I crossed the line, but he had no right—I can’t think. I press a hand to my heart, willing my pulse to die down to a manageable rhythm. Just when I can breathe again, an oily, lustrous shimmer appears on the wall at the back of the room.
I jolt into a fighting stance. “Show yourself.”
Erron steps out from the shadows. “Remind me to return your wedding gift.”
My teeth clench. “Leave me alone.”
“I’m going with you, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.” He spares me a wistful glance. “If you had asked for it, it wouldn’t have worked.”
Fists balled at my sides to hold in fresh fireballs, I ignore the old Fae.
“The unicorns added a failsafe to their ritual. To prevent sorcerers and dark Magus from hunting them to become immortal, they made it so the spell would only work on an unsuspecting recipient,” he adds.
“That’s an awfully convenient bail-out,” I say, shaken. If it’s true, why didn’t Cole mention it?
“It sparked the legend of the unicorn and the maiden. A gift only bestowed on the ingenuous.”
The inferno in my heart stills for a moment.
“How can I hope to live up to Beth? Cole should have known I didn’t want to carry this burden. I didn’t want this.” I grip my emerald pendant and hold on to my anger for dear life.
Erron’s mouth curves in a harrowing smile. “Didn’t you?”
My heart pounds with the falsehood. Icravedthis, and yet…in the most twisted way, it robs me of my identity.
I’m no longer a mortal.
The Dark Falls’ portal offers a wide view of the iron gates, and my chest squeezes. I square my shoulders and step through the glass.
Ice bites my cheeks as I emerge on the other side of the portal, but the tremors lashing through my body have nothing to do with the cold. Dark Falls’ administrative offices tower behind the ornate iron gates. The moon lurks behind the clouds. Ravens fly across the sky, a delegation from the High Council forms a half circle in front of the entrance. Oz. Darkwood. Piper and—
My heart sinks past my feet, doubts entrenched deep in the rock bed of my very soul.
Oh no.
Dad.
My father scurries in my direction, and I straighten my plaid skirt. I wore my uniform, though I’m not sure why. I’m glad I didn’t choose the Fae armor Cole suggested. That would have freaked Dad out big time. My mouth stings with thick, bitter saliva. When I first came to the Academy, I was a mortal witch, raised amongst humans. An outsider. I wanted to prove myself and justify Dad’s efforts. Now, I’m an immortal, half-demon witch married to a Fae prince…
Two familiar arms wrap around my frame. “Munchkin, thank the Gods.”
A shudder quakes my body, but I reign the panic in. “Dad.” Tears crack my armor, but I swallow them back quickly. If I cry now, I’ll never be able to stop.
