Page 105 of A Heart Of Bitter Poison
I need to believe that everything I’ve seen and felt is real. I know what I saw in the man that I chose. What’s in my own heart. I know that the love I feel is not an illusion. And I know what I am capable of, on my own, without anyone else.
Ashen takes my arm in a firm grip and we ascend the steps of the dais, drawing to a halt in front of Eshkar and Imogen. They both look me over as though I’m a sculpture in a museum, something pretty yet underwhelming.
“Imogen, if you will,” Eshkar says as he gestures toward me with a graceful swish of his hand.
Imogen drifts forward and her eyes light with bright green flame. Her long red waves lift from her shoulders in a gentle breeze. She offers her upturned hand for me to take, the tattoo on her palm glowing with golden light. “Take my hand, young one,” she says, her voice so sweet through her menacing smile.
I don’t take my eyes from hers as I slip my hand into her palm.
I blink and we’re standing just the same way as a second ago, but we’re in the living room of the Reaper cottage that I arrived in with Ediye and Cole after our escape.
“Your home,” I say.
Imogen smiles. “Yes. Do you like it?”
I don’t answer as my gaze flows across the space before returning to her. Imogen’s smile widens.
“Does Ashen of House Urbigu speak the truth?”
“Yes. My transformation is complete. And we are mated.”
Imogen’s smile turns benevolent. She reaches up and brushes hair from my face in a motherly gesture. I feel a trace of magic within her fingertips. It ignites an ache in my chest for a mother I’m not sure I ever knew. For one that left me on a beach, as a creature on an island with nothing but a name.
I smell the sea. I hear the crashing waves.
I fight that memory away and watch as Imogen’s eyes flare a brighter green.
“I can help you find out why they left you on Anthemoessa. I can help you find your past,” Imogen whispers.
The hurt of that betrayal burns so hot in my heart. I still feel the waves pulling me back to shore. My desperate voice is caught in my throat as I scream after them, salt water flooding my mouth until I have no choice but to land like broken driftwood on the shore.
I feel Aglaope’s hand on my shoulder. And I hold onto her love. I hold onto all the love I have now, the real love, this family that wouldn’t leave me behind on the shore. That would fight any battle at my side.
Tears sting in my eyes. One slips down my cheek. Imogen pulls me a step closer.
“You belong among us. You can help us win the fight against the Realm of Light. You can stop them from ending us and throwing the Living Realm into chaos. Your friends, your kind, they will die there if we don’t stop them. And in return for your help, we can give you what you are looking for. A family.”
Another tear falls, and then another. Imogen keeps hold of my hand as she reels me into an embrace with her other arm.
She hugs me because I adapted to what she wanted me to be.
So I could get exactly what I wanted from her.
Proximity.
I fold my free arm around Imogen, returning her embrace. And then I drive my fangs into her throat.
Imogen squeals as I suck in her essence. Her thoughts. Hersoul. I stay latched on, my hand gripped to hers as we fall together to our knees. She beats against my arm with her free fist, but her strength wanes until she’s limp and boneless in my grasp.
“I already have a family,” I whisper as her dying eyes stay fused to mine.
I let go of her hand.
When I blink, I’m back on the dais. Imogen falls lifeless to my feet. I look up at Eshkar and smile.
The briefest moment of silent shock dissolves into chaos around us. Ashen commands for his soldiers to take the Council. Guards surge toward me as others push Eshkar back to safety. One grabs my arm and I smack my hand to his forehead. I send his mind into an unlit room, stealing his sword before he wanders away with his hands outstretched as though he’s feeling his way in the dark.
I hear Ashen behind me, cutting down anyone that’s getting too close, fighting off the Council’s guards and those soldiers that don’t follow his command. I fell one guard and then another with my stolen sword as the confusion crescendoes around us. The shouting and swearing, the sound of blades slicing through bone and splitting flesh, the slick wet squish of blood and bodies beneath feet. It’s a symphony. And all I have eyes for is Eshkar.
