Page 31 of Sold to the Devil
The questions about his father that keep burning on my tongue, become too hard to hold back.
“Tom?”
He hums softly, letting me know he's all ears. I nervously play with the fabric of his shirt and bite my lower lip. His hand comes to stop mine, intertwining our fingers in a silent show of support. So I gather my courage.
“Do you know why your father wants Principal O'Connor or his protégé Henry Dawson dead?”
He stiffens, and I expect him not to answer. However, he surprises me when his voice resonates, low but raspy.
“My father despises fairies and non-magical beings. The only ones who deserve to live in his eyes are wizards and shapeshifters. To him, they are the most powerful magical creatures. The supreme beings. He sees others as weak, unworthy of using magic and of existing.”
He pauses, and I shiver as his hand rests on my scalp, his long fingers tenderly stroking my hair. I nod, letting him know I knew this information. My father instilled these beliefs in me as well, though I don't hate fairies and non-magic’s enough to want them all dead.
“O'Connor believes that every living thing deserves to live, regardless of species. They more or less have always been rivals, but it got worse when my father was seduced by dark magic and promised to return the world to witches and shapeshifters. O'Connor swore an oath to stop him, no matter the cost. So my father swore an oath to destroy him first.”
I nod, understanding the Master's motives a little better. But one thing remains unknown to me.
“And Dawson?”
“He's O'Connor's little protégé. I don't know why, but according to my father, he's training him to continue what he started. Like my father does with Mattheo.”
His heir...
As if reading my thoughts, Tom nods.
“I heard my father say that Dawson's magic was powerful. He doesn't know how powerful, but he knows he must eliminate him before O'Connor has time to complete his training and thus unlock his full potential.”
“They're both equally dangerous,” I understand. “If the Master wants to ensure his success, he must eliminate the leaders of the rebellion…”
Tom nods again. Silence falls between us as I digest this information. At least I better understand the importance of the task the Master has entrusted to me. However, I still can't understand why I was chosen to marry Mattheo.
From what I know, my father is a loyal follower of the Master and has been since the beginning. However, he is not one of his most powerful assets. Father is a powerful sorcerer, but not as powerful as the Master's dark knights. Those who are part of his very inner circle.
My brow furrows as my supposed shapeshifter heritage comes back to my mind. I don't know if it's true, but I can't deny the superhuman strength I possessed when I fought off Mattheo earlier. I don't know where it came from, and it's never happened to me before.
So my father hid my true nature from me: half-witch, half-shifter. Does the Dark Mage know? Is this why I was chosen to marry Mattheo? Because I am the perfect symbol of what Darkvis idolizes?
So many questions and so few answers... I close my eyes, chasing away the headache I feel coming on. I'll write a letter to my father demanding answers. In the meantime, I intend to enjoy this moment of respite in Tom's arms, as he still tenderly strokes my hair.
CHAPTER 14
Aelys
We lay in each other's arms for about an hour. Before we end up sitting on the bed, me cross-legged and him with his back against the headboard. He starts asking me questions about my childhood, wanting to know more about me.
“There's not much to say,” I shrug. “It's always been my father and me. My mother died in childbirth and my father did his best to take care of me. He's a bit overprotective, so I wasn't allowed to leave the manor. I think since he's always been your father's follower, he was afraid someone would hurt me to getto him.”
“Is that why he refused to let you join the Academy until today?”
I nod and explain how I was homeschooled from a young age, learning every form of magic there is. My father wanted me to be prepared and able to defend myself if necessary. As such, I'm well-versed in both white and dark magic. However, there's one thing my father always refused to teach me...
“Hey, Tom?”
He hums, inviting me to continue.
“Did you learn hand-to-hand combat or combat using weapons? Fighting without magic.”
“Yes! My father taught us how to use the darkest magic, of course, but he also taught us all forms of combat. Why do you ask, darling?”
