Page 75 of Through the Wicked Wood

Elora

My stomach drops, flipping and somersaulting, but I keep my eyes locked on Sorin. I open my mouth, then quickly clamp it shut.

“And what is it the Fates have planned for us?”

Sorin shrugs, his eyes tracing the lines of my face. “I haven’t a clue,” he admits. “But whatever it is, I’m sure glad for it.” He kisses me, just once, softly on the mouth.

This feeling—this over powering, all consuming drive to be close to him makes sense. Every moment we’ve touched, like the first time and yet it’s so familiar. So comfortable. The Fates have been quiet since the founders of Valebridge, King Bastian and Queen Solei, died centuries ago. Why the Fates have decided Sorin and I must be woven together is beyond me. The thought is too much. Too frightening to know your soul is tied with another’s. Is that all this attraction is, simply the Fates?

“Say something,” Sorin whispers, breaking our gaze, focusing his attention on my hand that’s placed on his bare chest.

“What was it that she had?” I ask, avoiding the truth of Sorin’s memory like a coward. Not willing to face that his feelings may be a force outside of our control. “Your mother?”

Sorin’s smile fades as his eyes meet mine. “Letty and Eviey had never seen anything like it. I used to ask Agnes all the time, but she would always just say it was nothing more than a broken heart. The older I get, the more inclined I am to believe her. Though, more realistically, I’m certain Silas sent a Plague after her when she left.”

My blood boils at the thought. Plagues have the ability to cause sickness through thought alone. All they would need is a piece of the recipient. An item of recently worn clothing, a piece of hair.

“He spared you,” I say quietly.

“It would appear so,” he says. “That, or my mother made sure there was nothing left of me in Valebridge for the Plagues to track.”

I remain sitting with my hand on his chest, scouring his face. Trying desperately to absorb the slew of information.

“Once I knew the truth about who my father was, I couldn’t get it out of my mind,” Sorin continues. “Vengeance was always my goal, getting back at those who wronged my mother. Then, when Silas died so suddenly, I pushed the thought away. I was content with my life in Loxley knowing the man who hurt my mother was buried beneath the dirt. And with William gone, I wanted to be there for Agnes and Sam. I didn’t care about the throne, the titles. I didn’t care about anyone but my family. Until the uprising happened, or what Roman calls the uprising.

“Rumors of Enchantresses being beaten and magick ripped from them. Or hunted by anyone who fled. Women just like my mother and Agnes being abused. I couldn’t sit back and do nothing anymore. And then, the blight started and I could see the affects along the coast. Within the Trinity Forest. And then, I met you.” His lips brush the top of my head, and I slide my hand over his smooth chest in return.

“I met you, and you reminded me that the goal all along wasn’t revenge. It's justice. And not only for her, but for all the Enchantresses Roman has wronged. If I can get before the council, or better yet, the Guilds, I can prove I’m the true heir. We can put a stop to all of this once and for all. Galen, Jarek, Sam, and I have had a plan in place for a long time, but it was never complete,” he pauses, a hitch in his breath. “It’s as if a piece of myself has always been missing and I’ve gone my entire life searching for it.”

My stomach turns again, because I have felt the exact same way. Aimlessly wandering, wondering if I’ll ever feel whole again.

“Then, there you were. Scowling at me by the river,” he laughs, so I pinch his side. “Honestly though,” he says through another laugh, “I knew you were someone special the moment we met. And truthfully, no one wears a scowl better than you.”

I lean up again, so we’re face to face. I run my fingers through his hair and pull him forward until our foreheads are touching.

“If it’s too much for you…the kingdom. The title. Whatever this is with the Fates,” Sorin whispers, letting the words hang in the air. “All you have to do is say. I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want.”

Fear is what I’ve sensed growing in my chest.

Blooming.

Spreading across my insides like a forest fire.

Fear that our plan will work. Fear that it will not.

“A deal is a deal, after all,” I say as playfully as I can muster, the light tug on my hair from Sorin an indication the joke was received. “And besides, who are we to defy the Fates?” I offer a tired smile as I lean back, giving him some space. If Sorin's memory serves him, and my mother Saw our souls connected by the Fates, it’s all the proof I need.

“I want you to know everything, Elora. The good and the bad. I’ll tell you all of it. If it’s what you want.” His fingers run up and down my arm, tickling my skin. “Just promise me you’ll tell me everything too. A clean slate going forward.” His arms tighten around my middle. “So, promise me, from here on out, if this is what you want too, we’re a team. We do everything together.”

Together.

It is fast becoming my favorite word.

“Do you promise?” he asks again, bringing my hand up and brushing a kiss to the backside. Fighting off a blush, I push myself up, letting my forehead rest against his again.

“Promise.”

Liar.

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