Page 52 of A Story of Sinners

A dark laugh rolled off me like thunder. “And what about my happy ending, hmm? What are these events that need to play out and how long will they take? Am I supposed to sit back and watch my mate suffer? I won’t do that. I won’t allow her to suffer regardless of the outcome.”

Eulalia flinched then helplessly eyed her mate, begging for assistance. Fin sat stoic with a clenched jaw, his eyes boring into the wall. He would do the same in my position, and he knew it. From the exasperated breath she released, she knew it too.

“Ryken, please,” Eulalia pleaded frantically. “I have no clue what I’m doing. I’m overwhelmed, terrified that we will make a mistake or issue a decision that could potentially alter the fate of the world. You are only making matters worse. Dahlia is my friend, and I would never wish any ill intent onto her, but this is how it must be. There is no other way.”

“You call her your friend?” I snarled. “You tried to kill her!”

Eulalia’s chest heaved, and she sank, placing her head in her hands, a strangled sound coming from deep within. “I know. Matilda saw it wrong. We all saw it wrong, and we acted without thinking. I can’t make the same mistake again. I won’t allow you to make that mistake.”

Isadora rubbed Eulalia’s back, whispering comforting words to her friend as Matilda stared blankly into space.

I rose from my seat and glared at the women who thought themselves the sisters of fate. “I won’t interfere, not yet, but if I see one thing out of order, I will, and you will simply have to deal with it.” Then, I looked to Redmond, my eyes grazing him from head to toe.

He might be enraptured by the little seers’ capabilities, and he might like to play at fate, intrigued by the possibilities of knowing what may come and go, but when all was said and done, fate was a simple curiosity compared to the welfare of his child. Just like me, he didn’t care if the world would be damned if it cost her safety and happiness. He would take a gamble and risk it all to save her.

I nodded my head at him. “Come, Redmond. I’ll walk you back to the sanctum.”

I had a plan, one the others would not like, and Redmond would be the key to it all.

Chapter22

Dahlia

Ifound myself seated in the sanctum auditorium, prior to the arrival of the others, as Brandon had accompanied Gabriella and I together to partake in today’s agenda. I hadn’t wanted to leave my room, but Brandon insisted upon it, and though my body and soul still pained me, I relented. Something odd had happened—the hollow beneath my chest still ached, but that ache grew a little less unbearable whenever my mind was distracted. So, after a bit of arguing, I agreed to go, though the thought of seeing Ryken’s face filled me with dread.

“The two of you won’t be able to sit together once everyone arrives,” Brandon said. “But I’ll give you a moment.”

I’d been so unaware of my surroundings, I hadn’t noticed Gabriella take the seat beside me, hadn’t noticed the way her lids lowered as she studied my face.

“I’ve missed you,” she said. “When you were freed from the dungeon, I was delighted to think that we would have time together, but we haven’t.”

“Gabriella,” I whispered, a horrid feeling washing over me for not finding a way to sneak to her and check on her welfare. I could have found a way, if I’d tried, but I’d been too consumed with my own pain and suffering to care for hers. “I’ve missed you too.”

Her glassy eyes stared back at me, eyes that told of many sleepless nights spent crying, and as my gaze took her in, I noticed she’d lost weight—a considerable amount from even just the other day. “What have they done to you?” I asked, referring to Aiden and George.

“They’ve done nothing but keep me under lock and key. George watches my every move, while Aiden reassures me this imprisonment won’t last forever. They claim it’s because they fear you.” A small noise escaped her. “I never consummated my marriage because I don’t want it. After everything Aiden has done to you, to me, all I want is to escape.”

“Me too,” I answered, pulling her in for an embrace. Aiden had always had a problem with obsession, but George’s hatred of what I was spilled over to how he treated Gabriella, and that was not okay. “Is there anything I can do?”

Gabriella’s eyes scanned the room as people filed in, and a lock of hair brushed her lips, blowing as she whispered, “Promise me that if you find a way out of here, you will take me with you.”

I stared at her, perplexed. I could hardly save myself, let alone someone else.

“Promise me,” she urged as she rose from her seat and moved to the other end of the row.

Aiden and George entered and approached Gabriella in unison. Aiden placed a kiss on her cheek and George squeezed her hand, but her eye contact never strayed from mine.

I mouthed the words to her—I promise.I would find a way, even if it killed me.

When George turned to glare at me, I wondered what he would do, how he would feel if it turned out I wasn’t the thing he resented all this time. Would he still hate me? Would he still be filled with resentment and regret?

The final two parties entered the room: Malachi and his shades, and Ryken and his crew. I looked away to avoid Ryken’s gaze, but I still felt his eyes burning into me.

Redmond came from behind Ryken’s party at a small trot and took the seat at my side. I wanted to ask why in the world he would be with the bane of my existence, but I remained silent.

“I’m with you today,” Redmond claimed, offering me the slightest bit of comfort. I only shrugged.

Then, the meeting commenced. Aiden rose and took to the center of the room. Chairs creaked beneath the weight of their occupants, leaning forward as they eagerly directed their attention to what came next. I had no clue what was in store for the day, but after having been dragged here, it seemed like something significant occurred.

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