Page 103 of Captive Bride

Isobel

I’m worked into a cocoon of my own making.

I can’t even imagine facing the light of day ever again.

I feel like a damn vampire. If the sun were to hit my skin, I might just melt.

All I want is darkness and shadows to envelop me, and I wish not to wake up from the blackness.

With the death of Theo, my world came crashing down.

He was like a brother to me. He always protected me no matter what. He was my only source of light and life for so long.

And now he’s gone.

Realizing that hard truth has been like a punch in the stomach from which I’ll never get over.

I’ve lost a lot of people in my life—bodyguards, relatives, but no one like Theo. I’m never lost someone I cared about so deeply.

And at this point, I blame Tristan. How could he have done it?

I know I’ve been for in bed for days. I’m not sure exactly how long.

I can’t tell whether the sun has come or gone. The curtains are drawn tight, and it’s just gloom in here, like the state of my mind and my soul.

Benny keeps coming in to check with me. He really has become a friend.

Right now is no different.

He’s always bringing me food or whatever else he thinks I might want. But I haven’t had anything for the past couple days except for a little bit of water.

Feels like my body is wasting away. Just like my insides.

I’m just not strong enough to survive this feud any longer. I need a reprieve.

Benny knocks quietly on the door and comes in, carrying a tray of stuff like usual.

There’s a rose on it in a little vase, and Benny says, “That’s from Tristan. He’s really torn up, Isobel. He can’t see you like this. He’s going fucking crazy worrying about you.”

I turn over in my bed and say, “Let them worry. I’m not okay, Benny.”

And with those words, a fresh flood of tears comes to the surface, and I cry into my pillow.

Benny sits down next to me and strokes my hair.

“Isobel, this isn’t your fault. It’s not really Tristan’s fault, either. You know Theo would’ve killed him otherwise. This is the game of war. We’ve been playing it a long time, and it’s coming to an end. You’ll be free soon. And so will Tristan. Just think of that.”

I turn to look at him with my bloodshot eyes. Doesn’t he understand what just happened to me?

“Benny, you don’t get it. Try losing someone you love and then come talk to me. Screw the war. Screw our families. I don’t want any of it anymore, not even Tristan. He should never have done this to me.”

He sets the tray down on the bed and says, “But Isobel, you have to forgive him. He didn’t do it intentionally. Theo was the one that wanted to do it. Blame him.”

His words incense me and make me burn with fresh rage.

I turn on him and say, “Get out of here, Benny. You don’t understand a thing. I don’t want to see you, and I don’t want to see anybody else—especially Tristan.”

And then I turn towards the wall and pull the covers closer to my neck, indicating this conversation is over. He doesn’t know what the fuck he’s talking about.

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