Page 26 of Treasured

My fault.

This was all my fault. The queen only turned on Sebastian because of me. He only ran into the sun because of me.

Everyone died because of me.

The participants in the queen’s games, my family, Julieta… even the nameless Fledgling who attacked us.

Death followed me wherever I went. It was my curse. Had it always been this way? Was I always a magnet for death?

My heart raced, and my lungs tightened. Pure panic descended upon me.

All of this was my fault.

Even now, I could feel death waiting in the wings for Sebastian and Marius.

They weren’t safe with me.

No one was safe with me.

When they die, it will be because of you, a voice said in the back of my head.

Goosebumps prickled my flesh, and I shivered. No matter how I tried to shove the voice out of my head, it would not go.

This is your fault.

Again and again, the voice repeated its refrain until the words echoed through my entire body.

“I know,” I whispered. “It’s all my fault.”

A blood-red tear slipped down my cheek. It was never just one, though. Not anymore. My chest ached, and hot tears rushed to my eyes, threatening to flood out of me.

Where was that hysterical laughter now? I would have preferred it to this.

Unfortunately for me, my body had different ideas. Soon, I failed. Crimson rivers flowed down my cheeks, and my shoulders shook.

My fault, my fault, my fault.

No matter how quiet I tried to be, I knew it was inevitable that my tears would wake Sebastian. I couldn’t even let him sleep peacefully.

That just made me cry even harder.

I was such a bad wife, and I would get Sebastian killed.

Sure enough, he woke within minutes. “Luna?” His voice was groggy. “Why are you crying?”

I sniffled. “It’s not a big deal.”

He turned me around effortlessly, so I was facing him. “That’s not true. Whatever it is, you can tell me.”

Just because I could didn’t mean I wanted to. This was my problem. My curse. And yet, what could I do? Sebastian wouldn’t let this go. He was hard-headed at times, especially when it came to me.

Deciding it was better to tell him the truth, I whispered, “It’s all my fault.”

Sebastian’s brows knit together, and he sat up. “What?” The blanket slipped to his waist, revealing his bare chest. He drew me against him, his chin resting on my head. “What are you talking about, darling?”

Shaking my head, I closed my eyes and tried to push away the bad dream and the voice that came with it. Unfortunately, the guilt was consuming me from the inside out. “I had… It was a nightmare.” I shivered, rubbing my arms. “A really bad one.”

He sucked in a breath, and concern flooded the Binding Mark. “Tell me, Luna.” His voice deepened, and he brushed a hand over my face. “You can tell me anything.”

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