Page 92 of Wicked Thirst
“The way he just killed those two midwives.” I shook my head. “I can’t put the image out of my mind.”
“I’ve written to The Fallen, letting them know of our situation. They’re on their way now.”
Titus bellowed from the cell, the madness wracking his mind and body. He’d ripped most of his clothing from his body, leaving him only in his trousers. Deep scratches marred his body from where he’d hurt himself. Rivers of blood covered his body and flowed down the sides of his face. The bed I’d had brought down was smashed to pieces. They littered the cell. He paced around in circles, muttering to himself words I didn’t understand. The sight would forever haunt my nightmares. Yet still I found myself willing to do anything to have him back. Grayson let out a little wail in my arms, and Titus charged the bars, ramming his head against them. His breath hissed through his teeth, and he bared his fangs at the two of us. I curled my arm over the baby and took a step back from the bars.
Graymont stepped between us and blocked Titus’ vision. “Control yourself, Brother.”
“Perhaps I should give the baby to the nurse?” I rocked him back and forth. “He seems to make him more crazed.”
“Yes, let’s get my nephew to the nurse.”
We turned for the dungeon door, and there stood two of The Fallen. Matteaus was covered in battle armor from head to toe. Tristen was by his side in very much the same gear. They both looked down at me with grave expressions, as though my mate had died, but he hadn’t, and I refused to accept this situation.
I froze. I hadn’t heard them enter. They were silent, despite their hulking black wings and overpowering energy. I gave a deep bow to Matteaus. “Thank you for coming.”
“I would always come for one I call a friend.” Matteaus placed his hands on my shoulders and raised me up to stand before him. “And for you, Moira.”
Tears sprang to my eyes, and I held them at bay. “Please, is there anything, anything, that can be done?”
They turned toward Titus’ cell watching him in his madness. “If only I could. But you know we can not interfere with this.”
“Please.” I held Grayson tighter in my arms. “He’d only just become a father. He deserves this life.”
“None more than I believe that he does. But this curse is based on love, and he loves you more than anything.” Matteaus gave me a sad smile. “For most, a blessing. For you and Titus, a curse.”
I’d only wanted to love him enough for both of us. In my selfishness, I’d done this to us. I’d done this to him. “So my love did this to him?”
“No.” Graymont slashed his hand through the air. “That’s a load of bollocks. Dracinda did this to him, not your love and not his love for you. It was done by a bitter, loveless hag.”
Tristen nodded. “You are correct, and yet it was the love that triggered the curse to activate. I have never known love to be a blessing.”
“Now who savors of bitterness?” Graymont ran his hand through his hair and pulled at the strands with a frustrated yank. “The Angel of Love who doesn’t actually believe in love.”
“If my love did this to him, then take it away,” I pleaded. “Please, if you take it, if you make me not love him and him not love me, then he might come back.”
Tristan gave me a sad smile. “Would you be able to live in such a way?”
“To have him back, I could live in any way. I would stand next to him as a friend day in and day out just to have him, for Grayson to have his father.” Desperation made me want to make these promises, but deep down I didn’t want to lose Titus. He’d been the best part of my life. But for my son to have his father, I would live as a friend. For Titus to have his life back, I would endure him being only feet away from me but never to touch him, never to love him again. “Please take it from me and be done with this.”
Matteaus gazed at Titus, and his lips pressed into a hard line. He hung his head. “I cannot take this curse. It’s in his blood so deep now it’s got a hold on his entire body.”
I didn’t have the words to answer him. I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. He was the most powerful being to walk the Earth, yet he could only stand there and do nothing. Anger ran through my body. I didn’t know where to direct it—at him, at myself, or at the witch who did this to us all? The truth was that there was enough rage for me to aim it at all of us. I was angry for losing my love, I was angry at them for keeping this a secret, I was angry at how helpless we all were, and I was angry that my brand-new baby came into the world on the very same day that we both lost everything. It was no way to start a life.
I turned toward Tristan. “And you, what about you? Can you take my love and be rid of it? Will that end this?”
I had to think of something, do something. I couldn’t stand by and watch him slowly descend into madness and eventually die.
Matteaus shifted from one foot to the other. “We cannot. I fear our presence here is only upsetting you all more. We will take our leave and check in at a more convenient time.”
When would there be a convenient time? I reached out and grabbed on to Tristan’s arm as he turned to follow Matteaus out the door. “Please.”
“That’s not the kind of magicIcan do.” He glanced over my head toward Graymont and stared at him for a moment before he turned and left for the door.
I felt my legs start to give out. How could they not have helped? They’d been friends for ages.
Graymont caught my arms and held me up. “Do not give up hope, Moira. Did you not hear what he said?”
“They said they wouldn’t help us. How could they after they’d been friends for so long?” I held the baby a little too tightly in my arms and he gave a little cry. I loosened my hold and tried to sway to soothe him, though I myself felt as though the world was coming to an end.
