Page 111 of Her Dark Promise

She stood and pushed him off of me. Spitting on his corpse.

“Your grace?” I could feel hands touching me again and a distant voice screamed as darkness overtook me. “Your grace!”

Chapter twenty

Isucked in a deep breath as I opened my eyes and looked around wildly. Where was I? What happened? I squeezed my eyes shut and focused on my breathing. I couldn’t do anything until I gained control of my body.

Deep breath in. One. Two. Three. Deep breath out. One. Two. Three.

I did that a few more times until I wasn’t gasping for air and could think more rationally. I tried to think back to what had happened when a rush of memories flooded my mind.

Soren read my diary.

Their father arrived.

Bastian… Bastian was ready to kill me to leave. The wind knocked out of me at the realization.

I knew the father was dead. Emilia stabbed him multiple times, there is no way that he was able to survive that. But, I needed to see them all for myself. Needed reassurance.

I struggled to sit up as the pain radiated through my body. I gathered my strength, calling upon my powers, and could barelyfeel the slightest flicker. So they still weren’t back yet. Fine. At least it didn’t permanently erase them.

What was the blade? I shook my head. Something to worry about for later.

I swung my legs off the bed and sat there, exhausted. I looked up to the ceiling as I pushed off the bed and almost collapsed, my legs were so shaky that I could hardly stand straight. I strained as I caught myself by gripping the side table and then walking to the wall.

If this is how I would have to walk, then so be it. I slowly made my way out of my room by using the wall as support until I reached the door. I took a few deep breaths before glancing down the long hallway that led to the staircase.

Breathe. You can do this.

I pushed myself down the hall and threw myself against the stair railing. I wouldn’t have the energy to search for them and couldn’t use my powers to conjure my ball. I would have to call for them. Soren and Callum would come running, but I didn’t want Bastian anywhere near me.

What did mother say about a woman’s scorn?

“Your grace!” I looked down to find Callum racing up the stairs to get to me. “You shouldn’t be up. Your wounds aren’t healed!”

“Emilia?” I said her name with a groan.

“She hasn’t left her chambers since last night.” So, it has only been a full day since I have been asleep? My next question must have been written all over my face because he said, “I have checked in on her every hour.” I nodded. I would need to check on her myself right after I took care of one problem.

I narrowed my eyes and glanced down the steps. “Where are they?”

“Outside at the back of the castle.”

“Why?” Silence. I looked at him in a way that promised he would be next on my list of punishments if he didn’t speak up.

Still bowed, he answered, “Burying their father.”

“On my soil?” He nodded and I blanched. They dare to bury him on my lands.

I rushed down the steps but tripped over the nightdress that someone put me in and would have fallen down the stairs if Callum hadn't caught me.

“Get your hands off of me!” I pushed him back weakly. I wasn’t even strong enough to have him move even a single inch.

He took a step back as he followed me down the stairs using the railing until I reached the main floor. Then I used the walls until I had finally made it to the back doors that were already open. I was sweating. My entire body was hot. And I could feel something sticky dripping down my body and I knew that my wound was reopened. But I couldn’t focus on any of that.

No.

I couldn’t stop staring off into the distance at the two men digging a hole into the ground.Myground.Mysoil.Mine.

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