Page 123 of Her Dark Promise

I felt like I was, once again, going insane.

We both know that you went insane after the death of your sister.

Don’t talk about her!I screamed, attempting to get my point across.

Touchy touchy.

I didn’t respond to her. She was just a figment of my imagination, after all.

Should we talk about it?

Bastian grasped me by the shoulders and said sternly, “I will not leave. I will never leave you.”

There is a way to die. The hunter brought it to our front door wrapped in a beautiful green package.

Their voices overwhelmed me. I couldn’t focus on both of them at the same time. I needed myvenin, but I couldn’t use magic, and I knew he would never give it to me in my current state.

I stared at him as I answered her,That doesn’t matter anymore.

Doesn’t it?

I was hesitant to respond, remembering the peace that washed over me at the thought of everything ending. The pain, grief, fear—everything.

There it is. That flicker of hopelessness and despair. Hold onto that. It’s all you have left.

Bastian and I were staring at each other, not saying a word, but his eyes said everything.

I have people that need my protection,I said.

They don’t need you. You need them. If you went away, then they would all be able to lead normal lives.

Circe quieted down when Bastian took a deep breath, gaining a bit of courage before saying, “I have thought about what I would say to you because I feel as though ‘I am sorry’ isn’t going to be enough.”

He stood up so suddenly that the chair almost flipped back from the force. He then paced to the side of the bed searching for something to say, I suppose. His face was contorting, showcasing how angry he was getting with himself.

I laid there and waited to see what vile lies would spew from his lips while I waited until I gathered enough strength to attack him. The well was still empty.

He stopped the annoying pacing and turned to face me once more. When I focused back on him, I was taken aback by the tears in his eyes. His breathing was ragged, and his hands were balled into fists at his sides.

“Hunter—”

I wasn’t even sure what I was going to say when he pointed a finger at me and commanded, “That word will never cross your lips again!”

“I would be happy to never have that word cross my lips ever again if you would justleave.” My voice was rising, matching his own.

He ran a hand down his face. “This was not how I wanted this conversation to go.”

I ignored him as I strained myself to sit up. I groaned from the pain searing through my body, grasping my side in an attempt to stifle it, when I felt a warm hand helping me. I looked up at him. His face was so close to mine that if I shifted forward, even slightly, our lips would graze.

My cheeks heated when I was suddenly accosted with the memory of him kissing me. I squeezed my eyes shut and pushed him back. I could hardly focus with him so close to me, but bit down the bile that rose up my throat at the sudden movement.

I raised my hand to stop him from coming closer as I caught my breath. “You no longer have a right to put your hands on me.”

He reached his hand out, wishing to comfort me, then thought better of it. Instead, he kneeled low on the floor, rested his hands on his knees with his palms up, and looked me straight in the eyes. “I have regretted my choice since my father came and tried to kill you.”

I shook my head. “Donottry to deceive me with more lies. I remember everything. He may have been the one to stab me, but that pain was nothing compared to that look in your eyes when you held that blade in your hand.”

“You’re right. There are no excuses. I wanted you dead. I wanted to kill you so that my brother and I could go home and put all of this behind us. Putyoubehind us and move on.” He swallowed, taking a moment. “But, when I saw himtouchyou. When he talked about—about—” a muscle in his jaw ticked, his eyes darkening. “I wanted to rip him to pieces.”

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