Page 125 of Her Dark Promise

That caught my attention. “What?”

“He had a gut feeling that something was wrong not long after you left, so we followed the path of blood to the pond where you slipped under. He was the first one in, swimming out to you like his life depended on it. He has been by your side ever since. If it wasn’t for his instincts, you would be dead.” His eyes softened at the thought. “I am forever in his debt.”

I rolled my eyes, tired of hearing how amazing Bastian was. I wanted Callum to focus on more important matters, like fucking me. If I could distract him just long enough…

I pulled the blanket from my body. “Enough about him.” I ran my hand up my thigh, pulling the nightdress with it until I was completely exposed. I saw his eyes darken at the invitation, but he held back per his new master’s orders.

I cupped myself, delicately running my fingers through the slit between my legs up and down. “Come on, little bird,” I brought my fingers up to his face covered in me, “have a taste. It has been so long.”

I knew I almost had him as he leaned his mouth toward my fingers, but pulled back at the last second. “I will not be the reason you die.”

I huffed, exasperated, and tried to reason with him, “Callum, I still have needs. No matter the reason. Are you going to deny me the pleasure? Or yourself, for that matter?”

His gaze ignited the desire within me, and I needed the release that only a thorough fucking could give me. His eyes flicked from my face to my fingers a few times before closing his eyes in an attempt to fight through his own longing. He knew I was right; it had been too long.

He leaned forward and wrapped his lips around my fingers, sucking and licking. He moaned at the taste and was moving forward when we heard someone yell, “I can’t leave you alone with her for even a moment?”

Callum jumped backward, almost falling over from the sudden noise. I turned to find Bastian standing at the door with a steaming bowl of soup in one hand and a glass of something in the other. I looked down to find the blade still strapped to his hip.

Callum moved away from the bed, cursing himself under his breath.

Bastian replaced him and tsked, “You are a sly minx, aren’t you?”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “As I have told my consort, I still have needs.” I was still exposed as I didn’t care about covering myself, hoping that Callum would come back and finish what he started. Bastian looked down and, without another word, covered me with the blanket.

“Now is not the time.”

I wasn’t sure if he was saying that because he cared or was just jealous and didn’t want anyone else touching me. Not that it was his choice at all in who I chose to share a bed with.

“Then when is it going to be the right time? Because sex isn’t something that I can be denied.”

“When you aren’t a danger to yourself or others.”

“I am always a danger to others and just recently myself.” Then I saw my opening and teased. “How about this? Watch us.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Well, that’s the closest that you will get to ever touching me like that again, so you may as well watch since you can’t trust us alone long enough for me to have a proper orgasm.”

He tensed, and I knew that I had him. Unfortunately, the thought of Bastian watching us sent heat coursing through me. I chastised myself for even fantasizing about him in the first place.

I could have teased him about his brother having already had a taste, but I wanted to save that for later when I was truly desperate. That memory made me think about Soren, who hadn’t come by to see me at all since I sent everyone out. He knew I was no longer furious with him about the journals, but I couldn’t imagine what kept him away now. I would have much rather preferred him over his oaf of a brother.

Bastian worked through whatever torment was happening in his head and sat on the bed. He dipped the spoon into the bowl and brought the food up to my lips. I turned my head away from him and laid down, pulling the sheets up and over my body.

If they weren’t going to give me what I wanted, then I would ignore them, knowing full well that it was petty and childish. But I didn’t care. I am the queen.

Childish indeed, Callie.

I sighed.You’re still around?

I told you. I am the only one who has stood by you after all these years and will continue to be here long after they are gone.

I wanted to shut her out, but they wouldn’t give me the poison. So I just rested, listening to Callum and Bastian talking again,but Circe’s words haunted my mind. Doomed to be together forever… How romantic.

I was grateful that they didn’t try to feed me any more of the food. My appetite was completely gone after Circe reappeared. She had left on her own volition, and I had lain in bed, taking in everything that had happened in the last few days.

It had been about a week since I had almost succeeded in taking my own life and just like Soren, Emilia was staying far away. Emilia had tried to come in and see me, but I pushed her away. I was doing my best to push everyone away so that I could finally put an end to all of this madness. Then there would be nothing else forcing them to stay here. After a few days of Callum insisting that I needed rest, she stayed away.